Some healers walk into your life with the perfect medicine to completely transform you.
For Chris, that healer was Dr. Cole Magbanua, the acupuncturist who put a few needles in her shoulder and sent her walking out of his clinic after a single treatment. In this episode, she sits down with Dr. Cole to share that story and to explore the world he has spent nearly 30 years mastering.
Meet Dr. Cole Magbanua, Doctor of Chinese Medicine and Acupuncturist
Dr. Cole is an acupuncturist and Doctor of Chinese Medicine based in Gresham, Oregon. He has been practicing for nearly 30 years, trained in the Tung family style of distal acupuncture, and is the author of Body Mapping Acupuncture. He has taught his anatomical approach to practitioners across the US and internationally.
What makes his practice distinctive is where the needles go. They don't go in the area of pain. A frozen shoulder unlocked through needles in the ankle. A 20-year migraine resolved in one session. A paralyzed dachshund who got up and danced after three treatments. The results can seem impossible until they happen in front of you.
This episode is his explanation of how and why.
Distal Acupuncture, Pulse Diagnosis, and His Top Herbs
From the mechanics of distal acupuncture and what's actually happening when a needle goes in, to the ancient art of pulse diagnosis and how it can detect a sinus infection before the first symptom appears, Dr. Cole shares a lot of hard-won knowledge in this conversation.
He walks through the herbs he uses most often in clinical practice, including Andrographis Astragalus, and Turmeric among them. He explains why Chinese medicine's nutritional principles align so naturally with modern plant-based science. And he shares some of the cases that have surprised him most across nearly three decades of practice.
If you're not near his office just outside Portland, Oregon, he also offers practical guidance on finding a practitioner with similar skills near you.
This is one of the most wide-ranging and fascinating conversations we've had on this show. Press play and find out why.
Herbs Mentioned in This Episode
A few of the herbs Dr. Cole references are ones we carry here at Eclectic Herb in our fresh freeze-dried line:
Turmeric: Anti-inflammatory and circulation-supporting, used in both Chinese medicine and Western herbalism. Dr. Cole discusses its role in his practice and why it remains one of the most researched herbs in the world.
Astragalus: The classic immune tonic of Chinese medicine. Dr. Cole explains how it works through the digestive system to strengthen immune response, something modern research has since confirmed.
Dr. Cole also discusses Andrographis at length, one of the most well-researched antiviral herbs in the Chinese pharmacopeia, and a plant he returns to again and again for infections of all kinds.
Connect with Dr. Cole Magbanua
You can find Dr. Cole at Acupuncture Gateway here. Want to dive deeper into the wisdom and knowledge he shares with fellow practitioners, get his Body Mapping book here, or learn more about his course offerings here.
Connect With Us at Eclectic Herb
Find our full line of organic, fresh freeze-dried herbal supplements at Eclectic Herb.
As always, we’d love to hear from you. Come find us at @eclecticherb on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, and let us know your thoughts on the show.
*This is for educational purposes. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. All products mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent diseases.
