About Prickly Mermaid Acupuncture and Herbs

All are welcome at Prickly Mermaid regardless of race, class, or gender.
We are a safe space for LGBTQIA+.

Our philosophy

At Prickly Mermaid, the body, mind, and spirit are not separate and are to be treated and regarded equally. We place as much emphasis on emotional symptoms as we do on physical complaints. In Chinese medicine, emotional imbalances can lead to physical ones, and vice versa. Acupuncture and herbs are supporting tools which are used to teach your body how to maintain its own healthy homeostasis, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. Our bodies like to stay in balance and you are given many of the tools you need to stay healthy long after treatments have ended. I love answering questions and helping my patients to connect the dots of their own health journey, the more we can understand our bodies, the more we can learn to listen to them and react appropriately as things come up. Modern Medicine has often placed doctors at the top of the hierarchy of care, where they are the only ones with the answers to your health. While knowledgeable, they are not the best to know how and when to treat your body - you are. In my office, you are the one in control of your care - how fast we move through treatments, how many needles are used, if you don't want to be touched in certain areas, if you want to end a session early, etc. My job is to support and listen to you.

How we work

You are an individual, and as such, treatment plans are customized to match each person with all their wonderful complexities. Taking the time to listen, observe, and get to know the full person before treating with acupuncture or herbs allows you to get the best care possible. There are no set prescriptions, no set treatments. As your health changes and symptoms improve, so do your treatments.
In addition to acupuncture and herbs, I also look at how people are eating (more so than what they are eating), ways to lessen stress, and things they can do at home so that patients can get better, faster. My goal is to get you to need me less and give you the tools and skills to maintain a healthy balance on your own.

Safety

All guidelines for safety are followed here at Prickly Mermaid. Only single-use, disposable needles are used which greatly reduces the chance of infection. I have received the Clean Needle Technique certification to ensure that my standards of care remain excellent. I am also certified with the National Certification Commission of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) fulfilling all required continuing education, including courses on ethics and safety. Great care is taken to ensure that needles are placed safely and to ensure maximum comfort. Most patients fall asleep comfortably on the table during treatment!
Herbs are sourced from the Tianjiang herbal company in China and are rigorously tested for contaminants, quality, and heavy metals. Many of their herbs are sourced from GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) certified farms or from ethically-wildcrafted sources. Tianjiang is the leading supplier of Herbal products to over 1,000 hospitals throughout China. Great care is taken at both the processing facility and in my office to avoid cross-contamination for those with allergies or sensitivities and have been used by many of my patients safely.

Please feel free to ask any further questions you may have!

About the practioner

Anna Francis,
Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac)

“I am not your typical medical practitioner. I understand the nuances of life, and want to support my patients in their health. For some, that means emphasizing rest. For others, it’s challenging culture’s views of fatphobia and weight gain. For most, it’s reducing stress and anxiety so you can live better.

When you work with me, you’ll experience a judgement-free space. I want my patients to come as they are, knowing they’ll be met with kindness and understanding.”

Anna has been practicing Chinese Medicine since 2011. She studied at the Pacific College of Health and Science in New York and graduated top of her class from Southwest Acupuncture College in Colorado. She is nationally certified as a Diplomat in both Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine by the NCCAOM.

She has long been invested in treating sexual health and helping those with symptoms from perimenopause, low libido, anorgasmia, painful sex, menstrual pain, infertility, pelvic floor dysfunction, postpartum recovery, pregnancy, stress, anxiety, depression, poor sleep, poor digestion, headaches, body aches, and many other issues which can drastically affect the quality of life.

Passionate about educating her patients, she gives them the information and tools they need to take charge of their health and effect huge changes in their lives. While many health issues people face may be common, they are not always normal, and no one should live with pain or discomfort. There is no “normal level” of pain or poor health, and Anna works to help you find solutions to get you back to living your best life.