• Meet Our Practitioners

    Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture | The Alternative Clinic

Experienced Practitioners

In China, old doctors are revered because it is only through a lifetime of practice that one gains wisdom and experience.

Today in the west, many practitioners of Chinese medicine begin to treat patients right out of school, without the benefit of residency under skilled and experienced clinicians. Our clinic aims to change that trend.

Andrew and JulieAnn Nugent-Head have spent a combined 36 years in China studying directly under the last old doctors of Beijing.  Through this teacher – disciple training,  doctoral studies in the Chinese University system and residency in the hospitals of Beijing and Hangzhou, JulieAnn and Andrew have seen more patients, treatments and Chinese herbal prescriptions than most practitioners in the west will see in their lifetime. This unparalleled experience combined with fluency in written and spoken Chinese gives Andrew and JulieAnn the confidence to treat difficult disease and the tools to seek advice from the classic Chinese books directly.

Andrew Nugent-Head Alternative Clinic

Andrew Nugent-Head

Andrew Nugent-Head arrived in Taiwan in 1986 to study Chinese Medicine, martial arts and internal cultivation. He formally began studying Chinese medicine in 1989, founding the Association for Traditional Studies (ATS) to preserve China’s traditional knowledge. Andrew is a renowned Chinese medical practitioner, educator and martial artist, currently completing his medical doctorate in Zhejiang China.  Andrew teaches internationally and treats patients in Asheville, NC.

Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture | The Alternative Clinic

JulieAnn Nugent-Head MD (China)

JulieAnn completed her masters degree in Oriental medicine in the United States, and summer internships at Beijing’s Kuanjie Hospital in 2003 & 2004. Interning under skilled clinicians stressed the importance of internship, thus JulieAnn moved to China full time to learn Chinese and study under two of Beijing’s most famous traditional practitioners Dr Li Hongxiang (1924-2018) and Dr Chen Tongyun (1922 -).

While continuing to document these scholars, JulieAnn and husband Andrew escaped Beijing’s pollution and moved to the rural tea mountains of Hangzhou, living amongst the farmers of the Dragon Well tea village.  Commuting between Beijing and Hangzhou, JulieAnn completed her doctorate level medical degree,  focusing on the classical perspective of herbs.

Returning to the US in 2014, JulieAnn is thrilled to call Asheville, NC her permanent home.  She and husband Andrew have a tea and herb farm, treat patients at the Alternative Clinic, and teach internationally.

Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture | The Alternative Clinic

David Trevino LAc

David is a native Spanish speaker, born and raised in Mexico City. With 16 years of clinical practice and 9 years teaching students, David’s extensive experience also includes working with Houston’s Brain Injury Rehab Center, Harvard’s Mind Body Medical Institute’s Cardiac Rehab program, and Anderson’s Cancer Center’s Integrative Medicine program.

After implementing the tangible treatment strategies learned from Andrew Nugent-Head over the last six years, David experienced a number of his patients showing dramatic improvements. He is delighted to be working at the Alternative Clinic providing authentic and tangible Chinese medicine alongside Andrew and JulieAnn

Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture | The Alternative Clinic

Liz Cross LAc, MBT 10694

Liz’s focus on therapeutic bodywork began more than 15 years ago with a year long residential program. Practicing bodywork-therapy ever since, Liz’s experience working with athletes in Colorado, and guiding other therapists as a bodywork teacher created a high level of skill and confidence in her treatments.

Since moving to Asheville in 2011, Liz completed her master’s degree in Chinese medicine and is thrilled to join the practitioner team at the Alternative Clinic, offering therapeutic massage as well as Chinese medicine treatments. Liz also is part of the holistic medicine staff at a local mental health center.

Tony Grimes, LAc

Drawn to alternative health care after several personal experiences, Tony began formal studies in Chinese medicine in 2011.  In his final year of the Masters of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine program at Daoist Traditions in Asheville, Tony was fortunate to have JulieAnn Nugent-Head and David Trevino as clinical supervisors and Andrew Nugent-Head as a teacher. Excited about the dynamic and clinically focused style he saw in these mentors, after graduation, Tony completed the 300 hour internship program at the The Alternative Clinic and began private practice.

Returning to Asheville in 2019, Tony is thrilled to be part of the Alternative Clinic’s team of practitioners. Tony offers his no nonsense personality and tangible treatment methods utilizing herbs, acupuncture and bodywork.

Daniel Gonzalez, LAc

Daniel’s interest in the Chinese arts began at a very early age, accompanying his father on weekend treks through the streets of New York City ending in Chinatown. Amazing lunches, trips to martial arts schools, and double feature Kung Fu movies!. Little did he know it would be the memories of Chinatown’s Chinese Medicine pharmacies that would lead him to study medicine.

Daniel graduated from the Atlantic School of Oriental Medicine in 2004 and began practicing at Comprehensive Addiction Rehabilitation & Education in West Palm Beach, Florida. As the Acupuncture Physician, Daniel provided treatments for patients suffering from drug and alcohol related afflictions.

Relocating to the mountains of western North Carolina, Daniel began private practice in 2006. He has also served as a professional member of the North Carolina Acupuncture Licensing Board, and Chairperson for the Ethics Committee.

Although witnessing countless successes throughout education and private practice, Daniel had always felt that Chinese medicine had more to offer. Upon attending a seminar in 2014 presented by Andrew & JulieAnn Nugent-Head, he realized the path to understanding the breath and scope of this medicine was finally accessible. Daniel has completed all of the Association for Traditional Studies training programs, and has been a valuable member of the clinic pharmacy for two years. Daniel is excited to be able to practice Chinese medicine  at the Alternative Clinic.

 Gabby Hardin LMBT NC 15533

A DONA Certified International Birth Doula, Licensed Massage Therapist Certified in Pregnancy and Postpartum Massage, and a Student Midwife, Gabrielle Hardin is committed to raising awareness of the importance of women’s health and care.

She and her husband worked for NGOs in Thailand supporting women’s education, teaching empowerment techniques and battling human trafficking. Upon returning to the United States, she began her life long journey into medicine by becoming first a Licensed Massage Therapist and then a Certified Birth Doula. She is enrolled at Mercy in Action College of Midwifery to become a Certified Professional Midwife to be able to offer complete care to mothers.

Her greatest passion is bringing support and care to women, whether it is keeping them healthy and vibrant through therapeutic bodywork, helping expectant mothers through birth work and pregnancy massage, or volunteering at birth clinics around the world, care is at the heart of Gabby’s practice.

Maria Delahoz LMBT #17890

Maria was born and raised in Colombia, South America. After moving to New York City, Maria explored holistic approaches to healing, and found her passion in therapeutic massage. Desiring to offer others the healing services that made a difference in her own life, Maria studied neuromuscular massage therapy. The knowledge she has gained from those studies, combined with years of experience working in rehabilitation therapy,  Maria is confident in her skills and techniques. Maria is always eager to learn the diverse approaches to holistic medicine and is excited to be a part of The Alternative Clinic.

Please call us at 828-424-7415 if you have questions, or schedule an appointment online.