Written Stories
These written stories are shared directly by patients and reflect individual experiences at different stages of care.
Mathew Foster's Story:
Matthew and his wife at the clinic
​Long before my first appointment, I was already well acquainted with Dr. Joy, as she has been working with my wife for about three years now. Her health issues are a bit more complex and ongoing than my own, so she was looking for someone with the empathy, compassion, care, and knowledge for the best, most comprehensive and holistic approach. After seeing the noticeable improvements and results from her overall outcomes, I knew that my wife had found someone special. Health care—and the journey toward health and wellness—isn’t a straight line, but she has come a long way since then.
When I started experiencing some concerns of my own, my wife encouraged me to consider Dr. Joy as well. The level of trust and respect was already there from observing how she’s treated and cared for my wife, so I naturally had fewer reservations about seeing her. I’m glad to say that her reputation is not only well founded and well deserved, but that she far exceeds expectations. There is a lot to be said about empathy and humanity, especially in our current health care system, but Dr. Joy is, first and foremost, a truly kind and good human.
After filling out the intake forms and speaking with her, she was able to determine some of the root causes of my current soreness and discomfort within the first few minutes of listening and observing. She then went to work on addressing said causes, providing both an insightful and informative understanding of what I was experiencing and why, showing me exactly where we needed to focus our treatment. I have seen her two more times, consistently taken the herbs she sent back with me along with the recommended plan for sleep and stretching, and I’m starting to feel like myself again. In fact, I’m starting to feel even better than I was before.
It’s a process and a journey, so I do want to continue to see her as a part of supporting myself, as both my body and mind—the big one for me—have only benefited from her care. As a practitioner, she offers what I would consider to be an ideal balance of Chinese and Western medicine, but more importantly than that, she clearly loves what she does and that love is felt and experienced in her office. I can’t say enough for what she has meant for my wife, now me, and our family.
Patrick Ward's Story:
I started going to Joy Yang for digestive related issues in August, 2018. I initially got immediate relief from the acupuncture, but I also got ongoing help in between sessions through her daily herbs (which were very effective and gentle). From my very first visit I felt better, but after a few had gone by I noticed I also felt better in other areas of my life, too. I started waking up alert and fully awake, going to the bathroom less frequently (I'm now zero times during night), falling asleep faster, and having more energy throughout the day. *Notice none of these perks had anything to do with why I started going.
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The herbs she prescribes are crushed dried herbs that you put into hot water. They generally have a mildly sweet taste (almost like plain bone broth), and are not hard to drink nor will they likely give you any side effects. Every other acupuncturist I have ever gone to has just given me little black pills packaged in a factory, which never felt that effective.
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Joy Yang also teaches you what you can do at home to expedite your healing. No other acupuncturist has ever done this for me either. The techniques are relaxing and have become a major highlight of my day.
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The most important takeaway I can give (and that shows in her treatments) is that Joy Yang is a Chinese MD. She's not just an acupuncturist, she's a trained and well practiced medical doctor (acupuncture is just one of her healing methods). The level of training a Chinese MD undergoes compared to someone studying in America is vastly different (3 years compared to 8+). If you have been to an acupuncturist from the states, you'll likely quickly see the difference.
Dennis Legg's Story:
Just had another visit with Dr. Joy Yang and am once again leaving her office feeling vibrant and alive. Appointments never feel rushed. She gives you her full attention and along with Chinese herbs specifically combined for you, empowers you with suggestions on what you could be doing at home to enhance the treatment you are receiving. I feel like we are in a partnership for me to achieve optimum health. Knowledgeable, sensitive, informative…I feel totally confident in my receiving expert medical care. I highly recommend her!
Jennifer Li Wong's Story:
​Dr. Yang is a professional, sweet, and super caring Chinese Medicine Doctor. I first met her at a health fair when I was an osteopathic medical student, as well as attended a seminar in which she taught a group of us students about Traditional Chinese Medicine and gave us demonstrations about acupressure points and how acupuncture needles aren't particularly painful (it was really, really cool!). She also talked about several different aspects about some fundamentals of Traditional Chinese Medicine, modalities used, and was very generous about answering our questions and sharing some of her knowledge with us.
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In addition, I also went to her when I had a difficult time with some insomnia and fatigue that I was having as a result of the stress from medical school. Dr. Yang pointed me towards the (emotional) source of my symptoms (using pulse diagnosis) and proper self-care, and she helped me find symptomatic relief when typical medications prescribed from doctors did not help. She is a truly compassionate healer who cares about her patients' well-being, and I cannot recommend her enough.
Scott Caytons Story:
After years of listening to me complaiin about numbenss, tingling and pain in my right shoulder and arm my wife made me an appointment to see Dr. Yang. I was willing to try something new after multiple trips to multiple doctors resulted in being diagnosed with carpal tunnel, tennis elbow and tendonitis and the usual printed out physical therapy exercise sheets and suggestions to seek a brace of some sort. I did the therapy, I bought many braces and nothing really helped. I was constantly experiencing numbness and tingling in my fingers, pain in my elbow and shoulder and was often unable to lift my arm above 45 degrees.
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After one visit with Dr Yang I was pain free and had a much larger and pain free range of motion. I could hardly believe it and thought maybe this feeling of relief would be short lived. It was not. After two visits the tingling and pain I had been dealing with for years was just gone. My range of motion was back to normal...I was pain free. It has been months since my last appointment and I am STILL pain and tingling free.
I cannot encourage anyone out there who is considering a visit to see Dr Yang enough...go and see her. I am booking my next appointment today to explore how she can help me with my high blood pressure. I expect big things in this area too...as she has been nothing short of a miracle worker for me! I highly recommend Dr. Yang...make your appointment today!
More Patients stories
Danyel Baker: A student at VCOM Dr. Yang is a true professional who is concerned with seeing her patients become well again as naturally as possible, and that is very important to me. I discovered her practice within the first couple of months of starting my first year in medical school, and it couldn't have come at a better time. Due to the increased stress as well as increased mental and emotional demands, I was not sleeping well and was noticing other downstream effects. In my first and subsequent appointments, she explained how she can help me and how I can help myself to manage my stress and improve my sleep, and the rest fell into place. The acupuncture and other services she has provided to me surpassed my expectations, and I would (and have) recommend her treatments to any and all.
Misty Pauley: A Therapist As someone who has visited acupuncturists all across the country, I can confidently say that Joy Yang provides some of the best acupuncture treatments I've ever received. During my first session with Joy, I experienced immediate symptom relief that continued to improve for hours afterwards. What makes Joy stand out is her integrated approach that addresses the mind, body and spirit. She has an extensive herbal pharmacy to complement acupuncture with customized formulas. Joy also collaborates with other holistic providers, allowing her to offer comprehensive treatment plans tailored to each patient's unique health needs. In addition to her clinical expertise, Joy creates a warm, welcoming environment. She takes the time to understand all aspects of your health and lifestyle to develop an individualized treatment plan. I've been to many acupuncturists over the years, but Joy Wang is truly in a league of her own. She offers the best acupuncture experience in Blacksburg and the entire New River Valley region. I highly recommend her clinic for top-notch acupuncture care.
Tracy Pattison My experiences with the workshops have been very positive. During the first workshop I learned how to use the moxa sticks. After the workshop I started using the techniques I had learned in the workshop on my family and myself. My dad has bad knees so I used the moxa sticks on his knees. The moxa sticks helped with his pain and he was able to bend his knees. I also used the moxa sticks on my mother for the pain she had in her stomach. I have used the moxa sticks on my cousin who had neck and shoulder pain. After using the moxa sticks she was able to lift her shoulder higher than before the moxa stick treatment. My dog has breast cancer and during the workshop I was taught how to use the moxa sticks on my dog. I have been using the moxa sticks on my dog once a week. She lays on the couch beside of me and enjoys the heat and the treatment of the moxa stick as I use it on her. I also use the moxa sticks on myself during this time for knee and hip pain. The moxa sticks have helped ease my pain. During the 2nd workshop I learned the 5 elements of Chinese medicine and their sounds. After the workshop I realized I felt less stressed and felt more relaxed. The relaxing and calming feeling lasted for 2 days. I plan on using the sounds that I learned to help heal my family and myself in the future. The workshops have been very beneficial for me. My goal in going to the workshops was to learn how to help my family and myself to be healthier and stress free. I feel that if I continue to use the techniques I have learned in the workshops I will not only be healthier but I will also become a better person because I will not feel so stressed all of the time.
Ana B.: A professor at VT Dr. Yang was nothing short of a godsend for me. She has helped me tremendously through one of the most physically and emotionally challenging periods of my life. I went to her for support through a miscarriage which happened alongside some other health issues I'd been having for a while. Throughout my life I have been frustrated with the limitations of western medicine and was continuously looking for someone to work with me in a more holistic way. I found what I was searching for in Dr. Yang- I could not be more pleased with my consultations with her! Dr. Yang has a tremendous wealth of knowledge and expertise and she combines traditional Chinese Medicine with other healing approaches. Most importantly, she is someone of great empathy and will really listen to you! Moreover, she has a very unique gift for understanding her patients intuitively. I have never experienced anyone with such a talent as hers. This enables her to tap into the real needs of a patient, not only addressing the symptoms but the root cause. This happened to me in my very first session and today, after only a few sessions I feel so much better and positive and I will continue on this path knowing that I have the best possible doctor by my side.
Randolph Ranger I found Dr. Yang via a google search and fortunately she is in my area so I decided to try TCM Acupuncture for some shoulder/neck pain as well as lower back pain. The first treatment she addressed my shoulder neck pain that had felt like a pinched nerve giving me trouble for a few months. Within 15 minutes she had reduced my pain level by 80%. She let me know I would probably be sore for a few days and she was right but I felt much better. My next visit she addressed my lower back pain that I have been fighting for several years trying to address with Chiropractic. She evaluated me and showed me the areas that were causing the issues were not all in my back but some in my abdomen area. I have never experienced someone who better understood the true causes or sources of my issues. I doubted and challenged her and she demonstrated the areas by pressing them and I was shocked by the pain I had in those abdominal areas when she pressed on them. I acknowledged her assessment and she proceeded to apply acupuncture to the abdomen and back that day and I left feeling much better. She again told me I would have pain from treatment for the next few days and she was correct but by the 3rd day I was feeling amazingly better. Better than I had for the past few years. I have continued to go for treatments and both neck/shoulder and lower back are feeling almost non existent most days. Dr. Yang knows what the trigger areas are and associates them with the larger picture. I am very impressed by her and I do not say that lightly. I also do not typically write a review for someone or something unless I truly believe they deserve it. Dr Yang deserves it. If you are in pain and thinking of considering her treatments I highly encourage you to give it a try. You may just find yourself feeling great when nobody else could do that for you. Randolph Raner feb 2025
Dianne Dillin: A Speech Language Pathologist Many years ago I became discouraged with western medicine and began whole body healing, which included acupuncture and Chinese medicine. I have been a regular consumer of acupuncture for 23 years, but before going to Dr Joy no one ever had been able to help me with my chronic severe insomnia or my severe intolerance of summer heat. After only a few sessions with Dr Joy I am now sleeping all night and can go outside without feeling faint or sick just because of the summer heat. I have learned new things about healthy eating as well as acupressure techniques to use at home to help myself. I am only just beginning my treatment plan with Dr Joy and already I feel like all of my vital organs are being paid attention to and revitalized. I have been to many skilled acupuncturists over the years but have never experienced the skill or knowledge that I have experienced with Dr Joy. When she says she will help with something, she does. Dr. Joy is such a good listener and demonstrates so much passion for healing. I feel so much gratitude and relief. I feel like I have found such a treasure, and I am looking so forward to the rest of my treatment plan.
Lynn Kick: A nurse It has been almost a year, since I started having itchy skin, it would at random times as well as random parts of my body. I finally saw 2 dermatologists in my are of Blacksburg and Radford VA, one told me it was old age skin and to use creams, the second told me it was nerve pain and wanted to prescribed oral medications. Â I became very frustrated as to why no one could help me with this medical problem. I started looking on line for other alternatives and ran across Joy Yang's practice. After doing some research on what she provided in the way of health care, I made appointment. Dr Joy spent a lot of time explaining the process in which she treats patients and that she could help me. After 3 treatments, the driving me crazy itchiness has almost all gone. I have been able to sleep at night and not take any medications at all. I am so thankful for finding Dr. Joy as she continues to help me with my health issues. I highly recommend her. Thank you Dr Joy for addressing my issues and helping me understand how to take care of myself, so that I can have a healthier, quality of life. So very Grateful Lynn Follow up on my total health improvement with Dr. Joy Yang. I have been seeing Dr Joy about 4 months since my first visit. I chose the internal package and I cannot tell how much my overall health has changed for the better. As a result of Dr Joy's hands on care, educating me on proper body mechanics, diet, sleeping and how the body works with nature to heal us in a natural way. My blood pressure is down to normal, energy lifestyle to a new one which brings me full of energy, happiness and the ability to to have a quality of life and enjoy the fun things I like to do. I will continue see her on a maintained schedule as she is always willing to help anyone with total body health. Dr Joy, I am so grateful for finding you and letting you help me heal my body. I know I still have a few thing to work on, but you have given me the tools in which to do that. I appreciate all that you do for your clients and will highly recommend you to those who are looking to healthy bodies and lifestyle. I forever grateful ! 15 Stars
Patient experiences are shared with permission. Individual results may vary.