Acupuncture is for Black Women
Ancient Medicine Practitioner Resident at Ixchel Balam
I am Dr. Jennifer Taylor Menda, and I practice acupuncture and Chinese medicine here at Ixchel Balam. I work with women of all ages, and I specialize in reproductive health and the perimenopausal transition. This is medicine for your cycle, your hormones, and the years your body is asking you to pay attention to.
My practice is not limited to reproductive health. I also treat sleep, allergies, pain, digestive issues, and conditions that are harder to categorize. If you are not sure whether acupuncture applies to what you are dealing with, ask me. Chances are it does.
Explore Services
Acupuncture. Fine needles placed along the body's meridians to regulate qi, calm the nervous system, and address the root of what is happening, not just the symptom in front of us.
Acupressure. The same points, worked by hand instead of needle, for the sessions or the moments that call for it.
Moxibustion (moxa). The warming of acupuncture points with mugwort, used to move blood, ease cramping, and bring warmth into a body that has gone cold, which is common in cycle irregularity and in the perimenopausal years.
Gua sha. Guided scraping along the skin and fascia to release tension, move stagnant qi and blood, and relieve pain that has settled into the muscle.
Cupping. Suction applied to draw stagnation to the surface, release tightness, and improve circulation.
Electrical stimulation (e-stim). Gentle current added to select needles to intensify circulation and pain relief, particularly useful for cramping, lower back pain, and stubborn muscular tension.
Other Offerings
Qi Gong. Movement and breath practice you can take home with you, so the regulation we build in session continues after you leave the table.
Herbal medicine. Formulas suited to your constitution, added when your pattern calls for more support between sessions.
Mindset coaching. Because the mind is part of the pattern too, not separate from it.
Allergy protocol for food allergies. (Coming soon.)
Cosmetic acupuncture. Facial needling to support circulation, tone, and the skin's own repair process, no injections or downtime required.
Acusculpting. Body contouring through needling and stimulation, working with circulation and lymphatic flow rather than against your body.
HeartMath. Biofeedback-based training in heart rhythm coherence, for regulating your nervous system in real time, not just on the table.
Community acupuncture. Lower-cost group sessions, for the days a full private treatment is not what your budget or your schedule allows.
And whatever else your pattern calls for. I train continuously, and I add tools to this list as I find ones that work.