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In Practice: Minka Stevens, Acupuncturist
Who: Minka Stevens ITCMDA, L.Ac
Practice: Points of Health Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine Clinic
Specialty: TCM Dermatology, Pediatrics, Inflammatory and Autoimmune
Location: Santa Barbara
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pointsofhealthsb/
TCM in Modern Wellness
How did you get acquainted with TCM?
My grandmother was a botanist who taught edible and medicinal plants in Santa Barbara, and my mother was a gardener so I grew up learning a lot about plants and medicinal plants. When I was working at the farmer’s market and working as a private cook I met a couple who were acupuncturist/nutritionists/herbalist who let me shadow them and taught me about TCM. I immediately fell in love with TCM.
How has TCM impacted your life?
TCM has shaped my entire life — how I understand the world and our place within it. At its core, it teaches us to live in harmony with nature, the seasons, each other, and ourselves. I apply these principles of balance every day in caring for myself, my family, and my community.
When hiking or foraging, I notice the seasons shifting: fire season's rising heat, late summer's abundance, autumn's clarity and letting go, winter's contemplative depth, spring's awakening freshness. TCM has taught me to see these same patterns within the body.
As a practitioner, I'm continually inspired by the precision of TCM diagnostics — recognizing nature's patterns as they appear in body and mind. When writing a formula, the smallest detail matters: where a rash appears, whether sleep is disrupted by falling or staying asleep, whether sweating happens by day or night.
This medicine teaches deep listening — hearing what the body is telling us, and uncovering root causes rather than just surface symptoms. When we do, healing becomes profound. After twenty years, my sense of awe only deepens, and I'm grateful to the teachers and patients who help me keep learning.
As a mother, TCM has become how I nourish my family — my daughter helping in the pharmacy, my grandmother treated for neuropathy, my mom recovering from knee surgery, family woven throughout my week.
What's your favorite way to de-stress?
Hiking with friends, gardening, and ocean time - boating, swimming, etc
What is one health issue that’s common in your practice?
I work a lot with chronic inflammatory conditions from skin diseases, hormone imbalances, rheumatic disease and digestive disorders and for all of them our digestive health (Sp/St) is imperative
What is one acupressure point that is helpful for this issue?
I love to use moxa, aromatherapy at Ren 6
Food As Medicine
What is your favorite TCM herb?
Impossible choice! One of my favorites is Dan Shen which is stunning and I grow it in my garden at home :) (along with Ju Hua, Sheng Di, and quite a few more)
Favorite food and why?
Congee with cultured and roasted seasonal veggies
Favorite YINA product and why:
Hydracloud Cream - I have always had really sensitive and problematic skin and all I need to do is look at most products and I’ll manage to break out, get oily skin, red skin or dry skin, but the cloud cream makes my skin sing! It has been the perfect complement to my 40s dry sensitive skin, leaving it more clear, hydrated, dewy and balanced than ever.
What's one advice you would share with your patients?
I tell patients almost everyday to be more gentle with themselves and spend more time on nourishment and creativity. Also eat more Congee!
