Author Biographies

Miriam Lee

Miriam Lee was born in China but left the mainland in 1949. In China, she was a nurse and midwife before becoming an acupuncturist. She lived through both the Japanese occupation and World War II there. After leaving China, Miriam lived in Singapore for 17 years before coming to the United States. When she arrived in California, acupuncture was illegal. So Miriam worked on a factory assembly line and gave treatments quietly out of her home. Later, she shared a space with an open-minded MD.

In April 1974, Miriam was arrested for practicing medicine without a license. With the overwhelming support of her patients, she was acquitted and made part of an acupuncture research project at San Francisco University where she practiced until 1976 when acupuncture was legalized in no small part through her efforts. During the late 70s, 80s, and early 90s, Miriam owned and operated a very busy acupuncture clinic in Palo Alto, CA. Throughout this time, she also taught hundreds of Western students in workshops and seminars and apprentices in her clinic. Currently, Miriam is retired, having practiced acupuncture for 50 years.

Miriam's publishing credentials include Insights of a Senior Acupuncturist: One Combination of Points Can Treat Many Diseases and Master Tong's Acupuncture: An Ancient Alternative Style in Modern Clinical Practice.