The Shen Bai plant (known as Pu'kiawe in Hawaiian) is a delicate, gentle shrub that can only grow where the air is pure and the mountain mist is clean.  Its presence signifies that the mountain is sacred and ideal for meditation and clarity. Shen Bai was called "plant of the monks."  With delicate leaves and tiny berries, this plant does not create fanfare.  It is easy to overlook. However, during 40 day mountain retreats, monks would use Shen Bai to symbolize their fasting process -- eating the small leaves for gentle nourishment in the early stages of fasting, and later discovering berries deep within the shrub.  As my teacher, Dr. Chang -- a 64th generation lineage Taoist Master -- explained,

"Just when you think you are at your end and need nourishment for the soul and the body, you come across Shen Bai. From the outside, this plant displays a rough, pokey appearance. Follow the plant inward and it transforms into beautiful calm, soft leaves. Deep within are small berries – not enough to show off or advertise enlightenment – just enough to say, 'I'm beautiful'.”

Shen Bai Acupuncture of Santa Monica was named after this plant because it symbolizes the true beauty within each of us that does not need fragrance's publicity, nor flowers that showcase it to others.  It radiates humbly for the simple pleasure of being and knows the strength of its essence. Shen Bai Acupuncture strives to bring the purist parts of Taoist medicine to help people with any illness achieve a radiant health that needs no advertisement.