In this History Series episode we time-travel with the vivacious Cara Frank. Her story begins in the gritty, creative pulse of 1970s New York City, where as a teenager, she was navigating the counter cultural scene. Her first encounter with acupuncture was anything but ordinary—an illegal treatment that changed her life and set her on the path she travels today.
Cara’s journey is a tapestry woven with threads of rebellion, discovery, and an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. From the scarring moxa treatments of Dr. So, to her worldview changing with the discovery of herbs in a Beijing hospital. Cara’s story is one of exploration and deep connection to the roots of Chinese medicine practice.
Listen in as we explore the alchemy of Cara’s life in Chinese medicine—as she reflects on the influential figures who guided her, her insights into the community’s growth and the importance of mentorship. All with her hardscrabble wisdom, humor, and a dash of New York grit.
Pay attention! Stay curious and be a lifelong learner.
Cara Frank
I am an acupuncturist, herbalist, businesswoman, and author. I was raised in a health food store in Brooklyn, NY. When I was 8, I cartwheeled 5 miles from Greenwich Village through Soho and Chinatown and across the Brooklyn Bridge.
For over 40 years, I’ve brought my cartwheeling passion to Chinese medicine. At 17, I had my first acupuncture treatment. At 20, I enrolled in acupuncture school. In 1998, I studied herbal medicine in Beijing, where I fell deeply in love with East Asian Herbs. Since then, I have devoted my life to studying and teaching the topic.
I was an original item writer for the first herb exam offered by the NCCAOM. I founded two Chinese Herb Departments, with curriculum and clinic and brought them both to regional and national accreditation.
I founded Six Fishes Acupuncture in Philadelphia, where I manage a busy acupuncture practice and act as the head fish of a warm and lively office. I am the president of China Herb Company and, in 2021, launched China Herb Seminars. I have published articles in international journals and am the author of TCM Case Studies: Eye Ear Nose and Throat Disorders.
You can visit Cara on her clinic website, see what is on offer over at China Herb Co, learn something useful at China Herb Seminars, and do be sure to check out her unique approach to Fertility.
