Gudrun Wu Snyder, CEO and founder of Moon Rabbit Acupuncture, is dedicated to helping others through a combination of traditional Eastern health practices and Western healing therapies. With a diverse background that spans economics, entertainment, and healthcare, Gudrun's personal journey, including surviving breast cancer, led her to embrace acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Inspired by her family's legacy in medicine and her own transformative experiences, Gudrun has created a holistic wellness center in Chicago, where she blends "ancient Eastern medicine with modern health modalities" to help her patients lead healthier, balanced lives.

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Can you share a bit about yourself?

I was born and raised in the United States, but my appearance always lends itself to people asking about my racial background. I am Chinese, Hungarian, and German. Both my experience and my genetics have shaped who I am and what I do.

I am also a breast cancer survivor. In 2016 when my daughter was one year old, I had just finished breastfeeding when I noticed a dimple in my breast. Given my studies, I knew this was a sign of cancer. Things moved quickly after my initial diagnosis. I had a mastectomy, reconstructive surgery, and was on hormone therapy for seven years before undergoing a hysterectomy. I used acupuncture and Chinese Medicine to aid in my recovery.

After going through so much and having such a positive health outcome, I wanted to give others the same sense of empowerment. Thus, I created Moon Rabbit Acupuncture, a holistic Eastern healing center in the West Loop of Chicago. My goal was to have everyone walk out feeling better than when they walked in, to give everyone the opportunity to take control of their health and feel good about it. This past year we were able to open our second location.

You have a BS in Economics, trained as an EMT and worked at the William Morris agency. With such a diverse background, what drew you to the field of acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine?

Growing up, I was always very close to my paternal Grandmother, Rosalin Wu Chuan. She was born in 1918 in Shanghai. She trained at Yale's School of Medicine in China and immigrated to the US in the 1940s to learn more about modern Western Medicine. She was always a major influence on me - she woke at sunrise to do Tai Chi with a traditional Chinese martial arts sword and lived to be 100 years old.

Because of her influence, as well as my father, Manuel Tsing Lowenhaupt, MD, I always aspired to be in healthcare. Though on the way, I worked in finance in New York, entertainment in LA at the William Morris Agency (now WME), eventually coming back to my roots. I realized that I wanted to connect to my history, my lineage, and help others to heal. I then went back to school to train as an EMT and eventually pursued a Doctorate in Eastern Medicine and Acupuncture.

What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced in your career path and in opening up Moon Rabbit Acupuncture, and how have you overcome them?

Like many mothers out there, I have always struggled with balancing my role as a parent and professional. Being there for my children while still being committed to my business is always a delicate balance that can tip in one direction or the other.

It is my hope that someday women will have the support and freedom to make choices both as a caregiver and as a professional. We really have to come together as a community to help each other. It's one of the reasons that if someone on my team needs to bring their child into work, I'm all for it.

Acupuncture has been in use for thousands of years in Asia, but only recently has it been gaining more widespread acceptance in the West. What are some common misconceptions about acupuncture?

Acupuncture is still very often only associated with the treatment of pain. Acupuncture within Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is an entire scope of medicine with solutions for a diverse range of issues, from asthma to gut health. Acupuncture can be a part of your healthcare routine.

Can you describe a typical session with you? What can patients expect during their first visit?

Every patient experience is unique. Depending on what you are coming in for, we may use a number of different modalities, including acupuncture, herbs, cupping, gua sha, and moxa. Your first visit will be a time for you to discuss your motivations for coming in, your health history, and your overall goals. At Moon Rabbit, you also may be asked to show us your tongue or let us feel your pulses.

How does acupuncture complement other forms of treatment or therapies? Are there any side effects or risks associated with acupuncture?

Acupuncture is moving from a complementary medicine to an integrative medicine approach. That means you should not be using acupuncture instead of going to your conventional physician, but in addition to.

There are very few side effects from acupuncture. There is a small risk of bruising and light-headedness, which is why we recommend that everyone hydrates and eats a small meal prior to their acupuncture appointment.

What are your thoughts on the future of acupuncture and its role in modern healthcare? What role do you see you and Moon Rabbit Acupuncture playing in it?

I believe that acupuncture will continue to be more incorporated into a proactive health regimen, that is not alternative but integrated into your health journey. My fear is that acupuncture will be taken out of the hands of licensed acupuncturists, who spend years studying and training, and put into the hands of chiropractors and other providers who take weekend courses, believing that acupuncture can be applied after only a few online webinars.

Part of my goal is not only to expand the availability of acupuncture across the country, but also to make sure it is practiced to the highest standards possible.

What would be your motto?

Live your best life.

Images provided by Gudrun Wu Snyder and Moon Rabbit Acupunture