Abby Friend Lic. Ac. holds a Masters in Acupuncture (MAc) from The New England School of Acupuncture, one of the oldest, most rigorous and respected Traditional Chinese Medicine schools in the country, and is licensed by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine to practice.
Abby's experience comes from a variety of clinical training at varying hospital settings including: pediatrics at Boston Medical Center, family medicine at Cambridge Health Alliance, and veteran services at Pathways to Wellness at the South End Community Health Center. Abby utilizes both Chinese and Japanese acupuncture styles, and tailors the treatment to her patient’s needs and comfort.
Abby first discovered acupuncture while working at a vet hospital gaining experience before applying to vet school. At the hospital, she saw first-hand how powerfully the animals responded to acupuncture treatments, and found the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) model of holistic health was instead more aligned with her medical views. The TCM model focuses on each person as an individual and works to treat the root cause of a problem. Abby found the western model in chronic cases were often treating the symptom, and not addressing underlying disharmony.
Abby’s passion of Traditional Chinese Medicine is founded in helping patients through a holistic approach by offering alternative solutions. Treating patients from a root cause approach, Abby uses an integrative method of healing by looking at the body as whole, including TCM, diet, lifestyle, and exercise, as well as creating a a individualized treatment strategy that targets the root cause of each unique symptom.
Abby's passion is to help people lead pain free lives; to treat this she focuses on distal meridian points, and utilizes orthopedic needling triggering specific areas of pain to loosen local and distal muscles thus bringing blood flow to a previously constricted area. Abby has found acupuncture especially helpful in offering relief for disc herniation , plantar faciities, migraines and loosening tight constricted muscles.
Abby also focuses on fertility believing that any woman that wants to achieve pregnancy, should do so in a compassionate knowledgeable setting that Abby strives to create. She also focuses in helping women who are dealing with a range of female health issues including but not limited to: PMS, Menopause, hormone imbalance, and pregnancy symptoms such as: sciatic pain, morning sickness, labor encouragement and to flip babies that are breech. After going through a missed miscarriage herself, Abby became a mom in late December, 2015. Due to her own fertility journey Abby strives to help women empower themselves about conception, labor, optimal fetal positioning, and health during and after pregnancy.
Lastly, after she and her husband got diagnosed with chronic lyme and co-infections in the fall of 2015 Abby has made it her mission to understand the medical disparity surrounding lyme. Intrigued by the differential diagnosis and treatment strategies doctors prescribe, Abby set off to understand how, and why these differing treatment approaches are offered. Abby will take the time to answer any questions about this complex disease, and will use acupuncture (which has been shown to stimulate the immune system, and decrease symptoms often associated with lyme), diet, and may recommend herbs to help support your body's immune system as it battles these bacterium and protozoa.
Abby earned her Bachelors of Political Science degree from St. Lawrence University in New York State. Abby is licensed by the Massachusetts Board of Medicine, in addition is a National Board Certified Acupuncturist (NCCAOM), certified in Clean Needle Technique (CCAOM), as well as certified in Auriculotherapy. Additionally, Abby completed a certified birth doula course through DONA International and is facial rejuvenation certified.
Abby lives in the south shore with her husband, Michael, daughters Colbie and Maeve, and dog "Otter". She enjoys yoga, horse back riding, time with family and friends and anything outdoors.
Abby's experience comes from a variety of clinical training at varying hospital settings including: pediatrics at Boston Medical Center, family medicine at Cambridge Health Alliance, and veteran services at Pathways to Wellness at the South End Community Health Center. Abby utilizes both Chinese and Japanese acupuncture styles, and tailors the treatment to her patient’s needs and comfort.
Abby first discovered acupuncture while working at a vet hospital gaining experience before applying to vet school. At the hospital, she saw first-hand how powerfully the animals responded to acupuncture treatments, and found the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) model of holistic health was instead more aligned with her medical views. The TCM model focuses on each person as an individual and works to treat the root cause of a problem. Abby found the western model in chronic cases were often treating the symptom, and not addressing underlying disharmony.
Abby’s passion of Traditional Chinese Medicine is founded in helping patients through a holistic approach by offering alternative solutions. Treating patients from a root cause approach, Abby uses an integrative method of healing by looking at the body as whole, including TCM, diet, lifestyle, and exercise, as well as creating a a individualized treatment strategy that targets the root cause of each unique symptom.
Abby's passion is to help people lead pain free lives; to treat this she focuses on distal meridian points, and utilizes orthopedic needling triggering specific areas of pain to loosen local and distal muscles thus bringing blood flow to a previously constricted area. Abby has found acupuncture especially helpful in offering relief for disc herniation , plantar faciities, migraines and loosening tight constricted muscles.
Abby also focuses on fertility believing that any woman that wants to achieve pregnancy, should do so in a compassionate knowledgeable setting that Abby strives to create. She also focuses in helping women who are dealing with a range of female health issues including but not limited to: PMS, Menopause, hormone imbalance, and pregnancy symptoms such as: sciatic pain, morning sickness, labor encouragement and to flip babies that are breech. After going through a missed miscarriage herself, Abby became a mom in late December, 2015. Due to her own fertility journey Abby strives to help women empower themselves about conception, labor, optimal fetal positioning, and health during and after pregnancy.
Lastly, after she and her husband got diagnosed with chronic lyme and co-infections in the fall of 2015 Abby has made it her mission to understand the medical disparity surrounding lyme. Intrigued by the differential diagnosis and treatment strategies doctors prescribe, Abby set off to understand how, and why these differing treatment approaches are offered. Abby will take the time to answer any questions about this complex disease, and will use acupuncture (which has been shown to stimulate the immune system, and decrease symptoms often associated with lyme), diet, and may recommend herbs to help support your body's immune system as it battles these bacterium and protozoa.
Abby earned her Bachelors of Political Science degree from St. Lawrence University in New York State. Abby is licensed by the Massachusetts Board of Medicine, in addition is a National Board Certified Acupuncturist (NCCAOM), certified in Clean Needle Technique (CCAOM), as well as certified in Auriculotherapy. Additionally, Abby completed a certified birth doula course through DONA International and is facial rejuvenation certified.
Abby lives in the south shore with her husband, Michael, daughters Colbie and Maeve, and dog "Otter". She enjoys yoga, horse back riding, time with family and friends and anything outdoors.
