Jennifer Carino, L.Ac., is a licensed acupuncturist with more than 20 years of experience helping patients restore balance and improve their health through acupuncture and Chinese medicine. She specializes in gentle Japanese acupuncture for the face and body, offering personalized treatments that support the body’s natural healing ability.
Jennifer works with patients experiencing chronic pain, stress and anxiety, digestive issues, hormonal changes, fertility challenges, fatigue, and the side effects of cancer treatment. She also offers cosmetic acupuncture and microcurrent therapies to support healthy skin, improve circulation, and promote natural facial rejuvenation.
Her approach blends traditional East Asian medicine with modern diagnostic techniques. Using gentle Japanese acupuncture methods passed down through the lineage of Sensei Koji Ichihashi, she focuses on creating treatments that are comfortable, precise, and deeply relaxing.
Jennifer earned her Master’s degree in Chinese Medicine from the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in San Francisco in 2001 and has pursued extensive additional training in cosmetic acupuncture, microcurrent therapies, thyroid health, and functional lab chemistry.
Her path to acupuncture began during a deeply personal time when her partner was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Seeing the positive effects of acupuncture, nutrition, and holistic care inspired her to change careers and dedicate her life to helping others heal.
Jennifer has also contributed to research at Stanford University on an NIH-sponsored study examining acupuncture for depression during pregnancy and has volunteered providing acupuncture treatments for women living with cancer.
In addition to her clinical work, Jennifer integrates meditation and contemplative care into her practice, drawing inspiration from Buddhist philosophy and her training through the San Francisco Zen Center. Her goal is to create a calm, supportive environment where patients feel heard, cared for, and empowered in their healing journey.
I like to say I was born into the medical field, but I had to find my own medicine.
My mom was a nurse and I grew up wandering around nursing homes until her shift ended. I spent time with the nurses, residents, the staff that provided activities, nutritional and pastoral care, as well as the maintenance team and administration. I felt right at home and saw firsthand how everyone played such an important part of providing care. I also understood somehow that none of these roles were quite for me.
I pursued my other passions of data and finance while continuing to volunteer in various medical settings. I was well into my corporate career when I tried acupuncture for the first time for my recurring migraines. I immediately fell in love with the medicine, realizing it was the role I had been searching for. I loved how the medicine addressed the whole person, how it sought to resolve the underlying root of a problem instead of just the complaint, how seemingly random symptoms were part of a pattern, how taking herbs and supplements and a nap in the acupuncturist’s office once a week helped me start to feel better, how reassuring it was to have someone that took the time to really be with me and listen. I had finally found the medicine that I wanted to practice.
Acupuncture has been my rock in every aspect of my life. My love for this medicine inspires me to continue to its study and use it to address my emotional health, to refine my own sense of well being, to relieve the occasional aches and pains, to put me to sleep at night, ease all matters related to women’s health, and even refine my aging face. I am incredibly grateful to be able to provide this to others.
