Practitioners

Bret moved to Austin almost 20 years ago and immediately knew he was in the right spot. He graduated UT Austin with a Bachelors, double majoring in Urban Studies and Linguistics, and shortly after began to study dance and movement, specifically ballet, modern, and tai chi. These quickly became his new passion and to this day you can find him in studios around Austin. He likes to say his approach to Chinese Medicine and treatment is "profoundly influenced by these practices."

Bret came to Traditional Chinese Medicine through his practice of Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong. He began studying martial arts in 2007 and instantly felt drawn to the forms the body made in Tai Chi. The deliberate movements, the focus on qi, resonated with him and he quickly delved into the practice. As his interest matured, the academic within him began to yearn for the a deeper understanding of what was happening within these practices. In 2011 he decided to attend the AOMA School of Integrative Medicine earning a Master of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (MAcOM). In 2017 he started the Doctoral Program at AOMA and is focusing on acupuncture outreach for treating addiction in the Austin area.

He is currently on Faculty at AOMA as the Clinical Resident Supervisor, primary Teaching Assistant for the Biomedical Department and Acupuncture Techniques Department, and instructor for the Biomedical Terminology course. 

Bret practices acupuncture because of its integrative and holistic approach, particularly with respect to Women's Health. Having seen so many women and female bodied friends helped tremendously by this medicine after being dismissed by many other practitioners, he made it a primary focus of his studies. He also has focuses in pain management, sports injury, addiction, and mental health. Schedule online with him, or call to directly at (512) 450-4228 to make an appointment.

My understanding of alternative medicine and holistic health has evolved over many years. I strive to provide an opportunity for healing and education that empowers patients to live fuller and healthier lives.

About Chinese Medicine:

Chinese medicine encompasses a rich set of modalities for treating most health concerns. Patients often benefit from the inclusion of Chinese therapies such as cupping, guasha, tuina massage, herbal medicine, and medical qigong in addition to acupuncture in their course of treatment.

​Cupping, guasha, and tuina massage are physical therapies that are very effective in treating muscular-skeletal traumas. These therapies are also instrumental in treating a variety of chronic health concerns and are widely used in sports medicine applications.

​Chinese herbal medicine is a powerful healing modality comparable in sophistication to pharmaceuticals, but without the toxicity and side effects associated with pharmaceuticals.

​Qigong is a unique form of Chinese yoga and meditation with applications in spiritual practice, martial arts and medicine. Joseph is a long time qigong teacher and often uses medical qigong as an adjunct therapy during treatment.

​Please feel free to reach out to Joseph with any questions or to schedule a free consultation where specific health concerns can be discussed.

You can also learn more information at Well Within Community.

To your health!

Basmati.com sits down with Joseph Macchiavelli about Chinese medicine and healing naturally!

Basmati.com sits down with Joseph Macchiavelli as he demonstrates the healing techniques of acupuncture, cupping, and gua sha.

5 Questions, Answered From Jospeh

Describe yourself in three words:


Work in progress.

What is the greatest challenge you have overcome/are overcoming?


Holding awareness of my personal evolutionary process as a human being.

What is unique to you about your work?

It’s my job to take good care of myself so that I can help other people take good care of themselves. I find this to be a uniquely wonderful way to relate to the world and to my community.

How do you guide your patients into their own healing/inner freedom?

I encourage patients to prioritize optimum health and inner peace as a path to realizing life’s full potential. I provide self care tools that gently guide a patient into an increased awareness of body, mind, and spirit.

What tools have you found least/most effective in your work?

All of the tools and modalities of Chinese medicine have specific application and are equally effective when applied with proper knowledge and sensitivity. But above all, it is a patient’s own awareness and intention that are the most effective tools in healing.

Prior to attending Chinese Medical school, Austin obtained degrees in psychology and social science. He is a gentle spirit who previously worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant. He specializes in treating women's health because he's seen the effect that it has on so many women's lives. Austin is a Doctoral Candidate in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. He enjoys cooking, exercising and watching the latest movies. 

Andrea is originally from Michigan but loves living in California. In her first career, she worked as a pharmaceutical chemist for 9 years. She is passionate about empowering patients to make small changes in their lifestyles that can improve their health. She spends her free time reading, traveling and talking to her niece on FaceTime. Andrea is a Doctoral Candidate in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine.

Chris spent 15 years studying with Edward Obaidey, a world-renowned acupuncturist in Tokyo.

His interest in acupuncture and Chinese medicine originated over three decades ago, when he sought a healthier method to treat his allergies and asthma, after his local pharmacist told him the drugs he was taking were harmful. Chris was thankful and incredulous that these fine needles and exotic herbs could rectify his health concerns so effectively, enabling him to give up his allergy shots and medications.

As he continues on the path to wellness, Tai Chi, Qi Gong and meditation have been his allies. After 20 years of practice, Chris continues to deepen his understanding and his treatments continue to reach higher levels of refinement, month after month and year after year.

Education

Master’s Degree in Chinese Medicine • 1995
International Institute of Chinese Medicine, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Certifications

• Certified Acupuncturist
  National Committee for the Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
• Licensed Acupuncturist
  State of Colorado

Advanced Training

• Private acupuncture studies with Edward Obaidey, Tokyo, Japan • 2000, 2002, 2004–2005.
• Private acupuncture studies with Morihiro Murata, top student of Shudo Denmai, Nagoya, Japan • 2000.
• Toyo Hari Association, Seattle, Washington • 1996–1997

Professional Background

1995–Present
Private practice in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, Boulder, Colorado

2000–Present
Clinical Assistant, Edward Acupuncture Clinic, Tokyo, Japan

1995–1996
Colorado School for Traditional Medicine, Denver, Colorado
Lectured on acupuncture and Chinese herbology. Assisted main clinical supervisor in overseeing student practitioners in acupuncture at public clinics.

Petra Loewen is an aromatherapist, holistic nutrition health coach, shamanic practitioner and minister of the Circle of the Sacred Earth.  As a Reverend, she facilitates weddings and other rites of passages in New York City. She loves her dogs, gardening, growing her own food, sprouting, brewing kombucha and her backyard chicken. She writes about alternative healing modalities she uses such as meditation, sound healing, Ayurveda, Feng shui,  Traditional Chinese Medicine and organic food. 

She is a professional member of National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA). She has been practicing aromatherapy for over 30 years and has been published in the German Cosmopolitan.

She is an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, trained at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and is also a Harner Shamanic Counselor (HSC) trained by Sandra Harner in San Francisco. 

She offers single sessions and 6 months programs to integrate healthy life changes with gratitude.