After nearly a decade at Jennifer Layne Acupuncture and Wellness, Jing Wu has developed a reputation for her holistic approach to healing and her ability to accompany patients through their entire health journeys. We sat down with Jing to discuss her path from corporate life to acupuncture, her unique treatment philosophy, and what makes her practice special.
You took an interesting path to acupuncture. Can you tell us about your journey?
I actually started in the corporate world—sales operations, marketing, climbing the corporate ladder. It's completely different from what I'm doing now! I was working at a corporate company right out of college, and I thought I was on the right track. But then I took on a new role that seemed perfect for my future, and it went completely sour. Within six months, I was the only one left in my department, reporting directly to a VP, and I had no idea what I was doing. The stress and anxiety were overwhelming.
So I quit. I needed to figure out what I really wanted to do with my life. I considered going back for an MBA, or maybe becoming a teacher—something I'd always wanted to do. But life has interesting ways of guiding us.
How did you discover acupuncture?
My father was actually an acupuncturist, though he's retired now. Like most children, I was resistant to following in my parent's footsteps—you always want to chase something different, right? But my mom kept suggesting I try it, just to see if I liked it.
I decided to audit a class, and it completely changed my perspective. The whole concept of Chinese medicine theory is fascinating—how the body works in connection with your mind and spirit on physical and emotional levels. But what really blew my mind was watching a master class where the instructor, with just a couple of needles and some palpation, changed how a patient felt immediately, right off the table.
I realized our bodies can be so resourceful when we treat them the right way. That left such a meaningful impression on me.
What did you realize you were looking for that corporate life couldn't provide?
I wanted to find something that required real skill, that was useful, and that helped people. That's what I always tell my patients when they ask about my story. Corporate life wasn't giving me that sense of purpose. Now, I get to use my hands, my knowledge, and really make a difference in people's lives.
You mentioned a master class that influenced you. Can you tell us more about that?
It was taught by Kiiko Matsumoto, a Japanese acupuncturist who's considered a master in our field. She has her own style and theory that combines Japanese acupuncture techniques. Watching her work—the way she could feel what was happening in someone's body and address it so precisely—was incredible. I still use elements of her style in my treatments today, especially the palpation work.
Speaking of your style, how would you describe your approach to treatment?
I'd call it holistic. I do a lot of palpation work, especially on the abdomen, to understand what's happening internally. When I started working with Jen almost ten years ago, we decided I would focus more on internal medicine—working with people who have autoimmune diseases, fertility challenges, or digestive issues—while she focused more on the orthopedic side.
Among the reasons that I decided to do more internal specialty for acupuncture is my mother's diagnosis of an autoimmune disease around 2008. I saw her struggle to get her symptoms diagnosed and treated and how she's still trying to balance her health with life. Her journey definitely drives how I treat my patients. The need to be heard and finding the right path to healing.
With palpation, I love the fact that your hands often tell you more of the story than patients can express themselves. There's what patients are aware of, their own self-diagnosis, and then there's what we discover through touch. It's fascinating how things reveal themselves through that physical examination.
It sounds like you really value that connection with patients.
Absolutely. I dive deep, asking lots of questions to understand what's really going on. If someone comes in with neck pain, I want to know: Is there stress involved? How are they sleeping? What's happening in their work life? I'm trying to find the deeper root of the issue, not just address the surface symptom.
When you can be really honest with each other, you can find that deeper root of anything and resolve the issue together. That's when real healing happens.
You've been with Jennifer Layne Acupuncture for almost a decade. What keeps you here?
The relationship I've built with Jen has been so special. Our perspective of how to work with patients are alike, with honesty and integrity.
There's something special about this practice and the way we approach patient care. I love accompanying patients along their health journeys, especially with complex cases like autoimmune conditions or fertility support.
It's not just "come see me to fix this one thing." For fertility patients, for instance, I help them understand their cycles, support them through pregnancy, and even through postpartum. For autoimmune patients, it's about working through what's causing their flares, helping them heal, and then maintaining their health over time. I see my patients as people who can call on me when they need support, not just for quick fixes.
What brings you the most satisfaction in your work?
The relationships and trust that develop over time. Yes, I work with people who just need something specific addressed, and that's fine. But the connections I form with long-term patients—those are the ones where I feel I can help the most. When you really get to know someone, understand what they're going through, you can be honest about what needs to change. That's when you become partners in their health journey.
After all these years, I've learned that healing isn't just about the needles or the techniques. It's about listening, understanding everything that's going on in someone's life, and helping them overcome their challenges in a truly holistic way.
