Woodfords practitioner helps with ancient art of acupuncture

Mesa Vista resident Kimball Chatfield, doctor of oriental medicine and board certified acupuncturist, who's been in practice since 1983, not only maintains an office at South Lake Tahoe, but also has an office in Woodfords for the convenience of his Alpine County and Carson Valley patients.

After earning his bachelor's degree from San Diego State University in natural resource management, Chatfield continued his studies at four more colleges, for a total of nine years.

When he was a graduate student taking naturopath classes, he met an acupuncturist who he greatly admired for his ability to promote healing.

At that point, Chatfield turned from his first study field of protecting the natural environment Ð plants; to learn instead to managing the natural resources of people.

He subsequently was awarded his doctorate in acupuncture from the California Acupuncture College in Santa Barbara.

Acupuncture, one of the oldest, most commonly used medical procedures in the world, originated in China more than 2,000 years ago.

The procedure began to become better known in the United States in 1971, after New York Times reporter James Reston wrote about how doctors in China used needles to ease his pain after surgery.

Even though he became more people-oriented, Chatfield didn't abandon his love for plants, since acupuncturists are required to have an extended knowledge of herbal medicine. Moving from the coastal cities of Santa Barbara and San Diego to the mountains of Sierra Nevada, he pursued the lore and logic of local medicinal plants.

Since there were just a few books available on medicinal plants of the Sierra, Chatfield wrote the definitive book, "Medicine from the Mountains" Ð now out of print.

When asked why it isn't being re-printed, he replied, "Because I want to revise my book by more than doubling the 70 plants described in my first book."

Wondering how Chatfield learned enough to write his book on plants of the Sierras, he replied, "I took my first class in California plant identification in 1971 in my freshman year.

"Fifteen years ago, I taught myself about medicinal plants of the Sierra, first by reading all of the books available and then by going out in the field and gathering herbal plants. I would take these herbs to Indian gatherings, and sometimes they would identify their uses and sometimes not."

Chatfield began teaching at Lake Tahoe Community College 12 years ago.

Courses he has taught include not only acupuncture, but also nutrition, herbal medicine and environmental health.

He guides guests of Sorensen's on walks, "Medicinal Plants of Hope Valley," each summer.

Acupuncture focuses on improving health, and "there are no side effects with acupuncture," Chatfield claims. His treatments last 20 to 30 minutes.

He especially likes to help people recover from injuries, strokes and spinal cord injuries, obtaining referrals from neurologists.

In some studies, acupuncture has been found to speed healing twice as fast as with conventional methods, by releasing healing endorphins.

Acupuncture is not intended to conceal pain, but rather to promote healing by regulating the nervous system.

Chatfield's hobbies include hiking through the Sierra Nevada and gardening.

He has a vegetable garden and a small orchard at his home in Mesa Vista and believes in eating fresh food in its natural state, because, "Health is your only true wealth," he says.

Chatfield met his wife Melinda in a restaurant in northern Santa Barbara County where he was working as a waiter, and she was a guest.

They've been married for 25 years, and have two children, 21-year-old Michael, who is interested in landscaping, and Douglas High School student Shannon, 16, who wants to be a journalist.

The family had resided at South Lake Tahoe, but has lived in Alpine County for three years. Melinda is her husband's office manager.

The office in Woodfords is open Mondays and Wednesdays and is located within the Mountain and Garden premises, at 290 Pony Express Road, and the phone number is (530) 694-2459.

n Gina Gigli is a Markleeville resident. Reach her at ginagigli@villagigli.com