A Touch of Ginger - Recovering from Loss or Trauma

Ginger Michels

Lead Acupuncturist & Herbalist, Owner, Licensed Acupuncturist (LAc), Board Certified Herbalist, Diplomate of Oriental Medicine (Dipl. OM), Diplomate of Canonical Chinese Medicine (DCCM), and Clinical Fellowship with the Institute of East Asian Medicine (FICEAM)

Ginger Michels, LAc, has devoted her life to helping others find physical and emotional healing through acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine. She is a licensed acupuncturist (LAc) and board-certified Herbalist with a passion for healing and health through Chinese medicine. As a Diplomate of Oriental Medicine (DOM), Ginger earned the distinguished Master of Science degree in Traditional Oriental Medicine (MSTOM) from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine (PCOM). As a Diplomate in Canonical Chinese Medicine (DCCM), she has the expertise, education and exceptional commitment to serving her patients. In addition, Ginger holds a Bachelor of Science degree from National Lewis University and earned her Master of Business Administration degree from Aurora University.

In 2011, Ginger established A Touch of Ginger acupuncture practice. Over the years, her business has grown to include a team of three acupuncturists and several support staff serving the Aurora, Naperville and Oswego areas.

Ginger’s family history has played a significant role in finding her calling to be an acupuncturist. Her father left her family when she was 13, her mother struggled with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and her younger brother is mentally and physically handicapped. Because of these circumstances, Ginger worked hard to support her family financially, physically and emotionally from a young age.

Because of the turmoil she experienced in her youth, Ginger developed an unhealthy relationship with food. As a result, she suffered from health problems related to her weight, including headaches, back pain, pancreatitis and a peptic ulcer. This was a turning point in her life. In seeking pain relief, Ginger was introduced to a homeopathic doctor who inspired her to heal her body through diet and lifestyle changes. Initially, she was resistant to the idea. But as she continued to experience healing and relief of her health problems, she began to adopt his recommendations for a healthier lifestyle through diet and exercise.

Over the next three years, Ginger lost 85 pounds and her health significantly improved. She was inspired by the natural healing she experienced and left her career as an application engineer to study Chinese medicine and become an acupuncturist. She was drawn to Chinese medicine because of its foundations in the belief that diet and lifestyle (exercise, sleep and stress) affects the body and health.

Ginger is passionate about taking care of family and is a caregiver innately. She loves spending time with her husband and two children and treats their health concerns with Chinese medicine. In addition, Ginger uses Chinese medicine to improve mobility and provide pain relief for her mother who is in the last stage of RA.

Ginger is driven to share the benefits of Chinese medicine because of its powerful healing ability to restore health. She is a compassionate healer whose goal is to help people. She encourages her patients to be active participants in identifying and understanding their health concerns. In addition, she educates them about making positive lifestyle changes to maintain their health.

Patty Jones

Licensed Acupuncturist (LAc), Diplomate of Oriental Medicine (Dipl. OM), Diplomate of Canonical Chinese Medicine (DCCM), Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD), Registered Pharmacist (RPh)

Patty Jones, LAc, MSTOM, Dipl. OM, DCCM, PharmD., RPh studied East Asian medicine for four years and earned a Master of Science in Traditional Oriental Medicine (MSTOM) from Pacific College of Health and Science.  Patty received additional training in herbology (DCCM) from the Institute of Classics in East Asian Medicine.  In addition, Patty has a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree from University of Illinois at Chicago and is a registered pharmacist (RPh).

Patty has had the desire to help others be healthy since she was 8 years old and interviewed a pharmacist while working on a Girl Scout career badge.  After graduating from pharmacy school, she began working in a retail pharmacy, dispensing medications and advice to her patients.  She had achieved her goal to help others and was happy doing so.

Over the last decade, Patty’s belief of what was “healthy” had changed.  She learned there were more natural ways to maintain her (and her patient’s) health that did not include pharmaceuticals.  Her research eventually led her to Ginger Michels to try acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine.  As a result of acupuncture and Chinese herbs, improvements in her health allowed her to discontinue some of her medications.  Patty was excited to share the wellness she discovered with her patients but felt constrained in the environment of the pharmacy. After 30 years as a retail pharmacist, she decided to retire from the profession of pharmacy and go to school to become an acupuncturist and herbalist.  She is excited to begin helping others achieve the wellness and good health that started her on this journey, and to share what she has learned so all her patients can lead a better, more healthy life.

When not working, Patty enjoys walking through the forest, listening to music and reading.  She has also recently added regular meditation practice to her life.  She and her husband enjoy spending time traveling and going to movies.

Anjalee Patel

Licensed Acupuncturist (LAc) and Doctor of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (DACM), Diplomate of Oriental Medicine (Dipl. OM) and Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA)

Anjalee Patel, LAc, DACM, Dipl. OM, PTA, has been studying East Asian medicine for a little over four years and has a Doctorate of Acupuncture and Chinese medicine from Pacific College of Health and Science.  Additionally, she has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from University of Illinois at Chicago and an associate degree in Applied Science from Morton College. She also has been a licensed Physical Therapist Assistant since 2015 and is still practicing today.

Anjalee’s passion for East Asian Medicine started five years ago when she was experiencing migraines, dizzy spells and extreme fatigue. She was told by medical professionals that they could not find out what was causing these symptoms. Her cousin mentioned acupuncture and herbal medicine to her, specifically, about Ginger Michels and how much she helped him. She went to Ginger for help and the rest is history. During her own healing journey and schooling, she discovered that she wants to provide a safe and peaceful space for people to receive the help they want. She also believes that her diverse background encourages her to be open and empathetic when healing others, which she believes is remarkably important. Anjalee uses acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, Guasha, herbal medicine, lifestyle modification, exercises and nutrition to provide a whole-body approach to healing.

Anjalee has a daughter, a dog, a parrot and a husband that she cannot imagine her life without. She enjoys various types of music, movies and shows, but would rather take a long Epsom salt bath while listening to some sounds of nature and doing some breath work. She is still waiting for her acceptance letter from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Andrea Aseves

Office Manager

Andrea has been working at A Touch of Ginger since 2013. She believes in the value of acupuncture and has embraced alternative healing methods since a young age. Through her work, Andrea has been trained about the different uses and effects of Chinese herbs to assist patients with general questions.

Andrea is married and has four children. She enjoys spending time with family, reading and the outdoors.

Karen Chervinko

Support Staff

Karen has been working at A Touch of Ginger since 2016. She has always had a holistic approach to her own health and wellness, so her career aligns with that belief as “a perfect fit.”

Karen is married with three children. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and outdoors. Her hobbies include running, dancing, travel and reading. She also volunteers regularly at a women’s shelter.

Kim Bockay

Support Staff

Kim has been working at A Touch of Ginger since January 2022. She always has had an interest in health and wellness through a more natural approach that encompasses mind, body and spirit. This has resulted in a journey of learning and changing her lifestyle habits, as well as those of her family.

Kim is married and has one daughter. In her spare time, she enjoys daily exercise, hiking, biking and walking. She loves being in nature and enjoys finding new places to explore with her husband. She also volunteers as a leader of the care team at her church.