WEBSITE: www.ChiAkra.com

Mary Elizabeth is a graduate of Tri-State College of Acupuncture in New York City, and has studied with such notable acupuncturists as Carolyn Bengston, Kiiko Matsumoto, Dr. Mark Seem, Arya Nielson, Jeffrey Yuen, Dr. Richard Tan, Fabien Maman, Yitian Ni and Donna Carey.

Her knowledge of facial acupuncture and acupressure is based on the work of Jacques Lavier, the "Father of French Acupuncture." She has also studied extensively with her teacher Carolyn Bengston, who is a master of interdermal needling for the face.

From her formal and personal studies, Ms. Wakefield has synergized her knowledge into a certification program in Constitutional Facial Renewal™; this course of study includes three specific treatment modules, Constitutional Facial Acupuncture, Constitutional Facial Acupressure and Non-Needle Modalities, and Herbal Adjunct Therapies, all of which must be completed in order for the practitioner to receive a Level 1 certification. There is also an Advanced certification for acupuncturists only.

Ms. Wakefield has given her innovative seminars at AZ Acupuncture School and the Desert Healing Center in Tucson, AZ, SBCOM in Santa Barbara, ACTCM in San Francisco, AIMC in Berkeley, and in Orange, Laguna Hills and Oakland, CA, Mercy College, PCOM and Swedish Institute in New York, NY, in Hawaii, Orlando, FL, Santa Fe, NM, Bastyr University in Seattle, WA, Michener Institute in Toronto, CANADA and elsewhere. She has also trained the staff acupuncturists at two locations of the prestigious Canyon Ranch Spa in her facial acupuncture protocols.

In 2001, her work and practice was featured in an issue of Vegetarian Times. She been a presenter at 3 consecutive CSOMA Expos, and is slated to appear at a symposium sponsored by Eastern Currents, Ltd., in Vancouver, BC, CANADA in March, 2005, as well as the 12th annual Symposium of the AOMAlliance in Newport, RI, in May, 2005.

Ms. Wakefield contributes an ongoing column on facial acupuncture and related topics to Acupuncture Today magazine, and has also written articles for the California Journal of Oriental Medicine and Oriental Medicine Journal.

Mary Elizabeth's Facial Acupuncture Renewal™ has been featured during a segment on FOX News that aired nationally; in early December she demonstrated her techniques in an interview on EyeWitness News, WABC-TV, in New York.  

Ms. Wakefield recently was invited to custom design a Diamond Acupuncture Facial™ in conjunction with the 2005 Academy Awards, and traveled to Los Angeles to debut it at the Soho Mansion Diamond Aquifer Suite. Her practice and treatment protocols will be highlighted in a number of prominent fashion magazines in 2005 - Allure, W, Luxury SpaFinder, and Spa Asia (Singapore).