At Pointe Acupuncture - our purpose is to heal, to educate and to cultivate community. We’re an integrative wellness center that offers a curated and individualized experience for optimal health results. Our work is Chinese Medicine based with a strong integrative approach. Our team of specialists seamlessly blend ancient practices with modern modalities to offer highly individualized treatments to help our clients live a full, healthy and healed life.
dr. samantha buchanan, DACM L.Ac
FOUNDER, ACUPUNCTURIST, HERBALIST, NUTRITIONIST
Sam is truly passionate about empowering her clients to understand their bodies in order to enhance their quality of life.
Sam is a doctor of Chinese Medicine. Licensed nationally, in the states of California and Michigan - she has more than 8,000 hours of academic and clinical training in Chinese medicine theory, western medicine, acupuncture, herbology and nutrition. She received her Bachelors of Science in Nutrition with an Emphasis on Holistic health from San Francisco State University and her Masters Degree from American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (the oldest and most prestigious school for Traditional Chinese Medicine in the U.S.) Sam has xtensive training in orthopedics, pain management, sports medicine, internal medicine, and mental health. While at Zhejiang Medical University in Hang Zhou province located in Eastern China, Sam furthered her knowledge in orthopedic acupuncture along with ancient Chinese technique. She recently received her doctorate from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine.
RACHEL KOTWICKI
Through empathy + intuition, Rachel's philosophy is to give her clients the massage she would hope to receive if she were in their body. She has been practicing Massage Therapy since 2011, when she graduated from Irene's Myomassology Institute and holds a BA of Science from MSU since 2008. She began her career in Ashiatsu Barefoot bodywork in 2014 through DeepFeet, she has since elevated her training with Deepfeet II in 2018 and SARGA Bodywork training in 2019. Over the course of her career, she has performed over 12,000 massage sessions and has found herself to be the "bodyworker's bodyworker" as many of her clients are fellow Massage Therapists, personal trainers, holistic practitioners, and PTs. Her main intention is for her clients to feel results after even their first session with her- stronger and more able to handle whatever life might be throwing at them. She loves introducing clients to the benefits of Ashiatsu and welcomes anyone looking for physical and mental relief to consider barefoot bodywork as their next massage experience.
jessica davies, l.AC, mtcm
Jessica discovered acupuncture in Michigan during the 90s when it helped relieve her chronic migraines. The experience left her feeling grounded and inspired, leading her to California where she earned her Master's in Traditional Chinese Medicine in 2004. She loves supporting tweens, teens, and women in perimenopause, especially during big life transitions. Her specialties include treating anxiety, insomnia, back pain, headaches, high blood pressure, and ADD/ADHD, always considering the body-mind-spirit connection. Jessica incorporates herbs, plants, mindfulness, and acupressure in her sessions, believing in the body's natural healing power. Her background also includes studies in Food as Medicine, Intuition Medicine, Positive Psychology, and bodywork. Expect her approach to be dynamic and always centered around the magic of tiny needles.
dr. amandine afonso, DAOM
Dr. Amandine Afonso is a recognized healer with over 15 years of experience. As a Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, she specializes in facial and cosmetic acupuncture, offering advanced treatments such as microneedling and nanoneedling. She expertly addresses a variety of skin concerns, including acne, deep wrinkles, residual scarring, hair loss, and skin pigmentation.
For those apprehensive about needles, Dr. Afonso offers needleless acupuncture methods utilizing micro-current stimulation, auricular ear seeds, and acupressure to ensure a comfortable experience. Her natural healing modalities have successfully helped many clients overcome health-related concerns.
Dr. Afonso speaks French, English, and Spanish, making her practice accessible to a wide range of patients.
KATE PATTERSON
Kate began her qigong journey ten years ago and immediately fell in love with the graceful movements. The practice decreased stress and increased energy, and before long, no day was complete without qigong. Wanting to learn more about this ancient art form, she studied for her teaching certificate with Lee Holden in Santa Cruz, California. Through life's ups and downs, she has experienced the medical, emotional and spiritual benefits of qigong first hand, and is thrilled to be able to share it with others.
HELEN BOYER
Helen graduated from the University of Michigan and lived in Washington DC before moving home to work for the Detroit Red Wings. She was a patient at Pointe Acupuncture before working at the front desk and has felt so much better since starting acupuncture. Helen is very passionate about gut health and the effect it has on our physical health. Before acupuncture, she had a stomach ache everyday and thought it was normal until she started treatment.