Today we’d like to introduce you to Claire McManus.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Claire. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Twenty Five years ago I was working as an organic farmer and science educator in Vermont. I knew I would go into western medicine—but on a whim I tried acupuncture for my allergies. From my first treatment it was clear that this would be my profession. The language of Chinese Medicine is the language of farming & gardening—we look at the body like it is soil and when there is imbalance (pain, anxiety, distress) we seek to amend that “soil “ through nutrition, movement and changing the body’s energetic pathways (acupuncture).
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I have a busy city practice but it wasn’t always so smooth. If Organic Farming was fringe behavior 25 years ago, you can only imagine what Acupuncture was! I left the farm, moved to Boston and started studying for my Master’s Degree at the New England School of Acupuncture (Now part of Mass College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences). Upon graduation I landed a job at Harvard Medical School and spent over a decade working as an acupuncturist on several big research studies of acupuncture. It was fascinating to be part of a whip-smart team of researchers who have been able to show the science behind the art of acupuncture. I am incredibly proud of a research group I worked with most recently at MGH—this spring we published our findings in the neuroscience journal Brain and our study results were then picked up nationally in publications like The New York Times and Time Magazine.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
While I mainly treat humans, my love for animals and experience with large animals has created an interesting niche. Many area veterinarians refer dogs to me—for joint, neurological and aging issues. It is an incredible pleasure to work with humans and their canine companions. Several of the Therapy Dogs who serve Boston Medical Center have been patients of mine and I am honored to be work with these animals. I have the unique distinction of being on call to both the Aquarium and Zoo to help care for some of their large animals. Sometimes with acupuncture, often with acupressure to assist with issues like arthritis, digestion and joint pain.
Is Boston a good place for this type of business?
My business has a solid footing in West Roxbury and Winthrop (a mile from East Boston) After all these years I treat whole families, from teens to parents to grandparents and occasionally the family dog! Boston is a smart, progressive town, open to other ways of viewing health. We used to call things like organic food and acupuncture “alternative” but it is clear that cities like Boston have made these professions mainstream.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1895 Centre Street #201
West Roxbury MA 02132
and
Grovers Avenue
Winthrop MA 02152 - Website: mcmanusacupuncture.com
- Phone: 617.818.5549
- Email: mcmanusacupuncture@me.com
- Facebook: @mcmanusacupuncture
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