My Healing Journey: Discovering Classical Chinese Acupuncture

After years of unexplained fatigue, headaches, body chills, brain fog, and aching joints, I finally have answers: Lyme disease and psoriatic arthritis. Countless doctor visits, scans, and dead ends later, it was a deep-dive blood test from an allergist who didn’t even know me that revealed the Lyme bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi. It still took two more providers and more testing to confirm what my body had been trying to tell me all along.

Since you can’t really treat Lyme once it’s been in your system for decades (in my case, nearly 40 years), I often felt frustrated and worried that I’d never have more than three good days in a row. I was pretty down about it all when I met Dr. MG McCullough.

This blog isn’t about my illness; it’s about discovering other ways to support my body. I met Dr. McCullough at a networking event and was fascinated by the type of acupuncture she practices, called Classical Chinese Acupuncture. I’ve done traditional acupuncture for years and always had good results, but this time, I wanted to try something deeper.

So what’s the difference? Classical Chinese Acupuncture is a traditional, holistic form of acupuncture rooted in Classical Chinese Medicine (CCM)—an ancient system focused on balancing the body’s Qi (vital energy) through its meridians, or energy pathways. Unlike modern Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), it draws directly from classical texts, philosophy, and observation rather than standardized treatment protocols.

In simpler terms, it goes deeper. Dr. McCullough reviewed my full health history, took my pulse, and examined my tongue to determine where to begin. She also incorporated a very gentle traditional technique to help release stagnation and uncover the root cause of imbalance. It was quick, clean, and surprisingly calming, though I’ll admit, I was a little apprehensive at first.

Her treatments sometimes used deeper needles than TCM, and each session lasted about an hour, including time to talk through how I was feeling, so she could tailor the treatment. With Lyme and other deep-rooted illnesses, you sometimes have to feel worse before you feel better. A few sessions left me wiped out for a day, but afterward, I’d feel renewed and energized.

I’m now six weeks in and feel better not only physically but mentally, too. I’ll never be “cured,” but I’m learning more ways to manage. Dr. McCullough has been through her own health challenges, which gives her an incredible level of empathy and insight. She’s trustworthy, thoughtful, and deeply knowledgeable, and it shows in how passionate she is about her work.

There’s so much more I could say about this type of treatment, so I may share Part Two soon. If you’re curious about Dr. MG McCullough and her work, you can learn more at drmgmccullough.com. She specializes in Root Cause Medicine and has over a decade of experience helping people uncover and heal what’s really going on beneath the surface.

Check her out and let me know if you do! Stay tuned as I continue sharing my healing journey.

Taking the pulse

Bonnie Papajohn is a Certified Personal Trainer, Health Coach, Nutrition Coach, and Menopause Specialist with over 15 years of experience helping women in midlife reclaim their energy, balance their hormones, and feel at home in their bodies again.