Dr. Wunian Chen, Acupuncturist

Wunian Chen, MD, LAc is an acupuncturist and traditional Chinese medicine physician who brings a unique combination of knowledge and skill to the Acupuncture Balanced Health practice. Dr. Chen first became interested in acupuncture after observing his father recover from debilitating back pain following a series of acupuncture treatments. He now has more than 30 years of experience delivering acupuncture treatments and helping patients use Chinese herbal treatments to improve their health.

Educational Background

While studying acupuncture at the Hubei College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dr. Chen studied the principles of both Chinese and Western medicine. He graduated in 1983 with the equivalent of a U.S. medical degree. After graduating, he started practicing herbal medicine, acupuncture, and Western medicine in a Wuhan community hospital.

Dr. Chen moved to North Carolina in 1990 and soon thereafter passed the U.S. Medical Licensing Examinations so that his M.D. degree could be certified in the United States. He is not licensed to practice medicine because he did not complete a 3-year medical residency program in the United States, but he is licensed by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) to offer acupuncture and Oriental medicine services.

Clinical Experience

After moving to the United States, Dr. Chen served as a research specialist and visiting scholar at the University of North Carolina. In 2002, he co-founded, along with Dr. Remy Coeytaux, the University of North Carolina Family Medicine Center Acupuncture Clinic. As an acupuncturist at Acupuncture Balanced Health, Dr. Chen uses acupuncture to help people with high blood pressure, back pain, depression, joint pain, fibromyalgia, hot flashes, fatigue, and headaches. He is also skilled at mixing customized herbal remedies for patients in need of relief from their symptoms.

Research Experience

Dr. Chen is well respected for his research on using acupuncture to ease pain and alleviate other medical problems. He was a co-investigator of a NIH-funded randomized clinical trial that demonstrated that acupuncture is effective in the treatment of chronic daily headache. Dr. Chen also collaborated on two NIH-funded clinical trials that demonstrated that acupuncture is effective in the treatment of menopausal hot flashes and two randomized clinical trials of of acupuncture for labor induction (one of these 2 studies found that acupuncture reduced the risk of cesarian section delivery, but the second one did not demonstrate clinical benefit associated with acupuncture).

Practice Approach

Dr. Chen uses his in-depth knowledge to customize a treatment plan for each patient who visits Acupuncture Balanced Health. He uses acupuncture and other traditional Chinese medicine approaches to help people with TMJ, arthritis, emotional difficulties, neck and back pain, muscle strains, and other health conditions get relief from their symptoms without having to worry about the side effects of pharmaceutical treatments. Dr. Chen also focuses on the individual as a whole instead of treating just one symptom. The result is relief from chronic pain and discomfort, a feeling of physical renewal, and a better balance between your physical and emotional health.