Today we’d like to introduce you to Dana Scarton.
Hi Dana, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I spent over 25 years working as a journalist. I covered everything from local government, Olympic sports, physical fitness and western healthcare. My work appeared in The Pittsburgh Press, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, The Washington Post, The New York Times, U.S. News & World Report, and Washingtonian Magazine.
After completing a graduate program in creative writing at American University in Washington, D.C., I was freelancing for publications in the area but print journalism was struggling and paychecks were getting smaller. I got a second job at a local bookstore. I was not receiving healthcare benefits at the time and was worried about this and my dwindling income. The stress took a toll.
I began experiencing extreme fatigue, muscle aches, insomnia, brain fog, and anxiety. Walking around the block exhausted me. Writing a single paragraph could take two hours. For 18 months, I sought help via western medicine experts. I ended that journey with two autoimmune diagnoses, but no symptomatic relief. One doctor-researcher told me I’d just have to gut it out whenever I needed to accomplish something that required a lot of mental and/or physical energy.
That didn’t sit well with me. I had a gut sense that there was something I could do to improve my health. So I began reading and researching. Long story short, I ended up going to acupuncture twice a week and changing my diet to include foods that were not inflammatory. Within three months, I had my life back.
This journey led me to a whole new career opportunity. I studied for four years, earning a graduate degree in acupuncture from the former Maryland University of Integrative Health in Laurel, MD. (Now called. ) This dovetailed well with my first career as a health journalist, although it took time and practice to learn the hands-on nature of medicine. I was not alone in my studies — several students in my cohort were making mid-career changes.
Acupuncture school was not the end of my learning. In fact, it was just the beginning. After graduating, I studied for and passed three national exams to attain a higher level of qualification. I worked in a successful clinic outside of Annapolis, MD for four years then left to open a solo clinic in Bethesda, just four miles from my home in Washington, D.C. This is where my deepest learning began. After another health setback, I turned to a high-frequency form of electroacupuncture to improve my immunity. It worked — rather quickly! So, I began studying this modality and it has quickly become my main treatment approach. I see quicker and longer-lasting results with electroacupuncture for conditions ranging from pain and injuries to GI upset, anxiety, and sleep problems.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s been a bumpy road! But, at the same time, a road filled with growth, learning, gratitude, and many kind people who have helped me get over the bumps.
Ten years ago, in the middle of my acupuncture studies, I received a late-night phone call telling me my older sister had died suddenly of a heart attack.
It was completely unexpected. Tall and thin, Sue walked her dogs two or three times a day. The loss left a giant hole in my life. I had close to two years of schooling left in order to receive my master’s of Acupuncture. I considered dropping out. Ultimately, I opted to continue. My memory of Sue was a big motivator. She had been such a big supporter of my journeys as a writer and as an acupuncture student.
After graduating in 2018, I took a job an hour’s drive from my home in Washington, DC. The clinic was Complete Care Acupuncture in Crofton, Md. There were three other acupuncturists, a massage therapist, and an administrative staff. It was the perfect learning and supportive environment for a new practitioner.
I was at working at Complete Care during the Covid outbreak. It was a scary and stressful time and there was much debate in acupuncture circles whether to continue treating in those early days or to take some time away until we knew with more certainty what we were dealing with. If you recall, even obtaining an N-95 mask was difficult in those first weeks. So, I wore a surgical type mask and a face shield. Eventually, the clinic closed for a month and my wonderful boss transitioned the clinic to an electronic records system and implemented many measures designed to protect the safety and health of both patients and staff.
In September of 2022, after four years in Crofton, I decided to open a solo practice in Bethesda, just a 10-minute commute from my home in D.C. It was both exciting and a bigger undertaking than I had imagined. I remember my supervisor in Crofton always having brightly colored sticky notes all over her laptop and desk. They were her mini “to-do” lists. As a business owner, I began doing the same. I quickly realized there is never an end to the tasks on my list — or the sticky notes!
I am learning to dance with these responsibilities and with continuing my studies so that I might learn the most advanced techniques in an effort to bring physical and mental relief to more people.
Other learnings included spending (and losing) thousands of dollars on marketing strategies that were actually designed for larger businesses. I have learned after almost three years that my best ways to draw new patients are to speak to community groups and businesses, get referrals from current patients, form alliances with local doctors and personal trainers, and be honest when someone asks me about acupuncture: It’s an amazing medicine. Numerous studies attest to that. But it does take a commitment of time and money.
I guess the most recent bump I encountered was last summer when my Google profile was taken down, by Google. This lasted about a month. I’d never heard of a Google Profile prior to opening The Zen Point. It’s like an on-line thumbprint of your business. When one is in a service business a Google Profile is critical to getting new patients, verifying the authenticity of your business, and being seen. Having mine taken down without knowing why was frustrating. This lasted for almost a month. I hired a marketing firm to help me get it back online. They succeeded but couldn’t ever find out why it was removed in the first place. These days, I find myself constantly checking to make sure it’s still there!!!!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Zen Point sports acupuncture?
I am an acupuncturist and a lifestyle and wellness coach based in Bethesda, Md. The Zen Point practice is rated with five starts on Google.
My acupuncture specialties are electroacupuncture and facial microneedling.
I practice a modern type of high-frequency electroacupuncture that is gentle and flat-out amazing! I began studying the modality after it helped me to recover from a series of illnesses (shingles, the flu, walking pneumonia) that hit me back-to-back the year I was starting my business. My immune system was shot and I was exhausted. Within three weeks of receiving electroacupuncture from Hon Lee in Herndon, Virginia, I could tell my energy was returning. Other, than a four-day cold virus, I haven’t been sick in three years!
Electroacupuncture at The Zen Point is generally a four-needle treatment — great for folks who don’t like a lot of needles. It tends to act more quickly and produce longer-lasting results than traditional acupuncture treatments. And…it can treat more than just pain, although it does that, too — from sports injuries to joint and neuropathic pain. Other conditions that studies show benefit from electroacupuncture include anxiety, stress/balancing the nervous system (keeping you out of Fight or Flight), circulation, carpal tunnel syndrome, gastrointestinal issues, headaches, back issues, vision issues, ADHD, Bells Palsy, autoimmune conditions, and more!
Everyone always wants to know whether I do dry needling. Yes, but most times I find electroacupuncture does the trick with no or minimal discomfort. Whereas dry needling can be effective but it can also be uncomfortable.
I also love motorized microneedling to help facial skin look more refreshed because it is holistic, there is zero downtown following treatments, it’s affordable compared to laser and Botox, and it works! I snap a single-use cartridge containing very tiny silicon tips (not needles) onto the end of a motorized tool. We use this device, which has won awards in the facial rejuvenation field, to create tiny channels in the skin. This is done with a quick stamping motion. The creation of channels tricks your body into thinking there’s been a minor injury to the skin so it sends out new collagen. We also take advantage of the open channels to apply serum that helps boost your body’s collagen production. Most patients find the treatments to be stimulating and afterwards they say it feels as though they’ve experienced a sun burn. Your skin may be slightly pink or red in areas for the next 24 hours. After four weeks, the amount of time it takes for skin cells to reproduce, you will begin to see improvements in fine lines, wrinkles, pore size, and skin texture. Although every patient is different, it generally takes four to eight treatments spaced four to six weeks apart to achieve one’s goals. Then patients tend to come in every three months or so for maintenance.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
In terms of my careers? I been lucky to have two that I have loved beyond measure. Both provide a sense of purpose. As a journalist,I loved meeting people from all walks of life — from Olympic athletes and entertainers to teachers and steelworkers. I loved learning and telling their stories. I loved working with colleagues who were smart, dedicated, and driven to get to the truth. I believe our work made a difference in our community, our state, and our country. I believe this about all trained journalists and am grateful for the work they are doing, many in the face of tremendous danger.
As an acupuncturist and health coach, I meet amazing folks, too. I get to help them overcome obstacles by using holistic practices. Even after practicing for almost a decade, I still get a thrill when someone who walked into my office in significant pain or upset walks out in a state of ease. I love when a light bulb goes off in a patient’s mind and they begin to understand ways they can help themselves feel better.
Both writing and acupuncture presented me with intricate puzzles, so I guess I enjoy unraveling a mystery and resolving it in a way that generates satisfaction and improvement for another. Life can be hard. Sometimes, there are big challenges. When you can be part of helping someone find relief or discover a better way to handle a challenge, that’s truly a feel-good thing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thezenpoint.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thezenpointllc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089745622213
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dana-scarton-81013b87/
