Meet Amy Miley: Licensed Acupuncturist, Masters of Science in Oriental Medicine. Chinese Medicine Practitioner.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amy Miley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amy, how does your business help the community?
Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture has been practiced consistently for thousands of years. It has survived wars, social unrest, famines, technological changes and has crossed borders. It is a complete system of medicine that is safe and effective. The ultimate goal of Chinese Medicine is to heal illness from the root, not just treat it symptomatically. It is my goal as a TCM practitioner to treat my patients rather than mask their disease and to fortify their health to prevent future illness. I take a proactive role in health, rather than a reactive one. My role is to address nutrition, lifestyle, emotions, and underlying weakness and teach my patients ways to maximize their own health so they don’t have to lean as heavily on reactive measures like costly pharmaceuticals. By teaching my community how to regain control over their health, they rely less on expensive healthcare interventions. This way of practicing medicine has many implications, especially in today’s world. The shift to preventative medicine is happening slowly but surely. Many insurance companies are encouraging their members to engage in healthier lifestyles and eat more consciously. Self-care as a role in mental health is taking center stage, and more connection is being made between the emotional and physical well-being of our bodies. TCM is a fantastic way to model the healthcare of the future.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Wooden Gate Acupuncture & Herbal Healing is a relatively young company but is the result of many years of education, growth, research, and big dreams. I chose the name for my business for 2 reasons. The first is based on TCM symbolism, the wood element is responsible for growth and renewal, and the word gate implies a path free of obstruction. More personally, as a child, there was a wooden gate that opened to our backyard. I remember thinking that gate was my portal to endless possibilities. I don’t think anyone is fully prepared to start a small business. It is a labor of love and faith and certainly hard work. I’ve had to teach myself how to build a website, how to grow a social media platform, how to manage my bookkeeping, and how to balance my time. You truly are a jack of all trades when you own your business. Of course, my patients are my primary reason for practicing and putting in all the long hours behind the scenes. I absolutely love making the connection and watching them get better! I also do this work for my young daughters. I want them to know it is absolutely possible to do something you love, have a family, and achieve big goals. Teaching them how to live a more natural and holistic life is also one of my main reasons for growth in this profession. The thing that keeps me developing as a practitioner is realizing how effective this medicine really is. The more I learn, the more I need to know! That is why it has been crucial for me to specialize in an area I feel especially drawn to – pregnancy and postpartum health. I think there are opportunities for our society to begin to see pregnancy as a natural process and not a disease. My goal is to help my patients have the best pregnancy they can and to address many of the undesired symptoms naturally.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Idaho Springs, the town I live and practice in, is a quaint little mountain town right outside Denver. It is the “Gateway to the Rockies” and holds lots of hidden gems. My clinic is in the town’s visitor center which houses a mining museum and an exhibit dedicated to the women miners of Colorado. Just down the block is a natural hot spring which is known for the healing properties in the water. The downtown area houses lots of locally-owned shops, restaurants, and micro-breweries. You can spend an entire afternoon hanging out in downtown Idaho Springs. The entire county has trailhead after trailhead of great hiking and camping opportunities. There are many gold and silver mine tours to go on, and some even let you pan for gold! Right down the road is the historic town of Georgetown. It boasts a lake that freezes over in the winter and is great for ice fishing and ice skating. They even hold ice-driving races! Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to thank my mentor in pregnancy and birth education, Heidi Hennigan Certified Professional Midwife and founder of Aspen Roots Midwifery. I also rely heavily on the wisdom and teachings of Dr. Aviva Romm. Debra Betts has been fundamental in guiding my growth as an Obstetric Acupuncturist.

Website: www.woodengateacu.com
Instagram: @woodengateacu
Facebook: woodengateacu

Image Credits
Infusing Mountain Magic Photography