Dr. Elizabeth Collins

I was a full time Emergency Medical Technician prior to obtaining my Masters degree from the Finger Lakes School of Acupuncture and Oriental medicine in Seneca Falls, New York, and my Functional Medicine training from the Kresser Institute. I have trained in both Chinese and Japanese styles of acupuncture and completed an internship at the world renowned Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Hangzhou, P.R. China. Additionally, I have comprehensive training in Zheng Gu Tui Na bodywork from Tom Bisio, L.Ac. in New York City. I had the good fortune to study the treatment of acute and chronic pain at the EASTMedicine Seminar Series at the University of Westminster, London, UK. With experience in both Western and Eastern spheres, I'm committed to bringing a well rounded, comprehensive approach to each patient encounter.
Facts:
~Founder and Directrix of The East West Company
~Graduate of the Kresser Institute for Functional Medicine
​~Licensed Acupuncturist in Rhode Island since 2014
~Meditates daily
~Enjoys a good late-night solo dance party with a glass of wine
~Olympic-level curse word proficiency
~Admires and collects vintage-inspired fashion & one of a kind art
~Is owned by several cats
~Studied classical opera from ages 10-18, and rock, soul and jazz thereafter

***In network with BCBS, Cigna, Tufts, United Healthcare, Veteran's Affairs Association

As an EMT, I spent my career addressing the health issues of people who needed urgent care, sometimes from injury but most often as a result of chronic disease patterns that they'd struggled with for years. When I decided it was time for me to pursue a higher level of care, I chose both Eastern and Functional medicines because they aim to address the root cause of disease instead of just the symptoms. This provides patients with an option for true health as opposed to disease management.

More often than not, my patients are surprised but delighted by the thorough intake process. Both functional medicine and acupuncture initial visits usually involve a chat that takes about 60 minutes, in which we thoroughly review your medical history together. Plus, my office has been described as, "calm," "relaxing," and "blissful."

I like to describe functional medicine "as if biomedicine and Eastern medicine had a baby." Functional medicine utilizes lab testing, but instead of just looking at which individual markers are high or low, we look at the relationship between those markers. This allows us to zero in on the root cause of illness and disease. From there, we're able to make diet and lifestyle changes, and if needed use a short course of supplements tailored specifically to your biochemical needs to bring your health back into alignment.

With acupuncture, everybody wants to know "if it hurts" and "if it really works." The answers are, respectively, no and yes! The needles are incredibly thin, and so they're designed to be extremely comfortable. Most people don't even feel the needles, and more than a few are so comfortable that they fall asleep during their session. And yes, acupuncture absolutely works. There has been significant research into this area in the last few years and a multitude of studies have conclusively show that acupuncture helps to increase production of endogenous opioids - basically it helps us make our own "feel good" chemicals. It's also been show to reduce inflammation, the nasty chemicals that cause everything from physical pain to anxiety and depression.