the root & the branch
Bay Area - San Francisco Guide
Pronouns
she/her
Location
San Francisco (Pacific Heights)
Education/Certification
Masters of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, cupping, gua sha, nutrition and lifestyle counseling including Western herbal and nutraceutical guidance
Akin says: “Denise is a fantastic practitioner - especially if you are into evidence-based care. She used to work at the University of California San Francisco’s Osher center so she’s wonderful at helping you meld western + eastern medicine together.”
Interview with Denise Bowden, Owner of the root & the branch
What are the words you live by?
Start by being grateful.
Share with us your specific expertise within Chinese medicine.
Women’s & Reproductive health, Pregnancy (including miscarriage and late loss) and Postpartum. I’m also very grateful to support clients whose varied health concerns have either incomplete or undesirable biomedical treatment solutions.
What drove you to this work?
From very early on, I had planned on becoming a clinical psychologist, but as my education and training got me closer to that goal, I realized that I desired to work with the physical body in order to treat body, mind and spirit. As a seasoned practitioner, I explain to clients that Chinese medicine is a complete medical system as well as a healing art. While acupuncture alone may convince a client to make an appointment, in my work, I insist that there is considerably more this medicine (and our time together) can offer.
What inspires your work?
My patients are my greatest source of continual inspiration. And with that, they are also my greatest teachers.
What is your self-care ritual?
I’m a lover of dry brushing and any percussive massager.
What are you watching/listening to/reading right now?
It's always been difficult for me to sit anywhere long enough to become a prolific reader hence I love magazines and often read Experience Life, Vanity Fair, The New Yorker and Dwell. I do best with manageable-sized information that I can bring into my practice or into my life...and I find the longer I practice, these two are very nearly the same!
