EAST ACUPUNCTURE WELLNESS BOUTIQUE

Our Story

Although we began manifesting East Acupuncture Wellness Boutique (EAWB) in April 2020, right at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, our journey started long before that.

EAWB has always been a halo of inspiration and love surrounding us. When COVID hit, it affected our lives significantly, as it did for many families. However, one positive outcome was that the forced slowdown allowed us to organize our creativity and bring our business vision to life.

Ashley has been practicing acupuncture for over 10 years in various settings. She previously owned and operated Alchemy Tearoom and Acupuncture. After much soul-searching, she yearned to create her dream practice—one that was not only aesthetically beautiful and healing but also energetically supportive for her patients.

Marlene has over 15 years of experience in the service industry and was the General Manager of Native Kitchen and Social Pub until its closing due to COVID. She longed for a place of her own where she could nurture her exemplary customer service skills and business acumen.

Together, Ashley and Marlene combined their hearts and experience to create EAWB, a space where healing, beauty, and exceptional service come together for the well-being of our community.

Meet the Team Behind
East Acupuncture Wellness Boutique

At East Acupuncture Wellness, our accomplished team of acupuncturists brings both skill and compassion to their practice. By blending ancient wisdom with modern insights, our care professionals design personalized, restorative treatments that nurture the mind, body, and spirit.

  • Dr. Janette Engelbrecht

    Acupuncturist/Herbalist- Asheville + Greenville

    Dr. Janette Engelbrecht, LA.c. is proud to offer Chinese Medicine services with an integrative approach. Dr. Engelbrecht has a strong background in Western cancer care and specializes in oncology. In addition to oncology and pain, Janette focuses on digestion, nutrition, stress, sleep, and women’s health & fertility.

    Janette is an avid hiker and spends her free time with her pack of senior dogs and her husband enjoying the mountains of Western North Carolina.

  • Dana Harmon

    Acupuncturist/Herbalist-Greenville

    A native of New Jersey, Dana completed her undergraduate degree at Johns Hopkins University and attended Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in Chicago and New York City, where she graduated with honors from the Asian Bodywork and the Master of Science in Traditional Oriental Medicine programs. In her time at Pacific College, Dana completed internships at the NYU Langone Center for Women with Disabilities in Manhattan and Lutheran Hospital’s Neurology and Labor/Delivery departments in Brooklyn. In Chicago, she interned at the Chicago Women’s Health Center. She is a licensed acupuncturist in North and South Carolina and nationally board-certified (NCCAOM) in Chinese herbal medicine.

    She has over 10 years’ experience as an acupuncturist and has worked in a variety of settings, including integrative pain clinics and an addiction rehabilitation center. Dana enjoys treating musculoskeletal pain, trauma, fertility and women’s health issues and has completed additional training in the treatment of pain using distal points. She also treats digestive disorders, anxiety/depression (including PMS/PMDD) and seasonal allergies. Dana recognizes and values the role of emotional and spiritual life in the healing process, and can help you travel your path to balanced emotional and physical health. 


  • Ian Hanover

    Acupuncturist/Herbalist- Greenville

    Ian’s dedication to the healing arts is the result of many years of immersive study, hands-on training, and deep personal commitment. He spent over a decade in India, where he refined his understanding of traditional wellness systems through the disciplined practice and teaching of Kaula Yoga. His training encompassed not only postural work (asana), but also breath regulation (pranayama), yogic philosophy, massage, and Ayurvedic lifestyle principles, all of which continue to inform his therapeutic approach.

    He went on to formalize his studies in Ayurvedic detoxification therapies, earning a diploma in Panchakarma from the Athreya School of Ayurveda. Seeking to broaden his manual therapy skills, Ian also pursued intensive training in Traditional Thai Massage, receiving certification from the renowned and Cheat Wan institutions at Wat Po Temple in Thailand.

    With a strong foundation in traditional systems of medicine and bodywork, Ian eventually turned his focus to Chinese Medicine, studying Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal medicine at Dragon Rises College of Oriental Medicine. Now integrating more than ten years of experience in holistic healing with the diagnostic clarity and clinical effectiveness of East Asian medical practices, Ian offers a grounded and skillful approach to supporting patients on their journey toward health and balance.

  • Lily Gach

    Acupuncturist/Herbalist-Asheville

    As a second-generation acupuncturist, Lily Gach was immersed in the principles of Chinese medicine from an early age, learning from their father, who was both an acupuncturist and M.D. This upbringing provided invaluable insights and an authentic understanding of the healing arts.

    Through her studies, Lily developed expertise in the Five Meridian System, a specialized approach that offers additional tools beyond Traditional Chinese Medicine, particularly effective for addressing complex cases.

    Their training not only emphasized clinical skills but also the importance of creating a healing space that fosters transformation and self-awareness for patients. By integrating technical proficiency with compassionate care, Lily provides treatments that not only address physical ailments but also delve into deeper aspects of the human experience, facilitating long-lasting change.

    Lily is dedicated to helping patients choose and create a life that promotes greater health, freedom from pain, and comfort in their circumstances.

  • Ashley Kuper

    Acupuncturist/Owner - Asheville + Greenville

    Ashley Kuper L.Ac., focuses on fertility/women’s health, acute and chronic pain, digestive disorders, psycho-emotional issues, preventative medicine, Cosmetic Acupuncture and overall health maintenance and stress relief.

  • Jahna Sturges

    Acupuncturist/Herbalist- Asheville

    Jahna graduated from Five Branches University in 2001 with a master’s degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine. She has worked in a range of clinical settings including hospice care, mental health/addiction facilities, Veteran’s services and both private and group practices. She provides care for general health concerns and has a special interest in psycho-emotional wellness and autoimmunity. Her goal is to offer space where comprehensive care meets compassion.

  • Marlene Mechanic

    Facilities Manager/Owner - Asheville + Greenville

    Marlene Mechanic was born in Asheville and remains dedicated to causes beyond her service industry pursuits. She is an advocate for the LGBTQ community and works closely with local non-profits and organization. In her free time, Marlene enjoys traveling, experiencing new cultures and cuisines, and painting with oils and encaustics.

What Our Patients Have to Say

  • “EAWB is awesome!!!! They are knowledgeable, professional, and caring. She truly knows her craft and has done wonders for me with her acupuncture. She listens to me and my body and has helped me with ongoing pain from accident injuries and scoliosis. She also has helped me with everyday aches and pains, anxiety and depression, and sicknesses. I highly recommend her to anyone looking for an acupuncturist.”

    - JM

  • “EAWB has helped me resolve my health issues (when no other health practitioner has been able to). She has a deep knowledge of Chinese Medicine and radiating warmth, and I always leave her treatment room feeling better than I thought possible!”

    -MA

  • “EAWB practitioners are very knowledgeable and have a wonderful bedside manner. They have helped me with on going sciatica, energy and digestion issues. This is the most relaxing atmosphere to be in! I easily am able to take a nap and unwind in a professional and spa like environment!”

    -CG

  • “I have been going to EAWB for 2 years now, first for cosmetic acupuncture and now for general wellness. They are wonderful! I have had acupuncture and cupping for various aches and pains and always get relief.”

    -JB

  • “Ashley and her team are excellent, assiduous, and thoughtful practitioners. They are always welcoming, kind, and listen carefully but unobtrusively, diagnosing and acting quickly but accurately. I truly feel comfortable when coming to acupuncture with them and can fully relax while in treatment, allowing it to work. I successfully conceived once I started acupuncture with them, despite being told that I needed IVF to do so, and my plantar fasciitis is finally gone! I highly recommend their work.”

    -CD