Gentle Tiger Acupuncture

A little about your acupuncturist

Miguel F. Cardenas

at Gentle Tiger Acupuncture.

I earned my Master’s Degree in the Science of Oriental Medicine in 2005 at Southwest Acupuncture College in Albuquerque NM and then received my National Certification from the NCCAOM  shortly thereafter. I have been practicing in the Quarry Arts Building here in beautiful Madison WI since November 2006.

I have been blessed with a gift for public speaking, I just have to make sure that I do it! My busy family life - I live with my mother-in-law, my wife and our three kids (19 y.o. in college, 6 y.o. in Kindergarten and 20 months and teething) - keeps me running. I wouldn’t change it for the world. I have been blessed with my family and I learn from them and learn more about myself through them every day.

Currently, I am working to speak as often as possible to as many people as possible about the benefits of Oriental Medicine (acupuncture, herbal supplements, tui na, moxibustion, diet and lifestyle considerations).

Below is my resume so that you can see where I’ve been and where I’m going. Thank you for taking the time to get to know a little more about me. But first I’ve included a glossary for some of the less common terms

1. NCCAOM – (National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine)

2. DOM – title designated to state/nationally licensed practitioners in New Mexico – Doctor of Oriental Medicine

3. Dipl. Ac. – Diplomate in Acupuncture – is the official title I’ve received from the NCCAOM.

4. Auricular – meaning, “pertaining to the ear”.

Licenses and Certifications

2006: NCCAOM Dipl. Ac. (this means I am recognized and qualified to do this on a National level).

2006 – present: Certified Acupuncturist, WI

WI Lic. # 510-055 

Education

2002 – 2005   Master’s Degree in the Science of Oriental Medicine (MSOM)

Southwest Acupuncture College, Albuquerque, New Mexico

1995 – 1999 Undergraduate Studies, University of New Mexico – BA in Spanish  

 Employment

 2006 – Present     Owner/Operator: Gentle Tiger Acupuncture LLC – full service Oriental Medicine Clinic providing acupuncture, herbs, tui na and other tradition asian medicine modalities - Quarry Arts Building in Madison, WI.

 1999 – 2001           Owner/Operator: Meeting of the Grinds mobile business Espresso/Coffee/Sandwiches – Albuquerque, New Mexico

 01/1995 – 1999      Gift Shop Associate/ Espresso Barista – University of New Mexico Hospital, Albuquerque,    New Mexico

1990 – 10/1994       United States Marine Corps – Honorable Discharge

One of the factors of my lifetime employment record that gives me pride is the longevity that I had at each of my former work experiences. I do like things to last and be established, but it doesn’t limit me from being flexible and adaptable to rapid and sudden change.

 Clinical Experience

 Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncture Student Clinic –

I participated in approximately 1030 clinic hours. I was responsible for observation of 2nd and 3rd year students, treatment room set up, patient intake, maintenance of clean field, treatment dressing change between patient appointments, assessment, diagnosis, , pulse and tongue diagnosis, disease differentiation and diagnosis, supervisory review before needle application, acupuncture, YNSA scalp acupuncture, Tui Na bodywork, cupping, moxabustion, Five Element style acupuncture, Gua Sha, Electro-Acupuncture, bleeding techniques, Ion pumping cords, seven star needling, herbal prescriptions, herbal preparation, herbal dispensation, patient education and treatment. I participated in supervisory discussion with the attending supervisor and fellow classmates. My supervisors included: Dr. Jim Ventresca, DOM, Dr. Bingzeng Zou, DOM, Dr. Denise LaRosa DOM, Dr. Jeffrey Meyer DOM, Dr. George Goodkin DOM, Dr. Li Xu DOM, Dr. Diane H. Polasky DOM. – Southwest Acupuncture College – 505.888.8898.

 Chinese Herbal Clinic

Responsible for patient intake, patient assessment, patient intake, patient diagnosis, herbal prescripstions (patents, powder and raw forms of herbs/herb formulas), follow up treatment, adjusting herbal prescriptions as necessary and patient education on proper herbal preparation and ingestion based on form of herbs, dosage and frequency. I participated in supervisory discussion. Focus of the the clinic was in herbal patents, granular and raw herbs to address Patient illness. Supervisors included Dr. Li Li, DOM, Dr. Bingzeng Zou, DOM – Southwest Acupuncture College – 505.888.8898. 

Japanese Acupuncture Clinic

Responsible for room set up, patient intake, maintenance of clean field, patient assessment, pulse diagnosis, disease diagnosis, auricular acupuncture, acupuncture, room maintenance, patient education, Shiatsu style body work. We focused in the clinic on the spiritual and energetic basis for diseases. Dr. Jeffrey Meyer, DOM, Supervisor. Southwest Acupuncture College (505) 888.8898

 La Familia Externship

La Familia served foster families and children in the foster care system who were experiencing emotional or mental issues due in part to abusive, neglectful or otherwise challenging home situations. My responsibilities included assessment, diagnosis, acupuncture, tui na, dietary recommendations, point selection review, communication with the parents who were present at the time of treatment, dietary recommendations, weekly follow up care, and occasional oriental medicine treatment of the guardians of these foster children. We followed OSHA standards and clean needle technique. Dr. Jeffrey Meyer, DOM, Supervisor. Southwest Acupuncture College – Albuquerque, NM (505) 888-8898.

 Safehouse – Women’s Shelter

The Safehouse sheltered women and children living with domestic abuse. The program focused on addressing issues related to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Physical Trauma and lifestyle change. My responsibilities included assessment, diagnosis, acupuncture, tui na, dietary recommendations, point selection review, and accurate point location and needle insertion. We followed OSHA standards and clean needle technique. At the end of each clinic session we had supervisory discussion. Denise La Rosa, DOM, Supervisor. Southwest Acupuncture College – Albuquerque, NM (505) 888-8898.

Public Speaking History

December 5, 200:  Invest in Yourself Books – Middleton, WI

A free presentation titled, “Introduction to Acupuncture”. It was about acupuncture and oriental medicine in the form of question and answer. I included on the spot audience participation by asking them what questions they had about acupuncture. The rest of the talk was an introduction to oriental medicine via many of the questions that I have been asked repetitively since beginning the endeavor of learning/understanding oriental medicine. 6661 University Avenue Suite 105, Middleton WI. Owner – Coleen Harty: 608-836-1706

April, August and October 2007: Whole Foods – Madison, WI

I presented a talk similar to “Introduction to Acupuncture”. It was a 60 minute lecture entitled, “Acupuncture 101”. I gave a brief history of oriental medicine (acupuncture to be specific), what to expect when you receive an acupuncture treatment, what acupuncture can treat –based on my experience/WHO-NIH research and then I ended the talk with Q&A.  Two different events coordinators – Brad or Amber: 608-233-9566

 April 2007 – September 2009: BNI – Business Networking International – Madison, WI

I was a member of the Badger Chapter – A weekly focused networking/sales meeting. At each meeting I had 60 seconds to stand and speak to 35-40 members and deliver information about how they could refer me for business. Every week, one member would stand up and give a 10 minute speech about them and/or their business in order to give an in-depth picture of me and my business. Over the duration of my time spent in the Badger Chapter, I gave about seven- 10 minute presentations. I also encouraged all the members of the Badger Chapter to receive and experience acupuncture from me – several did. Several testimonials and references available upon request.

January 18, 2010: Gilda’s Club – Middleton, WI

I gave a talk to Gilda’s club members about the ins and outs of acupuncture and oriental medicine. It included history, theory, information about needles, what “Qi” feels like, what is acupuncture in WI’s relationship with insurance, information from the WHO and NIH and I included several sources where they can find out more about the subject of acupuncture. Kirsten Norslien – 608-828-8873.

February 8, 2010: UW East Clinic – Madison, WI

I gave a talk very similar to the talk at Gilda’s club, It included history, theory, information about needles, what “Qi” feels like, what is acupuncture in WI’s relationship with insurance, information from the WHO and NIH, but I tailored the talk with more focus on pain rehabilitation – which is the main function of the UW – East Clinic. Tina Mancusi – 608-265-1655

March 15, 2010: Gilda’s Club – Middleton, WI

I gave a talk to Gilda’s club members about the ins and outs of self applied acupressure. The main focus of the talk was how to hold your hands in order to effectively apply acupressure to help alleviate acute symptoms and so that your hands would maintain strength and comfort for the short term and long term self-application of acupressure/tui na. It included  a bit of theory and history for a basic understanding of Oriental Medicine. I also gave them resources where they could find out more about acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Kirsten Norslien – 608-828-8873.

Additional Skills

-   Proficient in Western and Alternative medical terms and theory

-   Medium level proficiency in spoken and written Spanish.

 Future Goals: to be completed within the next 2.5 years.

-   Certification as F.A.B.O.R.M. – Fellow in the American Board of Oriental Medicine

-   NCCAOM certification in Herbal Medicine