When I was young, I developed a significant pain in my lower back while on a swim team. My parents recommended I try acupuncture and it helped a lot. My acupuncturist, Dr. Ray Rubio, was also able to pinpoint how the pain developed in the first place by asking many questions about my swim technique. He gave me advice on how to swim differently that helped make it so the pain never came back. His treatment also included nutritional and lifestyle advice to help speed my recovery. This positive healing experience impressed and stayed with me as I moved though my education. When it came time to decide what kind of doctor to study to become, I knew I wanted to combine human's ancient and ongoing relationship with natural medicine with the modern diagnostic tools available today. After looking into as many types of medicine as I could, Acupuncture and East Asian Herbal Medicine spoke to me as the best way to accomplish this. I researched all the schools and picked Bastyr because of it's several acre herbal medicine and food garden and its amazing library.

I received a Masters of Science in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine and a Bachelors of Science in Natural Health Sciences from Bastyr University in Kenmore, Washington. During my studies there, I was lucky enough to be part of a research team awarded a Venture Grant that sent us to Havana Cuba to study the integration of their department of Health and Department of Agriculture. Specifically their use of urban based sustainable gardens to grow food and botanical medicine. This trip instilled in me not just a greater passion for the universal language of plants but the necessity to focus on how and where our food and medicine is grown.

Amongst my clinic time at the Bastyr Center for Natural Health in Seattle Washington, I also pursued additional education experiences including specialty pediatric training and shifts, 3 years of Chinese Tui Na Body work therapy training, training in growing herbal medicine and medicinal mushrooms, HIV Clinic shifts, and Cancer Hospital shifts.

At the end of my time at Bastyr, I went to Shanghai China to study in their integrated public setting. This trip showed me the true roots of this ancient medicine. It was experiencing the massive scale of how Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine is practiced along side western medicine in a hospital setting that confirmed for me i must must start a clinic that everyone in the community has financial access to. First, we needed a name. Family Wellness Clinic sounded good but we wanted to make sure that even in our name every type of person from every type of family knew they would be welcome. So, Universal Family Wellness Clinic was born in 2010 in Los Angeles California.

For 10 years now, I am Michael Niss, MSAOM, Licensed Acupuncturist, and Herbalist, at Universal Family Wellness Clinic where. I could not love my job more. The challenges and triumphs and patients and everything about practicing acupuncture is the best. I feel honored that patients trust us with their care. I work hard to thoroughly listen to every one of my patients. I always strive provide patients with effective, concise care and a plan for prevention or long term solutions.

I also like to play music (bass), garden, and surf, have a blast with my 2 children.

I am excited to meet with you and help with your health goals.

Michael Niss, L.Ac.