Taking the mystery out of integrative medicine.

About Dr. Caitlin Courtney

Dr. Caitlin Courtney is a graduate of Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in Chicago and received her Masters of Science in 2018 as well as her Doctorate in Chinese Medicine in 2019. Having personally found relief from chronic health concerns and sports injuries with acupuncture, she is now determined to pay that healing forward as an acupuncturist and founder of Willow + Elm Wellness.

Caitlin has collaborated closely with Chicago’s Project Vida to provide integrative healthcare to those living with HIV and other autoimmune conditions and has worked within the Pacific College Clinic to treat women’s health concerns, pain, gastrointestinal complaints, stress and anxiety, post stroke recovery, and many more varied conditions. Additionally, she has received certification in facial and cosmetic acupuncture modalities. She also spent two years working with a large company that exposed her to wide variety of patients as well as gave her experience managing up to 50 patient cases per week.

Caitlin believes that all people are entitled to empathetic care that is accessible and resonates with them. She treats the whole person and enjoys collaborating with other practitioners a patient might require to provide comprehensive, integrative patient centered care. Her practice specializes in the care of chronically ill patients, autoimmunity, gastrointestinal disorders, psychoemotional complaints, and pain relief.

Invest in your well being.

Our mission at Willow + Elm is to encourage health and wellness in every body, mind, and soul. Utilizing the time honored traditions of East Asian medicine while incorporating modern treatment methods, patients are supported in their journeys towards greater health.

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What conditions do we treat?

Acupuncture, herbal medicine, and lifestyle guidance can treat a myriad of conditions; Stress and mood disorders, digestive complaints, chronic and acute pain, fertility and women’s health, sleep disorders, allergies and autoimmunity, migraines and headaches, and cosmetic rejuvenation. Additionally, these healing tools can be a great supplement to a self care routine for overall wellness.

Services at Willow + Elm

Treatment

Electrostim

Patient testimonial:

“I went for acupuncture as a skeptic. Dr. Caitlin Courtney is a thorough, warm, and skillful practitioner. She immediately laid out a plan for my care, with what issues acupuncture could address and through what timeline. I've been blown away by the positive impact on my health. Highly recommend.

—Courtney H.

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FAQs

What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a 3,000 year old medicine that has persisted through time due to its overwhelming efficacy. Acupuncture works in two ways, biomedically speaking. Firstly, acupuncture needles are placed near areas of the body where nerves, veins, and muscles overlap. The needles placed act ilke lightning rods, alerting the brain to send more attention and healthy blood flow to those areas of concern. In blood are hormones that help to unpack inflammation and pain. In this way, chronic pain, autoimmune conditions, digestive complaints, and even hormonal imbalance can be addressed. Secondly, acupuncture downregulates the nervous system. It takes us from a fight or flight stress response to a rest and digest, oxytocin response. This means that patients feel more resilient to stress and anxiety, sleep more soundly, and digest comfortably. Acupuncture can help everyone to feel calmer, pain free lives.

What does a treatment plan look like?

For chronic conditions, a patient would expect to be seen once a week for 8 weeks to begin. They may require maintenance treatment after the initial 8 weeks. For an acute condition, a patient can expect to be seen twice a week for 4 weeks and then once a week for two weeks. For self-care, a patient would be seen once a month or at the least, once a season. Treatment plans may include acupuncture, physical medicine such as cupping and gua sha, lifestyle and diet modifications, herbal medicine and supplementation, and more.

What does the research say?

East Asian medicine, an umbrella term that includes acupuncture, herbal medicine, various treatment modalities like cupping and gua sha, as well as diet and lifestyle modifications, can help to heal many modern maladies. There are accredited medical studies to support efficacy for the treatment of pain all over the body, autoimmunity, women’s health and fertility, anxiety and mood disorders, migraines and headaches, digestive complaints, insomnia, cosmetic concerns, addiction, etc. Additionally, even if a patient is not currently ill, East Asian medicine can be a great addition to a self care routine to keep the body and mind healthy and functioning well.