Melissa Roxas
Licensed Acupuncturist and Master Herbalist (L.Ac., Dipl.O.M., MTOM)
Owner & Founder of Little Sage
My journey to becoming an acupuncturist and herbalist started before I was born. My umbilical cord was tightly wrapped around my body causing a condition of cord entrapment and fetal hypoxia. I was only five pounds when I was born and I had serious breathing problems early in infancy. My family took me to many Western medical doctors seeking relief for my breathing problems, but none of them were able to help me. The Western doctors concluded that I’ll have breathing problems the rest of my life.
An elder in the family suggested that my parents take me to a local herbalist, who then treated me with massage and gave me herbs to drink. After only a few months of being treated, my wheezing was gone and I never had breathing problems again. My early memories of childhood include my grandmother preparing and applying herbal poultices to me and my sibling’s bumps and bruises. She was a pediatrician by profession but an herbalist at heart. My great-grandfather, Dr. Eduardo Quisumbing, was a botanist and a leading authority of medicinal plants in the Philippines. He is the author of the seminal book on the subject.
Now that I'm practicing plant medicine, I’m honored and humbled to continue in this tradition of healing and herbology.
I've been a health worker and human rights activist for over 20 years. While providing volunteer health services to poor and marginalized communities in the Philippines in 2009, I was abducted and tortured by the state military. I needed surgery and intense therapy after the incident but I was able to fully recover faster and with no pain medication because of acupuncture and Chinese herbs. The energy practice of Qigong was an important component of healing the physical, psychological, and spiritual wounds of my trauma.
This experience of trauma and healing has taught me the powerful, indomitable spirit of the human soul and the incredible ability of our bodies to heal. What I discovered is the Little Sage in all of us.
It is my mission and passion to empower others to discover and reconnect with their Little Sage to make true healing possible. I use a trauma-informed approach to care, which means that I understand the impact of trauma and I'm committed to creating a safe and supportive environment where you can feel comfortable sharing your story and working towards your health goals.
I have experience treating a wide range of conditions including autoimmune conditions, sleep disorders/insomnia, depression/anxiety, digestive issues, chronic and acute pain disorders, and more.
Here are my specialties:
- Pain management: Pain associated with the following conditions can be effectively treated by acupuncture: Headaches and migraines, neck pain, shoulder pain, lower back pain, sciatica, hip pain, knee pain, dysmenorrhea, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, see the full list of conditions.
- Women's health: I treat a wide range of women's conditions including hormone balance, menstrual cycle issues, fertility, pregnancy, and menopause.
- Pediatrics: I take great joy in truly seeing and honoring the uniqueness of each child, listening to their needs, and providing them with gentle and compassionate treatment. Learn more about my approach to pediatric treatment.
- Chronic conditions: I provide holistic treatment to provide relief from symptoms of chronic illness and help you revitalize your health and nurture your well-being.
I would be honored to welcome you and your family into my practice to help you achieve optimal health.
Education and Credentials:
- Masters of Traditional Oriental Medicine (M.T.O.M.). Graduated Summa Cum Laude from Emperor’s College of Traditional Oriental Medicine, the top-ranked school in California and the second-ranked acupuncture and Chinese Medicine College in the United States.
- Licensed acupuncturist (L.Ac.) by the California Acupuncture Board
- Certified Diplomate of Oriental Medicine (Dipl.O.M.) by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM).
- Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Physiology and Neuroscience from the University of California, San Diego
- Bachelor of Arts Degree in Global South Studies with a minor in Health Care-Social Issues from the University of California, San Diego
- TCM Diploma in Practical Dermatology with world renowned expert Dr. Mazin Al-Khafaji
- Women's Functional and Integrative Medicine Professional Training Program with Dr. Aviva Romm
- Member of the International Traditional Chinese Medicine Association of Dermatology
- Advanced herbal training and post-graduate studies in women's health, pediatrics and dermatology.
- Studied with world renowned experts in the field of herbal medicine, acupuncture, and Qigong