Chao-shang Chou is a Registered Acupuncturist and TCM practitioner.
Formally trained in China and Canada, Chao has been cultivating a keen interest in the art of healing since her childhood. Born in Taiwan into a family with a herbalist and chemist father as well as two Western medicine-trained elder siblings, she grew up smelling Chinese herbs along with western drugs and listening to endless discussions about different treatments for illnesses around the dining table. Her favorite pastime was to stay in the study room rummaging through collections of literature on various healing arts.
Moving to Canada in her early twenties, Chao initially continued in her studies in the field of history, anthropology and philosophy. Her upbringing and her personal experiences with the limitations of the mainstream medicine inevitably
impelled her to return to TCM. She started to share her TCM knowledge with her circle of friends and family and gradually transformed into a strong believer in the holistic approach of TCM towards human health, finally going down the path of becoming a full-fledged TCM practitioner and acupuncturist.
Since becoming a member of the College of TCM Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario, Chao has been providing the full scope of TCM practice in Ottawa: acupuncture, herbal formulas, Chinese Massage (Tui Na), acupressure, cupping and moxa, as well as dietary advice, meditation, Qi Gong, Tai Chi and Yoga (for which she holds a teaching certificate). She also enjoys blogging to share her knowledge of and experience with TCM-related topics.
In her spare time, Chao loves cycling, practicing Tai Chi in parks and hiking in the woods. She also loves travelling to different parts of the world to experience different cultures.