Philosophy
At Cardinal Acupuncture, we honor your unique journey toward wellness. Drawing from three millennia of ancestral wisdom, we weave together mind, body, and spirit in a tapestry of healing that celebrates your individuality. In our nurturing sanctuary, traditional modalities—acupuncture, herbal medicine, essential oils, cupping, and gua sha—restore your natural balance while empowering you to define what vibrant health means for your life.
How Does Acupuncture Work?
Acupuncture awakens your body's innate wisdom through the gentle placement of hair-thin needles along ancient meridian pathways. These channels, like rivers of energy, carry your vital life force—Qi—throughout your being. By stimulating these sacred points, we encourage your body's natural release of healing neurotransmitters and restore the effortless flow of energy that is your birthright, nurturing both physical comfort and emotional well-being.
About Dr. Stephanie Webb Pauley, MAHM, L.Ac. -
aka Dr. Steph (she/her/hers)
Rooted in the mountains of Appalachia, Dr. Steph carries the wisdom of her West Virginian heritage and eastern Kentucky ancestry. Her soul was shaped among nature's hills and valleys, where she first learned to listen to the earth's healing whispers and honor the knowledge passed down through generations.
Life's currents have carried her from Florida's gulf coast to Western North Carolina's Smoky Mountains, each journey deepening her compassion and curiosity for the beautiful tapestry of human experience. Dr. Steph discovered Chinese medicine through her own healing journey. After conventional medicine reached its limits with a chronic condition, she stepped onto the ancient path of acupuncture and herbal wisdom. Through this profound transformation—moving from illness to vibrant health—she found her calling: to walk alongside others seeking renewal, ensuring every voice is heard and every story honored throughout the healing journey.
Her foundation rests upon a rigorous four-year dual Masters and Doctoral program from Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical Arts in Asheville, NC, where classical channel systems and nearly 2,000 clinical hours shaped her practice. She had the profound honor of learning through the Jade Purity tradition under Jeffrey Yuen, 88th generation Daoist priest and internationally celebrated master teacher.
Her education weaves together ancient wisdom and modern understanding, with doctoral-level training in Cardiology, Endocrinology, Neurology, Obstetrics, and Orthopedics from luminaries like Dr. Randine Lewis, Dr. Mary Cissy Majebe, and Simon Becker, M.Ac. She holds both national and state board certification through NCCAOM and the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure—credentials that honor both tradition and excellence.
Today, Dr. Steph creates her own sanctuary with her brilliant husband and her beloved Basset Hound Dolly-Dog, who keep life delightfully grounded. Her days bloom with recipe creation, mountain wanderings, quiet reading, and the soul-stirring magic of live music.