The Alternative Clinic

Specialties

We call what we do at The Alternative Clinic «tangible Chinese medicine». While many people believe that Chinese medicine is synonymous with acupuncture, acupuncture is actually only one component of the comprehensive Chinese medical system. At The Alternative Clinic, bodywork, herbs, dietary, lifestyle changes and acupuncture are utilized. We do not simply tap in needles and leave them to do magic. We are hands on and concretely involved in shifting the body toward health.

History

Established in 2015.

Andrew and JulieAnn Nugent-​Head bring to Asheville 30+ years experience in China working the field of Chinese medicine. With the rising pollution and food scares in China, they chose to move their family back to the States — to the Blue Ridge Mountains and wonderful quality of life Asheville offers. Excited to bring their expertise to the eclectic alternative medicine community, The Alternative Clinic opened downtown in March of 2015, as teaching clinic aimed at getting patients better, and teaching other practitioners of Chinese medicine how to achieve effective and tangible results as they learned from the old doctors of Beijing. It is JulieAnn and Andrew’s goal to raising the bar of medicine in this country to prove the efficacy of Chinese medicine.

Meet the Business Owner

Andrew N.

Business Owner

Chief Practitioner Andrew Nugent-​Head is a world recognized practitioner and educator of Chinese medicine. After moving to China in 1986 to study Chinese, Andrew’s path was changed when he was hit by a taxi and broke the bones of his foot. After the bones were set and treated with Chinese medicine, Andrew was hiking in the Himalayas two weeks later, in awe at the efficacy of the Chinese medical treatment. At that moment Andrew knew he had to learn this amazing art.

Founding the not for profit Association for Traditional Studies in 1993, Andrew has spent his entire adult life documenting, preserving and disseminating the traditional Chinese arts. With the passing of so many great teachers, it is Andrew’s job to teach what he has learned through clinical practice. Andrew treats patients and teaches seminars at The Alternative Clinic in Asheville.