I cannot say enough positive things about Yamel Torres. Several years ago, I began studying Chi Gong under his instruction. I was 24 years old and it was my first introduction to any sort of Eastern healing methodology. Almost immediately, I could tell my body was responding to this sort of treatment. I initially sought out an alternative form of healing because I was in desperate need of stress management. Prior to finding Yamel's school, I was a walking disaster. I could literally feel my body breaking down from the stress in my life, and I knew I needed a healthy outlet for it all. After a few months of studying Chi Gong, Yamel suggested I try acupuncture to help with my stress management. I trusted his opinion and am so very grateful for that. Once I began acupuncture treatments with Yamel, I could feel an enormous change. For years, I had been unable to endure any sort of pressure applied to my pectoral muscles. Even the lightest pressure would have me gritting my teeth in pain. I remember very distinctly that after my third acupuncture session, that pain was gone. Completely. And it hasn't returned. Since then, we have kept my stress under control with fairly regular treatments in the form of acupuncture, Gua Sha, fire-cupping, and massage therapy. One of the more notable changes I've seen since being under the care of Yamel has been a dramatic change in my menstrual cycle. Prior to any treatments, I had grown accustomed to my sporadic periods - I'd have between 4-6 periods a year. It was something that I had just accepted about my body. I've never been a fan of birth control for the regulation of my periods, so that option was off the table. After telling him this issue, he started me on a regular acupuncture/acupressure regimen, and set up an herbal treatment that included a daily dose of herbal supplements coupled with a home-brewed herbal tea. It did not take long for my body to respond. Within a few months, I had resumed a normal cycle when taking the herbs on a regular basis. We are now moving forward to maintaining my normal cycle with less help from the herbs and more help from my body's natural regulation. Perhaps the biggest benefit I've received from being a client of Yamel came from a very unexpected accident. In 2011, I slipped and injured my left ankle severely. I have no medical insurance, so I was not financially prepared to foot the bill for x-rays and western medical care. I went to Yamel two days after the accident. My ankle was swollen and bruised all the way up to my knee. I could put weight on it, but my ankle had no strength to bend or turn without popping out of socket. Without x-rays, we couldn't determine for sure what happened, but in all likelihood, I tore the surrounding tendons. Yamel immediately treated my ankle for trauma with Chinese herbal ointments and Tui Na. In the meantime, I hobbled around in an air cast boot( that he suggested I get). I stayed in the boot for almost three months, and during that time the only medical treatment I received was strictly from Yamel. Through weekly sessions of Tui Na, acupuncture, acupressure and herbal remedies, my ankle slowly healed to the point where I could walk without a cast. At that point, we began Qi gong for muscular skeletal therapeutic benefits. I will never forget our first session. I could all but keep from crying when I realized I couldn't walk in a straight line without Yamel's assistance. I am thrilled to report that I have since regained full mobility of my injured ankle. In summation, I must reiterate that I cannot say enough good things about Yamel's practice. He is a wonderful teacher, a skilled specialist, and, perhaps most importantly, someone that I completely trust with my well being. I am so happy to have the opportunity to share my praises of him. He is truly a wonderful person, and his employees and specialists share his passion and expertise. read more

Came to Yamel and Seven Star Wellness Center though a referral and it has been one of the best things that has happened! My initial reason for visiting was a persistent deep pain in my elbow from a long summer of tennis and aggravated by an intense yoga training. It had hurt for so long I wasn't very hopeful but willing to try anything. It is no exaggeration that it took exactly 1 session to completely erase the pain and regain a normal range of motion with the elbow. Now encouraged that acupuncture was a "real" thing (yea, I was a doubter), Yamel and I tackled my swollen fingers / hands from the beginnings of arthritis. Again, the stiffness, swelling and aching seriously reduced....90% back to normal. We have also worked on deep muscle tightness in the hips and glutes from running and, with a combination of massage, stretches and acupuncture, it is well on the way to healing. My body really has never felt better and all the creaking, aching, swollen hot mess that I accepted as normal is a fading memory. Our next project together is to shake a long addiction to Nicorette....(crazy, right?!?). After quitting smoking years ago, I started up with the Nicorette. It was a life saver at the time but has (after years and years of daily use) become its own monkey on my back. If Yamel can fix my body, can he fix my mind? LOL...we are on the way. Along with acupuncture and daily herbs, my use of Nicorette has been cut in half in 3 weeks and I am confident I am prepared to shake this off once and for all. I will update this review when that happens...... I don't post many long reviews (or typically share so much personal info) but wanted to illustrate the scope of Yamel's knowledge and offer my own experiences as a measure of a possible success rate for you. Good luck ya'll!!! read more

I met Yamel Torres about two years ago at Chinese Martial Arts where he teaches Kung Fu, Tai Qi and Qi Gong. My daughter originally recommended that I participate in Qi Gong, a structured program of stretches that helps to move energy more efficiently through the body, in order to help with my low energy and motivation problems as well as with the migraine headaches that have plagued me for the past 30 years. As I got to know Yamel he also invited me to receive treatment at his Seven Star Wellness Center where I continue to receive acupuncture, herbal remedies, and recommendations regarding diet and exercise. I have to say, it's made a tremendous difference in my life. The great thing about receiving services from Yamel is that he's such a straightforward and honest person. I think I may have been the first person he ever treated for migraines, and once he took on my problem he really took it to heart by reading books and attending special classes in how to treat migraines with acupuncture. It wasn't an overnight fix, but after a couple months of treatments I found that the frequency of my migraines were reduced by 80-90%, which is more than any Western medicine has ever been able to provide, and I've been able to completely eliminate prescription medications for the prevention of migraines. Now that my migraine problem is largely resolved I am continuing treatment to maintain and improve overall wellness. At present the services I receive at Seven Star are helping me to improve the quality of my energy, and to reduce pain and inflammation associated with arthritis and plantar fascitis. I appreciate the personalized attention I receive, and highly recommend Seven Star Wellness to anyone looking to improve their emotional and physical wellbeing. read more

If you haven't heard about Seven Star Wellness, you have not been standing next to me for more than five minutes. I am so pleased to have been referred to Yamel Torres and Seven Star Wellness that I can't stop telling everyone I meet about him. I came to Seven Star Wellness with a bad case of tendinitis in both hands--not the way to win at law school when you can't write for hours and hours at a time. My grades were suffering because I just couldn't write any more without long breaks and lots of ice packs and probably inadvisable amounts of ibuprofen. Western medicine gave me cortisone shots and overpriced splints, neither of which provided much relief. Yamel Torres resolved my hand pain and has helped me to manage my health as a whole to boot. I'll never have the hands of a 20 year old again, but I'm not in pain and thanks to the acupuncture, nutritional counseling, herbs, and exercises I've been prescribed in the course of my treatment, I am managing everything from my tendinitis to my weight to the overfilled-backpack-related back injury I sustained my last year in law school. Yamel has treated each injury and condition thoughtfully, compassionately, and--most importantly--effectively. Law school is hard on body, mind, and spirit and I can genuinely (and with much gratitude!) count Seven Star Wellness among the reasons for my successfully coping with the many stresses I encountered. And even now that life is not a series of academic tortures, Yamel continues to help me maintain my equilibrium. Getting me to manage my fear of needles was pretty useful too. If you are in pain don't know what else to try, definitely give Seven Star Wellness a call. read more

I've been a patient at the Seven Star Wellness Center for the past few years, but didn't become a regular, weekly patient until January of this year. I sought out treatment for my irregular menstrual cycles after suffering from Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) for the past several years. This idea came to me based on a recommendation from a friend. Since January, I've had once a week acupuncture treatments and have been taking Chinese Herbs as performed and created by Yamel Torres. I have adjusted my diet as recommended by Yamel and my healthcare provider. I have been taking certain supplements as recommended based on various sources in regards to helping to alleviate the PCOS symptoms. I've also been weight conscious as weight does affect PCOS, and have been able to lose about 15 pounds thanks to working out regularly. I'm happy to say that my menstrual cycles are now becoming more regular. They aren't exactly what one would call normal yet, but I've never had cycles this close to being regular before. I look and feel the best I've felt in over 10 years. I would highly recommend Yamel Torres and Seven Star Wellness to anyone with any ailment they're looking to relieve via natural ways. I also enjoy the practitioner Dana Christy who has provided a few Shiatsu treatments for me. Her treatments have helped me feel better both emotionally and physically. I look forward to incorporating her shiatsu treatments into my weekly schedule starting in January 2017 which is when she will start seeing patients regularly. Thank you Seven Star Wellness! :-) read more

What can I say, I have been seeing Yamel for awhile now. He has helped me in so many ways. First a note, Acupuncture is a weird thing, If you resist the needles, If you believe they won't work, there is a good chance it'll never work, also you have to get multiple treatments to see results. Acupuncture truly helps in so many ways, from sickness, to body aches, mental and sometimes those just weird things, such as hot all the time, cold all the time, sweating, sneezing, etc. There is nothing that acupuncture can't help as long as you don't fight the needles. oh and these are super super tiny needles, i think you can fit like 30 inside the needle of a western (vaccination) needle. You don't bleed really and you don't really feel them...that much. Ok back to Seven Star and Yamel. His prices are super reasonable, and he always takes time with you and usually goes above and beyond what he has to do to make you healthy. His space is nice, he is a one table operation, so there is not multiple rooms or patients at once so you have Yamels undivided attention. He has a herb pharmacy as well, which herbs taste bad but they help. He is by appointment but he is super flexible. I strongly suggest that if you are thinking about acupuncture as an alternative (i hate using that to describe it) then Yamel is your man. read more

I have known Sifu Torres since he was an intern at the Pacific School of Oriental Medicine (PSOM) and I could not have found a better acupuncturist/message therapist! I ventured into PSOM after years of chronic back pain and was thrilled to meet an acupuncturist whose speciality was orthopedics. Through acupuncture and massage, he has helped to stabilize these issues. My back is now much stronger that it every was. I have continued to see Sifu Torres for sinus issues and irregular menstruation. Sifu Torres has significantly helped me get my health back on track. He also introduced me to Qi Gong and Tai Chi, two form of exercise that I never would have thought to try, but have discovered that I really enjoy. I could not be better pleased in my health advocate. Sifu Torres has two locations for his practice here in the city of Chicago, one in Ravenswood and one in the heart of downtown Chicago. Whether you are a first time or a seasoned advocate of acupuncture, massage, and health awarness, I highly recommend Sifu Torres. Even if you are unsure and just want to find out a little more, Sifu Torres is always willing to talk with you about your reservations. He is on your side! read more

Dr. Torres treated me for a severe case of sciatica (compression of the C7 and S7 discs on several nerves reducing blood flow; with chronic and constant pain in my leg and numbness in my foot). After seeking consultation from my treating physician, I was informed that I was a candidate for surgery. After consulting with Dr. Torres, he asked that I hold off and offered to treat me in the attempt to avoid surgery and the long term impacts of post surgery to my body. Dr. Torres diligently studied my symptoms and treated me with a combination of acupuncture and massage therapy, cupping, and physical therapy via Tai Chi and Chinese Martial Arts. After three months of intense therapy and treatment, I don't experience any of the above-mentioned symptoms, and I am in no pain after almost a year after treatment. Dr. Torres saved me thousands of dollars in medical, surgery and hospital fees by avoiding surgery and treating me holistically. In addition, he saved me from months of recovery and having to miss what would have been a great deal of time away from work. Dr. Torres continues to consult me on my wellness and physical and mental health. read more

Attending Sifu Torres'/ Dr. Torres's 6 Healing Sounds workshops is one of the best investments a person can make. If you have never attended one, the next time he offers it GO! GO! GO! This workshop introduces you to the postures, breathing, and healing sounds of the body's meridians that correspond to each organ. We learned how this practice can help and alleviate illnesses of the different organs. Sifu/Dr. Torres explained how in Chinese Medicine each organ and sound correlates to the different seasons and and elements of nature. We also discussed the different positive and negative emotions associated with the organs, as well as, the different senses and tastes. He even discussed the different foods that can be eaten to nourish each organ. I always enjoy this workshop. This is my 3rd or 4th time attending, but every time I attend, I always learn something new and I enjoy being able to practice with other participants. If you are looking for a new type of meditation to add to your repertoire, then this is for you. I am hoping that Dr. Torres/Sifu Torres will continue offering this very beneficial workshop. read more

I have received the wonderful benefits of acupuncture from Yamel Torres at Seven Star Wellness Center. This was my first experience with acupuncture and I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I felt the benefits. Before coming in to the Wellness center, I had lower back issues, felt stressed, and always felt tired. When I laid down face up on the massage table, Yamel did a test to see how far I could raise my legs without feeling back pain. I could only raise them a few inches off the table before I started feeling intense pain in my back. After the relaxing session (I almost fell asleep, it was so relaxing!), we did the test again and I was amazed that I could lift my legs several feet in the air without feeling back pain! I did a few more sessions to keep up the benefits. I also started feeling less stressed and more energetic while taking Yamel's Qi Gong course. Yamel is professional, intuitive to your body's needs, and very experienced in his field. For anyone looking to give their body a boost or alleviate pain, I would definitely recommend acupuncture and Qi Gong from Yamel Torres. read more

I have been training with Sifu Torres for over 2 years now and have been feeling stronger and have been maintaining a healthier mind set. Not only has the martial arts been helping but a combination of treatments from the wellness center has helped tremendously. I have seen Sifu on multiple occasions for acupuncture, herbal remedies and overall general consultations regarding my health. He is very thorough and is very caring about my health. he is a wealth of knowledge especially after having studied Chinese medicine for so long now. About a year ago, I had an issue with my eye. I went to multiple eye doctors to try to correct my issue. I used multiple eye drops and had various misdiagnosis'. After about 3-4 months of visitations and medication, I had Sifu take a look. After a few sessions of acupuncture and recommendations Sifu made, the issues in my eye were gone and feeling 100%. I highly recommend seeing Sifu Torres for all of your health issues and needs. He always makes sure you are getting proper care and wants to see you improve physically and mentally as well. read more

I unfortunately had a bad back two months ago and I didn't know what was causing it, after 1 week of minimal back pain I woke up with severe back pain and could barely walk. I had to slide out of bed like a snake and walk/sit with pain, moving extremely slowly. I had enough and walked into Dr. Torres' office, he was very patient with me and my pain and recommended acupuncture. I was suspicious and against the idea of acupuncture because I foolishly didn't know anything about it. After my first session I was able to walk and sit and work more comfortably, after my second session I was 70% and after my fourth session I can say I am back 100% back to normal and feeling better than ever. I have also used the CBD topical oil to relieve some achy areas and have been drinking natural herbal teas recommended by the doctor to lower inflammation and rid me of anxiety. Now I am a VERY big advocate of eastern medicine and wellness, especially during these times. I will recommend Dr. Torres 100% to all my friends, clients and family. read more

I first went to Seven Star Wellness Center two years ago to reduce pain and hasten healing after a complicated surgery. Sifu Yamel Torres, a master of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, evaluated my overall health and post-surgical issues. He then performed acupuncture and gave me a mixture of Chinese herbs that I brewed into a tea and drank twice a day. I started feeling better after the first acupuncture session. Within a few days I realized that I was taking an enormous leap forward in healing from the surgical trauma. When I returned to my surgeon for a post-op appointment a couple of weeks later, she was amazed at how quickly I was recovering. I told her I was getting acupuncture and taking Chinese herbs, and she said, "Well, it's worked for thousands of years." Since my experience with accelerated healing, I'm now committed to regular acupuncture, herbal tonics and nutritional guidance from Sifu Yamel Torres to maintain long-term balance in my body, mind and spirit. read more

I took the Qi Gong Seminar in September and it was great! I wasn't really sure what to expect since I've never done Qi Gong before, but there really seems to be something to it. The instruction booklet thoroughly lays out every exercise you will learn, and you go through them during the class to get down the positioning & breathing right. The instructor also gives you a background on the history of Qi Gong, as well as a basic breakdown of what Qi is. (or Chi as its commonly spelled in the west) If you have an open mind I highly recommend you try this seminar! After only the first couple times doing the exercises, I could feel the Qi between my hands when I put my hands close together. It felt like magnets repelling one another, very cool! I also felt it in my chest where I have always had a pain of unknown origin. If you keep to practicing, it will definitely help you with chronic pains & other health problems! read more

Dr. Torres is a Healer in the truest sense. When I came to him I was in a horrible and scary place, mentally and physically. I'd been contending with severe PTSD for most of my life and the symptoms had exacerbated drastically during the Covid pandemic. Both me and my partner were genuinely concerned for my life with how bad the body pains had gotten as well as how deep I was dug into negative limiting beliefs and depression. The roles Dr. Torres performed in his treatment of me were a powerful combination of Acupuncturist, Internal Medicine practitioner, counselor and mentor. His compassion, understanding and commitment to health, wellness and vitality has been absolutely transformative for me. Highly recommend to anyone who is suffering from afflictions of body, mind and spirit, as well as to anyone who is seeking authentic mentorship on the internal martial arts and qi gong practice. read more

My wife and I have been seeing Sifu Torres at Seven Star Wellness Center for a little over a year and I can't say enough about the impact his treatments and teachings have had on better our lives. My wife has Spina Bifida and suffers from sever nerve damage from surgeries she had as a child. Through acupuncture, herbs, and Qi Gong, Sifu has helped to temper the pain that is a constant part of her life. I have seen the benefits of the treatments as well, I was suffering from pain in my shoulder which was alleviated after several acupuncture sessions and the herbs and Qi Gong have helped me with illness and for stress relief. Sifu Torres combines different treatment techniques to help and is a patient teacher with a great sense of humor who carries himself in a way that inspires both respect and admiration. I couldn't recommend Seven Star Wellness any higher. read more

I started seeing Yamel for chronic knee pain that I had. I am a marathoner and have had two arthroscopic knee surgeries. After a basketball game I played, I had sharp knee pain and then for months I could not run or even exercise without my knee hurting. I saw Yamel 6x and with his use of acupuncture and herbal medicine I am happy to say that my knee pain has subsided. I am able to run again and exercise. If it was not for Yamel there was a possibility that I would have to go back under the knife and get my knee scoped. Not only did Yamel help my knee pain go away, he also made my kanker sores disappear, which I did not know was possible!! I had been having those since I was a kiddo!! All and all it was a great experience and very affordable! You would be a FOOL not to go in for an introductory session for chronic pain or other ailments! A FOOL!! read more

The best! Sifu Yamel and his staff create an environment where health and wellness, along with serving people, comes first. After regularly seeing him and his staff for acupuncture and massage, I can confidently say that it's been consistently the best health experience of my life. Sifu Yamel genuinely cares and listens to his patients and creates individualized plans to treat and work toward a more healthy lifestyle. He was recommended to me for acupuncture, and because I had never gone through this type of treatment before, I was skeptical. All it took was one visit for me to understand why he is the best! His patient and calm demeanor, paired with his apt ability to listen and treat patients according to their wellness needs, made all the difference in my health journey. I cannot recommend Seven Star Wellness enough! read more

I had Covid in May 2022, and had lingering issues with ear pressure and pain afterwards. I sought care with two different ENT offices in the city, and each one confirmed my diagnosis but their prescriptions never solved the problem (and in one, case made it worse). In a moment of clarity, I looked into acupuncture as an alternative solution for the constant pressure and pain. I had my first appointment with Seven Stars Wellness in January 2023... within 1 treatment, I finally started to feel some relief. After only 3 treatments, the problem was gone entirely. I've continued to see Dr Torres for general wellness support via Acupuncture and I'm so glad I do! I have more energy, greater clarity and haven't been getting nearly as sick from our 3 school age kids. I can't recommend him and his practice enough!! read more