Lafayette Acupuncture & Functional Medicine - Benjamin Dierauf, LAc

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As an Acupuncturist in Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda, and Pleasant Hill with 25+ years of experience, I can help you with the treatment of aches and pains, migraines, injuries, digestive disorders, gynecological issues, allergies, immune deficiencies, fatigue, sleep disorders and stress, and many other conditions. For more information please visit my website.

Your first visit includes a detailed review of the issues affecting your health and quality of life. From this we will work out a comprehensive treatment plan together. Besides acupuncture, I may prescribe herbal medicine and supplements, and use other modalities to help you, including bodywork, moxa (heat), suction cups and guasha (scraping), and Functional Medicine.

As a former Professor and Academic Dean of the Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine College, Berkeley, and a practitioner of Functional Medicine, I have a unique perspective on the strengths and benefits of this ancient medicine, its integration with modern medicine, and how it can benefit you.

I later learned Functional Medicine through the Kalish Institute of Functional Medicine. This is like holistic western medicine, something that acupuncturists do well with because of our general grounding in systems medicine.

We specialize in 3 types of lab tests that are not generally a part of what you would get from your primary or specialty care MD. These include:
1. Adrenal cortical stress test that measures stress hormone levels,
2. GI stool tests to assess your microbiome, pathogenic bacteria, parasites, leaky gut syndrome, and digestive function, and
3. Organic acids tests that assess various key biochemical markers for different systems in the body. These systems include energy production (fat, carbs, amino acids, and mitochondrial function), inflammation and oxidation, brain and neurotransmitter function, liver and kidney detoxification, and additional microbiome markers that include yeast/candida.

The treatment protocols for Functional Medicine are similar to what we use for Acupuncture and Eastern Medicine: Lifestyle and nutritional changes, and supplements instead of herbal formulas. What’s unique about the style I’ve learned is that my teacher studied under and worked with some of the top names in the fields of hormones, brain function, metabolism, and digestive disorders. As a result, I use supplement protocols that are direct and powerful, and often at a stronger level then other practitioners. Because of this I check in with patients at least once per month to see how they are doing and make adjustments if necessary.

If you’re interested in discussing the next stage of your healing journey with me, schedule an appointment or give me a call to learn more about the services I offer and whether it’s a good fit for you.