“I may be teaching them about traditional Chinese medicine, but my patients teach me every day. The teacher becomes the student and the student becomes the teacher.”
– Darin J. Bunch, DAOM, L.Ac.
Dr. Darin J. Bunch is an award-winning doctor of acupuncture & Chinese medicine practicing since 2001. His formal training in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) includes extensive teachings and clinical instruction by Richard Teh-Fu Tan, O.M.D., L.Ac. in the Balance Method and Dr. Wei-Chieh Young, and Dr. Henry McCann in the Master Tung Style.
Before relocating to Santa Barbara, Dr. Bunch attended the Northwest Institute of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine (NIAOM) in Seattle, WA from 1997-2001 where he earned his Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine (MTCM) and continued his studies with an externship at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong. He is licensed in the states of Washington and California and is board certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine and the California State Acupuncture Board. Darin also holds a Bachelor Degree in Psychology from Seattle University.
Dr. Bunch went on to receive his Clinical Doctorate of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine (DAOM) from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine which received the prestigious award of #1 Doctoral Program in the Country by thebestschools.org in 2012. He continued his education with an externship to study neurology, Parkinson's and stroke rehabilitation under Dr. Yen-Chieh Lee at the Cathay General Hospital in Taipei.
For nearly a decade, Dr. Bunch treated advanced-stage oncology patients at the Seattle Cancer Treatment & Wellness Center (now the Salish Cancer Center) where he provided over 30,000 treatments alongside an integrated team of oncologists and naturopathic physicians.
While in Seattle, Dr. Bunch lectured extensively to both first and second-year medical students at the University of Washington and as a guest speaker at Gilda’s Club/Cancer Pathways Seattle chapter on the integration of acupuncture & Chinese medicine with Western oncology.
In 2010, referring physicians awarded Dr. Bunch Top Doctor of Acupuncture (Oncology & Immunology) and featured him in the August edition of Seattle Metropolitan Magazine. He also wrote a chapter on the role of acupuncture & Chinese medicine in cancer treatment for the book Living Lessons by Mark Shigihara, RPh and Kim Erickson.
Dr. Bunch helps patients become active participants in their personal health and wellness by encouraging exercise, nutrition, lifestyle, and positive thinking techniques.
What’s in a name?
The Pacific Ocean bridges the East to the West. The strengths of one medicine can be the weakness of the other and vice versa. By integrating the modalities of both Eastern & Western medicines a Yin-Yang relationship can ensue creating a harmonious balance.
Some say the peaceful seahorse symbolizes creativity, imagination, good luck, vigilance, grace, confidence, and the power of the ocean.
Chinese cultures believed that the seahorse was a type of sea dragon, and as such, they were revered for their power and thought to be symbols of good luck.
The Ancient Greeks and Romans believed the seahorse was an attribute of the sea god Neptune/Poseidon and as such, the seahorse was considered a symbol of strength and power. Sailors have long viewed the seahorse as a good luck charm that carries a special meaning to those of us living in Santa Barbara’s south coast communities.