By Sarah Rigg Special to The Ypsilanti Courier

Rose Noonan, a doctor of Chinese medicine, practices the art of cupping on a client; this alternative treatment creates suction, and practitioners believe it increases blood flow and contributes to healing. Kaitlyn Belcher/Kat Belcher Photography.

Winter hit us harder than we expected, said Dr. Noonans husband and office manager Rob Noonan. We come from a place where snow is something you go to in the mountains and then leave again. Rose had never experienced snow, and we came here during the worst winter in years.

Despite that shaky start, the practice is slowly growing, aided by good word of mouth advertising, Rob said.

Rose originally studied accounting, but she wanted to do something to help people, Rob said. She started studying Chinese medicine and found a real passion for it. After seven years of study, she didnt want to work for someone else, so she looked into starting her own practice.

Rob said Australia only has about six large cities and to get the clientele and demographic they needed to support an alternative medicine practice, they had to establish themselves in a big city where other alternative medicine practitioners had already set up shop.

We came over the U.S. on holiday and traveled through Michigan up to Mackinac Island and fell in love with the place, he said. There are also a lot of people here that Rose thought she could help, knowing that many people cant necessarily afford to see their medical doctor as much as they might be encouraged to, and we can offer another way for people to keep their health under control.

In order to apply for a visa and come to the U.S., the Noonans had to have all their ducks in a row, from buying a house to leasing an office. Rob said American friends helped them hunt for a house and an office by sending photos and videos of potential spaces. The Noonans ended up choosing their current location at 124 Pearl St, Ste. 301, in Ypsilanti because price and location were good, Rob said.

Ypsilanti is a vibrant and diverse community full of friendly and interesting people. It's growing every day, and I'm excited to be a part of that, Rose said.

Originally posted here:

Aussie practitioner opens Chinese medicine practice in Ypsilanti