Dr. Nguyen gets the secret sixth Yelp star from me. After my OB-GYN told me that it was unlikely I would be able to have kids naturally due to early adulthood cancer, I went to Dr. Nguyen to see if she could help. Trying to get pregnant is an extremely discouraging and demeaning process but Dr. Nguyen was able to help me get in tune with my body in a way that I never knew how. Even in my darkest moments she was always encouraging and insightful and her sunny outlook kept me going even when I was about to give up. In fact, I had pretty much completely given up when I finally got that positive sign that I had been hoping for. My treatment did not end there, I worked with Dr. Nguyen during my first trimester to make sure my baby was healthy and strong and my body was running like a well-oiled machine. I'm not quite sure if I just got off lucky or if the acupuncture was just really effective because I've been feeling even BETTER than I did before I got pregnant. Except for a few charlie horses here and there I did not suffer from nausea or other typical ailments at all. What I like about about Dr. Nguyen is her balanced approached to alternative medicine and she never seems to recommend treatments that I don't need (although I almost kind of want them because it's so relaxing and zen in there). I feel very safe and comfortable in her hands and have been so glad to have her in my arsenal of self care tools. She recently relocated to a brand new office in Tysons Corner which is super modern, chic and quiet -- perfect for relaxing! You can also book and cancel appointments online which is very convenient. Thank you so much Dr. Nguyen from me and my entire family. I can happily say that this is the most life changing business I have found thanks to Yelp! read more

Kim's ability to identify issues and respond to them with Acupuncture is astonishing and very helpful. I continue to recommend her to friends and family. She is truly a five star acupuncturist. read more

This review is for any men who might be iffy about giving Kim a call to set up an initial consult or anyone who may have some doubts about acupuncture in general. Kim is awesome. Acupuncture is awesome. While living in NYC, I hurt my lower back about 10 years ago doing front squats, I was bed ridden for a day or 2 until I wobbled by way over to an acupuncturist who spoke no English and just asked me to point to where it hurt, he did his magic and I was able to walk and sit properly again. However, me, being young, did not properly heal my back. The pain always came and went... Fast forward to now --- I stated working out again and the pain slowly creeped up again, along with long hours sitting in front of a computer for work, my back issues were exacerbated. I reached out to Kim for a free consult to see if she worked with men (because the website is geared more for women and women's health) and she does! Kim was very thorough in the free consult and even more thorough at the initial consult (checking health history, injury history, goal of getting acupuncture, etc...) 1st Visit - AWESOME. those Phototherapy patches are a gift from God or something; Kim placed 2 of them on me, and miraculously, the pain dissipated. It was STRANGE AS F*; In addition to this, she uses a balance method acupuncture (which I am not sure of the full details on) but anyway, she didn't even put the needles into the area of the pain but onto areas of the body that control or is associated with the lower back; she also put some more for stress, anxiety, shoulder pain (which I told her about). All in all a great first experience in RVA with an acupuncturist (I hope she gains more of a following) 2nd visit - AWESOME... yet again. This time, I brought my wife, since she was having issues with shoulder blade pain and had question on how acupuncture can help with her menstrual cycle as well as her stress/anxieties. Made a believer out of her as well... We continue to go to her as it is only the beginning of our journey in trying to get out bodies back to normal and functioning how it should! If you are a dude and are skeptical, give it a try, you wont regret it. read more

Acupuncture had been recommended to me by a coworker for ongoing plantar fasciitis. I first saw Kim a few months ago at her location at Lakeside Wellness. I was impressed before even meeting her, as the medical history forms were extremely detailed, and allowed me to explain my history and problems in detail. I went in for my initial consultation and Kim was informative and explained how acupuncture worked and set my mind at ease that I had chosen the right place to come. After my first visit my foot felt better than it had in a long time, and I was doubly impressed by this because as much as I had hoped acupuncture would help me, I did not believe (understand) how it could immediately help. I initially had treatments twice a week, and am now down to once a week, and my pain levels in my foot are at the lowest they've been over a year. I highly recommend Kim to everyone. She has just moved her office to a new location, and it is a beautiful and relaxing space. read more

Kim at Effective Wisdom has assisted me with physical and mental relief of an autoimmune illness, menstrual problems and pregnancy over the past year. She's great at listening and responding to my questions and concerns. Her office is warm, relaxing and the sheets are comforting. She hosts a very clean business and takes Covid protocols to protect each client. I highly recommend Kim for any and all relief in it's natural form. Thanks for all your help, Kim! read more

I had my first treatment with Kim on Friday and I must say, she is absolutely amazing and wonderful! On top of that, the benefits I received from my very first treatment with her are simply astounding! I went to Kim because I was having a lot of pain up and down the entire right side of my body. During our consultation, Kim was extremely thorough and took time to explain to me things that I would have never known otherwise (like the fact that I should be eating cooked, not raw foods, for some of my current and digestive issues! Who knew???). She also explained to me how some of what I was experiencing was more than muscular pain, how and why acupuncture would help that and what I could do in my daily life to help improve this condition. If you're new to acupuncture and nervous about trying it, Kim is definitely the right person for you. This may sound a little funny, but somehow she is "gentle" when applying the needles - I felt such a small sensation when she placed them. Additionally, her bright and bubbly personality will put you at ease and make you feel comfortable asking any and all questions that you might have while gaining some incredibly insightful and helpful information. The bottom line is that I simply cannot recommend Kim enough!!! Go now. Even if you don't know why... read more

I was in a bike accident last Sunday; long story short a tree branch almost fell on me. My shoulders were pretty banged up and the left side of my body nicely tenderized a la concrete. One of my co-workers said I should get a massage, and then I remember Kim N. did shiatsu massage! So I gave Dr. Nguyen a call and she was able to book me the same day. It turns out, acupuncture is covered by my insurance... so why not take the whole-istic approach? Dr. Nguyen was attentive and professional. I was wondering how having a friend treat me would turn out, but she was very serious about my health. She evaluated my entire existence in one interview and a pulse reading... I didn't know one could identify 25 characteristics about a person just from their pulse. I was ready to believe anything at this point, I mean, the teachings gained from thousands of years of practice make for sound credentials. When it came down to the nitty gritty, it was mostly painless. Dr. Nguyen's deft hands were hardly noticeable. I actually didn't realize I had needles in my legs until she took them out. Dr. Nguyen's trade expands beyond the realm of acupuncture of course, when she showed me the Korean Cupping.. cups? Cupping is something I saw happen to my uncle in Seoul. Dreadful sight really, all that skin sucked up into those little bulbs... I never thought it would be something that might help me. Yet, there i was, lying on a table, getting a humongous hickey from a plastic bell. I wish there was a clearer way to describe it... Bell goes over skin. She pumps. Skin feels tight and weird. Some time later the bell comes off and your bruise/tenderness feels better. In all seriousness, later that evening I went out for a ride to check on the severity of my injuries; ended up riding a good 20 miles without discomfort. Kudos to you Kim, I'm back on the road already! read more

I picked Kim Nguyen of East West Medicine based on Yelp reviews and she has completely exceeded my expectations! I cannot say enough good things about her and how acupuncture has profoundly changed my migraines- in frequency, severity, and location. Her 2nd floor office is serene & calm and immediately puts you at ease. Kim is professional, extremely knowledgeable, and an excellent clinician. She is friendly, approachable, cares about patient outcomes and does her best to make a positive difference in your health. She is certified in Oriental Medicine (by the National Certification Commission on Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine) so she is certified to practice acupuncture & Chinese medicine-- not just one or the other-- Trust me-- she knows her stuff. I highly, highly recommend her because of her abilities as a clinician and the improvement she has made to my health and well-being. read more

I sought out an acupuncturist to see if there was help for a chronic sinus infection I had been struggling with for well over a year. My ENT specialist was doing little more than periodically loading me up with antibiotics and suggesting surgery may be the only option. One thing I did do was to get tested for allergies and much to my surprise I have limited allergies, for which I am now getting shots. As you might expect I was quite frustrated with western medicine. Kim has been a bright spot in my recovery. Although I still get allergy shots, she has been able to help relieve my sinus infection symptoms. She continues to work on what remains of my infection while helping me with chronic back pain due to significant arthritis and spinal degeneration. My wife has insomnia and I have suggested she see Kim for help. After seeing how much better I am, she agreed. More on this story later... read more

I love how attentive and thoughtful Dr. Kim is. She has clarity in the way that she operates her practice and that gives the patient peace of mind and trust. Her expertise has alleviated my depression and seriously started me on recovery I twisted my ankle while traumatizing the other leg, knee and hip. And all this after 3 visits. I have 11 more visits to go in my package, so that should work out perfectly. read more

I had no idea acupuncture could help with high blood pressure, but it did! And a lot faster than I expected. I'm back to my normal 120/78 I try avoid medication if at all possible. Kim's presence alone is so calming. I suggest you read her bio (https://www.lakesidewellness.net/licensed-acupuncturist-kim-nguyen/) Any apprehension you may have had about acupuncture or Chinese medicine will dissolve. She is highly trained and highly skilled! Not only is she extremely qualified, she is also a very gifted healer. I highly recommend consulting her to see if she can help with whatever issue you may have. Her approach, the Eastern approach, is to balance the body so that it can heal itself, which is what it was designed to do. Kim treats the whole, not the symptoms. read more

My experience here was amazing! I have already recommended this place to two of my friends with chronic pain. Let me start out by saying that the whole 'center you chi' thing, I just don't understand nor do I practice or believe it. Holistic medicine just isn't my thing but I had to try something for my chronic back pain. I had tried massages in the past and although they did fine, the effects wouldn't last long or I would leave more tense then when I arrived. I had looked into acupuncture a few times but there were never any places close to me. And I definitely didn't want to drive a half hour for something that might not work and is... well...a little pricey. Then I found this place. Let me tell you, annoying to get to but totally worth it. It right off a super busy street and if you miss the turn it hard to find somewhere to turn around. Parking is in the back, so make sure you turn down the street and not to the building next to it. The staff was nice but the décor could use a little work. My initial visit was intense. Dr. Nguyen was very thorough with my medical history. She then talked me through the process and really made me feel comfortable there. What I found really interesting is that she doesn't do the actual acupuncture on the problem areas because you can make it better... but you could also make it worse. Instead she does acupuncture at other pressure points on the body that will 'send signals' to the problem areas. I was skeptical and figured this would just be something else that didn't world but I was very wrong. My back is in chronic pain and she helped relieve that. I didn't have to undress and just laid on my back in a quite room with tranquil music. It was okay but I defiantly wasn't relaxing. Dr. Nguyen rolled up my pant legs and started finding pressure points that hurt then she would stick needles there. The last one she stuck in, I kid you not, my leg relaxed even more. It was such a weird feeling but I was hopeful at that point. I didn't think it would have that kind of effect. She then had me pin point where I was feeling pain and showed her. This was to pin point where other needles would go. I had needles stuck in my hand, which sent a weird intense sensation, but still didn't fully relieve the pain. She then stuck some needles in my head. Kind of freaked me out but it started to work. With each needle I felt a little less pressure in my back. Until finally she found this one point and once that needle went in, my back completely relaxed. I felt my back actually touch the bed! I had never felt that relaxed before in my life!! It was amazing. Because I was no longer in pain she turned on the heating lamp, turned off the lights, and left me to relax for 30 minutes. I'm not going to lie, I took a nap I was so relaxed. I even woke up before she came back in and felt refreshed. It was cold in there but once we were done she said when the body truly relaxes it does seem colder, which would explain the Goosebumps I got once my back relaxed. My session was amazing! It felt weird being able to walk without my back in pain. Is this really what it feels like to walk? No pain? Wow! And today I woke up with absolutely no back pain for the first time in years! I can't wait to go back for my follow up visits. She said we should aim for twice a week for two weeks and then once a week for six months. Basically reconditioning my body so that it understands that it can relax and not be tense all the time. The only thing I don't like is how booked Dr. Nguyen gets. Plan in advance! My next appointment is 10 days from now, but believe me, I've already started counting down. read more

Dr Kim is amazing. She is very through and knowledgeable. After only 2 acupuncture sessions I noticed a dramatic improvement in my allergies and my menstrual/fertility issues. Although these are my primary concerns she always asks about any other issues I may have and adjusts my treatment to include them as well. She's also very personable and professional. I highly recommend her. read more

I sought out services with Kim at East West Medicine in the Spring of 2012. This was my first experience with acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, but I felt very confident and comfortable after meeting with Kim for the first time. She is very warm and knowledgeable, and really takes the time to listen. Kim provides thorough assessment and talks with you about your treatment in a way that you can understand and feel good about. She also makes sure that you understand the importance of following through with your treatment throughout the week (taking your herbs, lifestyle changes, etc.), and does a good job of empowering you to do so. Kim's office is very organized and cozy; I always felt at ease during my treatments and looked forward to returning for my next. And if you're new to acupuncture and are wondering if the needles hurt, the answer is no...you can hardly even feel them! Kim also has a very gentle approach and is very aware of and connected to her patients during treatment. Not only was I extremely satisfied with Kim's approach, bedside manner, and skills, but I was also very happy and impressed with the results. Kim really knows what she's doing! It's very evident that she not only takes the time to get to know each patient, but that she stays informed as a professional of the latest research and incorporates that into her practice. I am happy and excited to say that with the help and expertise of Kim and East West Medicine, I am now expecting my first baby this summer(!!). I would highly recommend East West Medicine for anyone seeking help for any ailment or issue. It doesn't feel like cold, medical treatment; rather, it feels like you are treating your body and mind to a more natural and holistic approach that I think we all deserve the chance to experience. I really can't say enough...you'll be in good hands with Kim! read more

Dr. Nguyen is an expert healer. She is an extremely knowledgeable and caring professional. Her work delivered results for me after just a few visits. I highly recommend Dr. Nguyen. My husband starts this week and I am confident he will benefit from her care as well. I can't thank Dr. Nguyen enough for her expertise and caring ways. I agree, she gets the "secret sixth star" from me too! read more

Kim has been extremely helpful in helping with some anxiety as well as over-all health. I've come in before with a bit of a cold that she was able to help , a bit of shoulder pain and back pain that she was able to relieve. Kim put's a lot of effort and care into making sure nothing is painful (and acupuncture is not painful at all, barely feel it) and with a mix of suggested herbs/acupuncture she helps to get things back to normal. I am now a firm believer in Acupuncture and recommend it to anyone from a small to big issue. Through a series of questions and routine checkups when you visit you definitely get the feeling she is there to help. 5 stars! read more

It was first time i have ever used acupuncture treatment and I am very pleased with result. Kim Nguyen took very thorough history of my health and was patient with all my concerns. I sought treatment for anxiety, stress symptoms and lack of sleep. After first treatment I noticed the difference and since I was responding to treatment soon she recommended just weekly treatment after the 3rd treatment. She wasn't trying to sell you extra stuff. She also gave me some herb for my symptoms which she studied. It helped that her practice took my health insurance as well. It feels good to feel "normal" again. Living life with easy and nervous symptoms in pit of my stomach is gone. read more

She is methodical and informative. You will understand the treatment and see results. She's great.

Worked the first few times I went but did not see much change after the 3rd visit. Was told I need to come several times a week for 2-3 months for foot injury--kept coming but never felt as good as the first few visits. Very expensive even with insurance coverage. Was also sold Chinese herbs, which were also expensive and not really effective--had no idea what I was ingesting daily which concerned me. Dr. Nguyen and her staff were pleasant and scheduling was easy but just not sure I would spend the money again for onging treatment. read more

Dr. Nguyen is amazing. I've seen her now for multiple treatments, for acupuncture and herbal treatments ranging from colds to stomach aches. I had never gone to an acupuncturist before Dr. Nguyen and was a bit nervous, but her calm and caring demeanor quickly put me at ease. She is very knowledgeable and takes the time and effort to explain her philosophy of care to you. She truly cares about her patients and it shows. If you're looking for an acupuncturist, I highly recommend her. read more

I've seen Dr. Nguyen for acupuncture at East West Medicine nine times, and after my ninth visit last Friday, I no longer intend to see her again, based on reservations I have about her business practices. I first visited her in late November for chronic tendinitis in my left knee. She was friendly and my first encounter with acupuncture was a largely positive one. Afterward she asked me how I felt and told me that for lasting results, frequency of visits was the key. She offered a pretty decent discount for scheduling three appointments together in a six-day window. I told her this sounded reasonable, but due to the holidays and work, I saw her only once more in December. In mid-January, I came in a third time and promptly scheduled a set of three-times-in-six-days. After the third of those visits on a Wednesday, I was feeling like I was making progress, and Dr. Nguyen told me that with just another set of three visits, she could have me cured of my tendinitis. Naturally I said yes, though I had to schedule around a trip to New York I was making that weekend. I returned from New York on a Monday and had three more appointments on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. Unfortunately, the walking around New York City that weekend had left my knee more sore than usual, and the three subsequent visits hadn't made a noticeable difference. At the end of Friday's session I walked back into her office inclined to probably sign up for another three-times-in-six-days session. She asked me how my knee felt, and I admitted to her that it was probably about the same as when I'd started with her. Before I could ask if acupuncture was really working for me, she rolled into her pitch for why I needed more of it. This time, she said that it would take months of frequent visits before I would see results. I thought about quoting her previous claim to have me "cured" by now but let her continue. She went on by trying to make me doubt my memory for not already believing this would be a months-long process, going from, "Don't you remember that?" to "Maybe I didn't make myself clear..." She brought up frequency, telling me that since my total of nine visits had been spread out since November, I couldn't expect serious results. When I pointed out to her that seven of those nine visits had been in the last two and a half weeks, she paused but then brushed the point aside. Then she brought up the New York trip. She repeated what I'd told her about the knee feeling worse afterward, looked at me with a long pause and said, "Now, I don't want you to feel *guilty* about going...." and then smiled with another pause. This last remark completely misses the point, of course. Without any treatment at all I could have easily predicted that my knee would feel mostly fine beforehand but worse after a weekend of walking around New York. I did the same amount of walking as all my friends (while also wearing expensive orthotic inserts, in fact) and engaged in no unusual physical activity. The reason I'm spending time and money on acupuncture is so that I can do normal things like visit friends in New York and have my tendinitis symptoms, if not eliminated, then reduced from what they would be anyway. Acupuncture has not helped me achieve this goal. While I may have been amenable to keep trying a bit longer, it's Dr. Nguyen's sales pitch that has convinced me to stop going. 'Moving the goalposts' to set back previously advertised results, impugning the target person's memory for having different expectations, and attempting to trigger feelings of guilt in that person are three classic moves of a low-level manipulator, and Dr. Nguyen exhibited all three in the span of about a minute. To be clear, I'm not writing here to judge the efficacy of acupuncture in general or even to dispute that some people apparently can have positive results from her practice. I'm saying that I've dealt with Dr. Nguyen directly, and in this case I know a hustle when I see one. read more