Novato Clinic Balances Disciplines
Marin Independent Journal

Healer: Charles Peri of Novato Acupuncture and Herb Clinic.

Name: Novato Acupuncture and Herb Clinic

Address: 1531 E South Novato Blvd., Novato

Phone: 897-4678 or on the Web at www.novatoacupuncture.com

Chief executive: Charles E. Peri

Staff: Peri has three massage therapists on staff.

Business: Peri practices Eastern medicine with a "Western understanding." Where Western medicine focuses on the symptomatic approach to treatment by prescribing drugs, says Peri, Eastern medicine focuses on the cause or root of the pain.

Customers: Peri works with patients from seven to 70, although most patients are women aged 30 to 50.

Revenue: An acupuncture session costs about $75. Treatments with herbs have an average price of $25 a week, though costs vary.

What's new: The clinic is starting to sell herbs in tablet form, which makes them user-friendly. It's like taking a vitamin, Peri says.

What People are saying: Tina Albin of San Rafael is a patient of Peri's. "If you blend the two philosophies, Western and Eastern medicine, then you get results. Otherwise you get a prescription," Albin said. Peri "helped me quit smoking and I haven't had a cigarette since the day I quit. I really appreciate his services and I think other people should really try him out."

Vital statistics: Peri started his business in January 1999, and his practice has grown to over 700 patients.

Peri became interested in martial arts at 10. He trained in Chinese Kenpo, Chinese kickboxing, Korean Tai Kwon Do, Aikido, and Kang Jo Fu (the way of health). At 17, Peri and a partner started a martial arts school, House of Martial Arts, in Novato. Peri met his mentor, Robert Kong, a sixth-generation acupuncturist and herbalist, left martial arts and began learning the healing arts. Peri received his master's from the Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences in Oakland and subsequently became a certified herbalist-acupuncturist.