ABOUT
Monica MacCarroll
L.Ac., Dipl. O.M., M.S.
Licensed and nationally certified acupuncturist and Chinese herbal medicine practitioner, based in Knoxville, TN.
I run a general acupuncture and Chinese medicine practice here in Knoxville. Here’s a bit more about how I got here and how I practice.
BACKGROUND
How I got here
I didn’t set out to become an acupuncturist. I grew up in Mt. Clemens, Michigan, and moved south to study entomology at Clemson University. For years afterward, I worked in environmental science — a field with almost no overlap with Chinese medicine.
My first real exposure to it wasn’t through a class or a book. It was through my dog, Muttley, when Chinese medicine helped him in a way I hadn’t expected. That didn’t turn me into a practitioner overnight, but it stuck with me — enough that, years later, I decided to study it seriously myself.
TRAINING
Training and approach
In 2016, I completed my master’s degree in Classical Chinese Medicine at Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical Arts in Asheville, NC, studying under Jeffrey Yuen, and I’m nationally certified in both acupuncture and Chinese herbology.
That training centers on treating the pattern underneath a symptom, not just the symptom itself. In practice, that means two people with the same Western diagnosis can walk away with two different treatment plans, because what’s actually happening in each of their bodies isn’t identical.
My training also went beyond needles: Chinese herbal medicine, cupping, gua sha, Tui Na (Chinese medical massage), Qi Gong, nutritional therapy, and the therapeutic use of essential oils. I’m also a reiki practitioner, and with a patient’s permission, I’ll sometimes bring reiki into a session too. Having more than one tool means treatment gets matched to what actually helps you, not just what’s on a standard menu.
PRACTICE
How I practice
I run a general practice — I see a wide range of concerns, but pain and anxiety are what come through the door most often, usually alongside care people are already getting from a doctor or another provider. I think of this as a complement to that care, not a replacement for it.
I’m also upfront about whether something is actually working. If I’m not seeing meaningful change in the first three sessions, I’ll tell you, and help you figure out a better next step — whether that’s adjusting the plan or pointing you toward another practitioner or approach entirely.
OUTSIDE THE CLINIC
Outside of treating patients, I spend as much time outdoors as I can — hiking, backpacking, paddle boarding, biking, or working in the yard — along with CrossFit and time with my own pets.