Lori's Story
Lori Earley, Photo by Kati Maxwell of True Essence Branding
One of the most common questions I get from new clients is “Why Chinese Medicine”?
It may surprise most people that Chinese Medicine found me; I did not go out searching for it. My journey as a “healer” began in the more traditional sense, whereas I went to college to major in Pre-Med and go on to traditional medical school. However, as I began my studies in Biology, my interest in research – and potentially even Field Biology – became my truest passion at that time. So, instead of heading off to medical school after college graduation, I enrolled in a Graduate Program, which specializes in Herpetology (the study of reptiles) & Field Biology.
I tried a few different specialties, most notably Herpetology (nope, that lasted about half a minute), then Genetics (nope again), and Virology (I couldn’t handle the slow-paced, electrophoresis gel-watching) until I finally settled on Mycology (the study of fungi) & Scanning Electron Microscopy. While it may not sound so intriguing, exploring the microscopic world of fungi’s calcium oxalate crystals in 3D was a beautiful synthesis of science and artistic expression.
Instead of heading off to attain my PhD after graduation, I decided to take a few years away from academia and jump into the "real world" of corporate sales. Those few years ended up spanning nearly a decade, where I was a Pharmaceutical Sales Specialist for 3 different Big Pharma companies. Over the decade, I primarily sold psychotropic medications for ADHD, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer’s. I also became an educator for pharmaceuticals that treated cardiovascular, infectious, autoimmune, and gastrointestinal diseases, and osteoporosis and cancer.
My interest in biology, physiology, and health has spanned my lifetime, but it wasn’t until 2009 that I first learned about acupuncture. While on a retreat, I met a Doctor of Chinese Medicine who encouraged me to learn about acupuncture and to become a student of Chinese Medicine. Admittedly, at the time, I dismissed it; however, it forever remained in the back of my mind as I became more frustrated with the pharmaceutical industry.
The day I quit my pharmaceutical career in 2010, I was left with nothing. My phone, my computer, my car, my salary and all the benefits were completely stripped away, and I was forced to begin a new life. Looking back, this was the biggest, boldest, and best decision I could’ve made because it lead me straight to the American College of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine where I enrolled the very day I stepped foot through its doors.
After the first semester, I knew I had found my calling. Or rather, perhaps my calling had found me…
Upon becoming a student of Chinese Medicine, I also became a patient. At only 31 years of age, I had already been diagnosed with clinical depression, insomnia, anxiety, and an autoimmune disease, which left me feeling fatigued, foggy, and drained. The number of prescription medications were growing by the year, and I was relying on meds for daily functioning. After my first year of school, I was able to say goodbye to 80% of the pharmaceuticals with the help of acupuncture and Chinese herbal therapy. Today, I only take one prescription. Although my life has had its significant ups and downs (even tragedies), I have not needed medications to get me through.
I vividly recall a professor telling the class during my first semester of Chinese Medicine school “You may think you know exactly what your plan is when you graduate, but in nearly every case, your specialty will find you.” Ah! This is so true for me. The reason I specialize in Emotional Health is I understand and have experienced exactly how Chinese Medicine has the potential to transform lives. To dive deeper into my story, you can learn how acupuncture and herbal therapy helped lift me out of nearly a lifetime of depression.
