S.F. Medical Clinic for the Treatment of Pain
Training and Expertise
Our medical director, Tsun-Nin Lee, M.D. is an established expert in both modern “Western” medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine. He is a graduate of Columbia College and received his M.D. degree from the New York University School of Medicine, and has been a licensed physician in California since 1971. However, he has also received extensive acupuncture training in Asia in the 1970s. Dr. Lee discovered that combining the best approaches of Eastern and Western medicine was most effective in treating his patients with medical conditions resistant to conventional therapies.
In addition to being an experienced clinician, Dr. Lee is also a well-known researcher and lecturer involved in training numerous physicians nationwide in acupuncture. He is also the author of many medical journal articles. As the proponent of the landmark Thalamic Neuron Theory, which incorporates knowledge of modern and oriental medicine to explain the role played by the central nervous system, the brain and the spinal cord, in the causes and cures of various diseases. As a teacher, he has trained many medical doctors all over the country to perform acupuncture.
Our second attending physician, Tien Lee, M.D., attended UC Berkeley as a Regent and Alumni Scholar, received his M.D. degree from UC San Diego, and acquired post-graduate training in internal medicine and rehabilitation medicine from UC Los Angeles and UC Irvine, respectively. He has also completed comprehensive training in both acupuncture and herbal medicine.
One Kind of Medicine - The One That Works
The distinction between modern Western medicine and alternative (also known as complementary or integrative) medicine is artificial. Our clinic does not employ alternative methods or modern medical therapies to the exclusion of the other, but combines them appropriately to promote effective healing. For instance, physical therapy (a Western modality) and acupuncture (an oriental healing method) can be employed simultaneously to maximally relieve pain and accelerate rehabilitation. Likewise, trigger point injections (a modern technique) may be complemented by herbal therapy to improve therapeutic outcome.
Patients Participate in the Integral Care
Our patients actively participate in their own care by relating how they feel following a treatment session, making dietary changes to improve their overall health, and following lifestyle modifications to eliminate their symptoms and prevent future recurrences of their medical problems. Most patients also receive additional education during their treatment programs.
Reduction of Reliance on Medications or Drugs
In many instances, modern drug therapies only serve to temporarily suppress symptoms such as pain without eradicating the root causes of a disease process. During our treatment programs, non-essential drugs that often produce side-effects are gradually reduced as the condition improves. This is accomplished gradually, safely, and judiciously with vigilant supervision. This goal has been found to be quite achievable in many patients when their symptoms are ameliorated by therapies received at our clinic.
A Positive Experience
Building a foundation of trust by treating our patients as special individuals is vital to our success. We understand how difficult it is to experience a chronic or painful condition, which is why we continually strive to make a difference in presenting a relaxing and positive experience. Our team is dedicated to providing you with the excellent, personalized care and service you need to make your visits as comfortable and pleasant as possible.
We thank you for allowing us to be a part of your journey towards better health!