Your Family Practitioner
CLASSICAL 5-ELEMENT ACUPUNCTURE, HERBAL MEDICINE, CHINESE NUTRITIONAL THERAPY, LIFE-HEALTH DEVELOPMENT, SUFI HEALING
Dr. Magdalen Hsu-Li, DACM, Dipl. O.M., MAc, BHS, BM, BFA.
Biography
Magdalen Hsu-Li (she / her / hers) is a D.A.C.M., Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine/Chinese Herbology, licensed in the state of RI, and a nationally board-certified N.C.C.A.O.M. Diplomate in Oriental Medicine, (Dipl. O.M. (NCCAOM.)® She holds dual degrees including a M.Ac., Master of Acupuncture, B.H.S., Bachelor of Health Science, and a Certificate in Chinese Herbal Studies from the Academy For Five Element Acupuncture. She also graduated Summa Cum Laude from Berklee College of Music with a B.A., Bachelor of Arts degree in Songwriting, and Cum Laude from Rhode Island School of Design with a B.F.A., Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Painting. Additionally, she is a Certified Sufi Spiritual Healer.
Magdalen is deeply passionate about Women’s Health, Diversity and Inclusion, Intersectionality, and Multicultural Wellness and is committed to diagnosing and strategizing highly-effective treatment plans for her patients, while providing exceptional, compassionate, heart-centered, personalized patient care utilizing the depth, heart, and spirit of the Five-Element Acupuncture tradition, Herbal Medicine, Sufi Healing, Life-Health Development, Chinese Nutritional Therapy, and other healing modalities.
Prior to studying acupuncture and the sciences, Magdalen had a storied career in the arts as a musician, songwriter, painter, multicultural lecturer, and diversity advocate. She worked with over one thousand colleges, universities, festivals, and conferences, performing concerts, lectures, and workshops throughout the US and Canada, with a focus on diversity and multicultural awareness, Asian Pacific Islander, LGBTQ, and women’s issues. Her adventurous life and diverse wealth of experiences provide her with a deep wellspring of knowledge and compassionate understanding for her patient’s experiences.
She is currently a member of the RI Acupuncture Society and the Zero Balancing Heath Association. Her continuing study and interests include working toward Certification in Functional Medicine/Nutrition, and Zero Balancing. In her spare time she enjoys walking and enjoying nature and RI’s beautiful beaches, while spending time with her family, friends, and spiritual community. She is eternally living, growing, and learning while ever reaching for the stars.
Healing Path
I am a practitioner of Five-Element Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine, a dynamic, eternally-inquisitive learner that is fully engaged in ongoing healing work and spiritual development in my and my family's life. My path led me to first experience Five-Element Acupuncture as a twenty-five years old while seeking help for chronic laryngitis, which seemed incurable by western medical approaches or medication. After just five acupuncture treatments I was able to speak and sing again and had undergone a life-changing, transformative experience. I felt I had experienced a complete systemic reboot and a chance to restart my life from a much healthier place of self-awareness - physically, interpersonally, and spiritually. This change was so profound that I made a commitment from that point on to make Five Element Acupuncture a regular part of my self-care routine. Not surprisingly, my life continued to flower, blossom, and expand in increasing health and wellness. Five Element Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine was so life-changing and inspiring in its ability to provide healing for me on the deepest levels, that I knew it was written on my heart and forehead that I would one day become a practitioner of this amazing system of medicine - sharing my vision for the possibility of living in greater health in body, mind, and spirit, with my community and the world.
I am a nationally board-certified D.A.C.M., Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine/Chinese Herbology, and N.C.C.A.O.M. Diplomate in Oriental Medicine, (Dipl. O.M. (NCCAOM.)® I hold a Master's Degree in Acupuncture, Bachelor's Degree in Health Sciences, and Certificate in Chinese Herbal Studies from the Academy for Five Element Acupuncture, and two additional Bachelors degrees - a B.A. from Berklee College of Music, and a B.F.A. from Rhode Island School Of Design. Prior to studying Chinese Medicine, I was an internationally touring musician, college lecturer, diversity advocate, and painter/fine artist. My extensive background in working with diverse communities in the arts, along with regular Sufi spiritual meditative healing practices, movement, and acupuncture, inform and support my work and capacities as a healer.
I am a compassionate, kindhearted, engaged listener and love hearing people’s stories. I am interested in working with people seeking to consciously begin or continue engaging in their healing journey, who are spiritually seeking in a whole-hearted way, and who are interested in learning about what can help them achieve and maintain greater health. I put my personal best and a deeply thoughtful, scientifically researched approach into every treatment and herbal formula I design to help alleviate issues, uncover the roots of illness, and engender well-being in body, mind, and spirit. My patients and I enjoy working together as a team in a holistically comprehensive, collaborative approach to their healthcare. Along with the enjoyment of experiencing the benefits of their health and symptoms improving, many of my patients come to realize and understand that some aspects of their lives and habits need to change for them to feel better - for every illness is a window of opportunity through which we can see what needs to change. I love working with people who are not looking merely to be “fixed,” but who are self-responsible, willing to make lifestyle changes, and courageously open to the process of their own healing with the patience to trust me, themselves, and the divine to guide them lovingly and gently in that process as it unfolds.
I invite you to join me in becoming your best and healthiest self and hope you find the joy in receiving this medicine while moving toward wellness - as inspiring and life-changing as I have!
Bright Blessings,
Dr. Hsu-Li
Patient Testimonials
“I was fortunate to see Magdalen for Five Element acupuncture and she comes with my highest recommendation - 5 Stars! Her treatments were profound and carried out in a warm, caring, professional, manner. I think what surprised me about Five Element acupuncture is that I came in for physical issues but discovered it helped to heal mental and emotional issues as well. I had had acupuncture before but this was amazing. Even if I walked into the office feeling anxious, exhausted, and low, I emerged feeling reenergized, hopeful, and focused. I was also amazed that I barely felt the needles go in. Magdalen is very good at making the experience as painless as possible. So I cannot recommend her enough! She does a wonderful job.
S.B.
“Magdalen is extraordinary in her ability to methodically heal with acupuncture. For years I suffered from a torn meniscus where surgery did not completely relieve pain in my left knee. She skillfully used various techniques including the Bachman treatment method to help greatly reduce that pain and likewise lessen the need for NSAID pain medications, and applied her techniques to other problem areas such as muscle spasms around neck, shoulders and lower back. With each instance was I miraculously healed! I highly recommend anyone to seek her out for personal wellness care.”
J.W.L.
“Magdalen Hsu-Li has been a amazing Doctor of Acupuncture to me. She is very intuitive, loving, and cares for her parents so much. She took care of me like no one else ever had before. Her love and passion for what she does as a doctor was beyond my expectations. She helped me with my diabetes, back pain, lower lumbar injuries and many other things. She is not afraid of challenges and she always gives 110% to you. Please read this very well, you will get nothing but the best service and love from her if you see her for acupuncture. I highly recommend her for all your and your families needs. She is very professional and loves what she does and just connects with you and that is even better.”
J.M.
“I most certainly recommend Magdalen Hsu-Li's acupuncture practice, Zara Acupuncture & Wellness. She treated me with acupuncture and herbal medicine for over a year when she was an intern at the Academy For Five Element Acupuncture clinic in Gainesville, Fl and helped me with multiple issues including lower back pain, plantar fasciitis, lack of energy, digestive and hormonal issues, to name a few. She was a good listener and took all of my comments into account. She was always compassionate and was super careful with all her treatments. I really appreciated the fact that she prepares her treatments in advance and demonstrates that she does a quite a bit of research to prepare the best treatment for me. She not only knows about acupuncture and herbs but also knows other helpful techniques you can do that can improve your health in the short term as well as the long, and this provided additional relief for my plantar fasciitis condition. Magdalen is not only an extraordinary human being but also an incredible practitioner!”
C.G.
“From the moment I walked into the treatment room, my shoulders seemed to drop by a few inches. Deeply grounded in her own spiritual practice, I felt like I was being held not just by her hands but also by a power greater than both of us. Simultaneously, however, I never once felt like she was just an anonymous conduit. Magdalen also understands how to effortlessly relate to her patients – human to human – with weaknesses, strengths, fear and hope. I recommend Magdalen to any and all people looking for a deeper connection to not only themselves, but also to the world around them.”
S.C.
“Magdalen is super nice, sweet and caring. She treated me with acupuncture for back and neck pain 6 times and the pain felt better after each treatment. She cares a lot about her patients and followed up with me by calling after each treatment. She also adjusted her treatment strategy each time based on the follow-up. I highly recommend her!
S.Y.
“I saw Dr. Hsu-Li for acupuncture, when I was going through a very difficult time, in my life. My nerves were constantly on edge, and it was difficult to function. Her treatment helped me regain balance and supported me in coping with my situation. She was super professional, but, at the same time, super sweet and caring. Your comfort, and well-being, are her top priority. I enjoyed working with her and I highly recommend her, if you are seeking support for any illness or condition, or just looking for general stress relief or wellness.”
G.Z.
“I have been receiving regular Sufi healings from Magdalen since the Fall of 2021 and highly recommend her! She helped me to clear negative emotions and experiences, expel fears, and connect more deeply with my self. As my spiritual well-being has improved, so has my overall health. I am much more joyful these days and feel more secure in walking in my own divinely given purpose in life. Perhaps what I appreciate the most is that Magdalen brings her heart to every encounter and gives love and encouragement as well as professional care. If everyone could receive this kind of healing, the world would be a happier, more beautiful world!”
A.J.
"I have been receiving treatment at Zara Acupuncture for many months. I went in with extreme pain in my hip and shoulder. My shoulder has been pain-free for weeks, and my hip is so much better that I am in the gym running with no pain. Before starting treatments I couldn’t get off my exercise machine without the pain starting at the hip and generating down my leg. Dr. Magdalen Hsu Li is a very qualified, compassionate, and sympathetic doctor, listening to all aspects of your pain and even checking into all of your health problems. Zara’s waiting and treatment rooms are impeccably decorated, comfortable, and absolutely spotless. I highly recommend you make an appointment and start your own healthy journey to a better you."
T.P.
