Alexander Brenneman, DACM, Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac.)
A little about me:
Dr. Alec is a licensed acupuncturist and Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (DACM). He began practicing in Muncie, Indiana, in 2018 with a goal of bringing Chinese medicine to an underserved area. He started Ginger and Mint Acupuncture and Herb Clinic where he practices complimentary general and family medicine, specializing in pelvic floor therapy and women’s health, orthopedic conditions and pain, and mental health. He is dedicated to education, regularly studying and refining his skills to provide the best care for his patients.
As a big proponent of self-care, Dr. Alec highly recommends hobbying. In general, this includes things that take your mind off work and life’s stressors. Dr. Alec, for example, practices qigong and meditation for stress relief and enjoys playing with his cat and dog, reading, writing, watching anime, and playing video games. As a bit of a passion project, along with his wife, they have converted much of their yard into native garden beds to help with local pollinators, trying to do their part to help save the butterflies and bees.
Mission:
My mission is simple: I want to help people feel better as naturally as possible. I enjoy educating and teaching people how Chinese medicine works, how the body works, and ways to better help themselves at home. I don’t view Chinese medicine as just another treatment; it’s a holistic system that takes into account all aspects of our life.
Education:
Dr. Alec graduated Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in San Diego, California (now Pacific College of Health and Science) in 2018 with a Master’s of Science in Traditional Oriental Medicine and a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. He has Diplomat of Oriental Medicine status with the NCCAOM designating proficiency in herbal medicine.
Dr. Alec has most recently completed certificates and courses in Pelvic Floor therapy, Women’s health, Orthopedic acupuncture, Pediatrics, Mental health, and Cosmetic Microneedling and Facial Rejuvenation. During his schooling, he completed internships focusing on treating pain, women’s health, emotional disorders, diabetes, GI issues, and dermatology through various traditional Chinese medical modalities.
Alec’s journey so far:
My name is Alexander Brenneman, but I do go by Alec. I will answer to just about anything.
Since beginning this journey in 2014, I’ve been called many things: observer, intern, doctor, healer, wizard, Shia LaBeouf on two separate occasions in San Diego, and meow by my cat. While the last one is my favorite, I consider myself more of a guide, conduit, or facilitator. I’m here to aid you on your health journey.
My Chinese medicine journey began well over a decade ago. My background is in writing and food service. I have a bachelor’s degree in creative writing from Ball State and spent over 10 years working in restaurants before, during, and after schooling. Throughout my bachelor’s, my dream was to write. I wanted to write for cartoons or comics or video games, some sort of entertainment, I just wanted to tell stories in a medium I enjoyed the most. But I found that at the time that industry was difficult to break into and the alternatives didn’t sound appealing. So I began to look into careers that allowed me to have time to write and be creative on my own time and terms. An influential poetry professor of mine suggested working a shitty job for a few years to figure out who you are and what you want out of life. I took that to heart and managed a pizza place.
For a while I thought that was my ticket. I had fun working there, the hours were tolerable, and it’s pizza. Who doesn’t love pizza? One day, I woke up and realized I was working nearly 60 hours a week, my friends no longer worked there, and I hated who I was becoming. As the winds of synchronicity would have it, around that time I had a chance to experience a resort spa and loved the vibe. I always felt the tug of healthcare, but nothing felt right. Before writing I wanted to do psychology, then chemistry, and briefly med school. During my undergrad, I shuffled through math, music, teaching, and finally writing. Longing for change, I decided to look for other options. Circling back post bachelor’s, I eventually came across acupuncture and Chinese medicine, and it immediately resonated. I knew acupuncture was a thing because I loved Kung Fu movies growing up, but I didn’t realize it could be a career. So I began to research. At first it was like “I didn’t know this was real” and then it became “why doesn’t everyone do this.” The research was overwhelmingly positive. I looked locally to try it, but no one seemed to be practicing. So, I had the bright idea of “I can fill that void.” I began researching schools, picked one, moved, moved back, and here I am.
I look forward to meeting you and helping you along your journey!
