Dr. Jeannie Dairo, Licensed Acupuncturist and Herbalist
Dr. Jeannie Dairo, licensed acupuncturist and herbalist, has a mission: helping others discover Chinese medicine’s powerful tools for deep healing, and looking at the whole picture, not just individual aches and pains.
Although she considered becoming a physician, Dr. Dairo became frustrated with the limited options of Western medicine when she helped care for two sick relatives and suffered from chronic hormonal problems herself. “None of us were getting any healing, and it was a runaround until you got to a dead end,” she says.
In addition, the unexpected loss of a loved one sent her into a spiral of profound grief, followed by shingles, frozen shoulder, stomach upset, and foggy brain. She decided to pursue acupuncture.
“After being stuck for a long time, acupuncture finally put me in a state where I could deal with everything I was going through.”
Born in Taiwan and raised in Texas, Dr. Dairo completed her B.A. in integrative biology at University of California, Berkeley. She graduated in 2020 from the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in San Francisco, California, with a doctorate in acupuncture and Chinese medicine. She is fluent in English and conversant in Mandarin.
She completed an acupuncture sports medicine apprenticeship program with Dr. Whitfield Reeves, who pioneered the combination of classical acupuncture principles with Western orthopedics. She has also studied with Dr. Jenny Nieters, the current San Francisco 49ers team acupuncturist.
Dr. Dairo has also trained with Dr. Jennifer Mercier, the founder of Mercier Therapy, a deep pelvic organ manipulation for women suffering fertility challenge, pelvic pain, or a past trauma.
“I feel gratitude to my teachers that I can now help others in the same way they’ve helped me.”
Licensure and certification
- California Licensed Acupuncturist, AC 19201
- Acupuncture Sports Medicine Apprenticeship, Instructors: Dr. Whitfield Reeves, LAc and Dr. Jenny Nieters, LAc, 2022
- Sports Acupuncture: Anatomy, Assessment, Acupuncture Treatment, Instructor: Dr. Jenny Nieters, LAc, 2022
- Mercier Therapy, Fertility Practitioner, Instructor: Dr. Jennifer Mercier, ND, 2021
John Luna-Sparks, clinic director
A licensed acupuncturist and herbalist in the state of California and a nationally certified diplomate, clinic director John Luna-Sparks (he/him) is also the head Tai Chi instructor at White Magnolia. He was inspired to enter the field of Chinese medicine after suffering a debilitating neck injury that left him bedridden for four months. With acupuncture and Tai Chi, he was able to avoid surgery, come off painkillers and antidepressants, and resume his life again. “I wanted to help other people in pain see that there are time-honored avenues that really work,” he says. “Sometimes we need to remove barriers that get in the way of natural healing. Chinese medicine works by addressing root causes, identifying an imbalance, and restoring balance.”
“I wanted to help other people in pain see that there are time-honored avenues that really work,” he says. “Sometimes we need to remove barriers that get in the way of natural healing. Chinese medicine works by addressing root causes, identifying an imbalance, and restoring balance.”
John graduated in 2015 from the Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences in Oakland, California, with a master’s degree in traditional Chinese medicine. After acupuncture school, John completed the intensive Acupuncture Sports Medicine apprenticeship program with Dr. Whitfield Reaves, who pioneered the use of acupuncture with Western orthopedics. Previously John was a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Children’s Hospital in Oakland, California. He continues is private psychotherapy practice.
“I am passionate about helping others take charge of their health care, as I did, with options that target the root cause of the pain and minimize the use of drugs and surgery,” he says.
Licensure and certification
- California Licensed Acupuncturist, AC 16975
- NCCAOM Diplomate, National Board Certification (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine)
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCS 18924
- Certified Self Defense Instructor, Kidpower Teenpower Fullpower, International
- Member, California State Oriental Medicine Association
Additional training and study
- Whitfield Reaves, OMD, L.Ac.
- Dr. Miriam Marsolais, PhD
- John Nieters, L.Ac., DAOM
- Robert Levine, LAc