Gretchen Forster, LAc, DAc

Acupuncture & Cosmetic Acupuncture

Gretchen was first introduced to Traditional Chinese Medicine through her own healing journey. With the support of her practitioner - and a commitment to consistent acupuncture and herbal medicine - she watched years of chronic pain begin to soften and she expereinced profound shifts in her physical, mental, and spiritual well‑being, and it continues to inspire her approach to care. She is especially drawn to the way Chinese Medicine weaves together nutrition, lifestyle, and emotional balance, and she is passionate about helping others discover how these elements can transform their health. Gretchen loves working collaboratively with her patients and empowering them to take an active role in their wellness journey.

Gretchen is licensed by the Minnesota State Medical Board and certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). She holds a Doctorate in Acupuncture with a specialization in Chinese Herbal Medicine. Her clinical interests include pain management, mental health, neurodivergence and neurodegenerative disorders, women’s health, and digestive health. She welcomes patients of all ages.

Her treatments may incorporate acupuncture, scalp acupuncture, facial acupuncture, auricular acupuncture, electroacupuncture, cupping, Gua Sha (dermal friction technique), Tui Na (Chinese medical massage), orthopedic needling, moxibustion, Chinese herbal medicine, and dietary therapy. Gretchen has also completed a specialized Nutrition Certification and is passionate about teaching patients how food can be used as medicine to support healing and restore balance.

Gretchen has always felt called to a life of service. Before dedicating herself to Traditional Chinese Medicine, she spent 13 years working with children and young adults with autism and other forms of neurodivergence. She supported their development in communication, motor skills, self‑care, social skills, and self‑awareness, and also incorporated dietary and art therapy into their care. Through this work, she witnessed how stress, emotional dysregulation, and imbalance can contribute to chronic symptoms and dis‑ease. These experiences deeply inform her practice today, allowing her to meet patients with empathy and create thoughtful, individualized treatment plans.

Outside the clinic, Gretchen enjoys painting and creative expression, gardening, hiking, yoga and qi gong, traveling, cooking, spending time in the forest or near the water, and adventuring with her husband and their Wirehaired Vizsla dogs.