Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine · Philadelphia + Telehealth Nationwide
When Western medicine runs out of answers
Chinese medicine is just getting started.
For 43 years, I've helped people with complex, chronic, and stubborn conditions find the diagnosis — and the treatment — that finally works.
The right diagnosis changes everything.
I came to this medicine the same way most of my patients do.
At 17, I was sick and out of options. One acupuncture treatment changed the course of my health — and my life. I enrolled in acupuncture school and never looked back. That was more than four decades ago.
Since then I've treated thousands of patients, trained hundreds of practitioners, and written clinical texts that are still used in acupuncture schools today. I've learned that the right diagnosis is everything. When it's even slightly off, healing stalls. When it's exact — the body responds. That's what I'm here to find.
My full story »
Welcome to my next chapter
A NOTE FROM CARA
If you've been my patient at Six Fishes, you've probably heard the news: after more than 40 years, I'm stepping away to focus on my personal practice. Six Fishes is in extraordinary hands and I couldn't be prouder of the team and what we've built.
So what's in store for us on this new path? I'm splitting my time between Philadelphia and Portugal which means my practice will look a little different now.
When I'm in Philly, I'll see you in person. When I'm abroad, we'll work together online. The same care, the same me, just in a more flexible way. I've always believed that continuity of care is everything in Chinese medicine. It's how the qi keeps flowing, and how real healing actually happens.
What I'm most excited about is what this change opens up: more intention, more focus, more of my full attention on the patients who've trusted me with their health for years.
And for new patients finding me for the first time, welcome. You're in good hands here.
Read more about my Journey to now
Feeling dismissed by conventional medicine?
Tired of being told your labs are normal?
You've seen the doctors, done the tests, tried the supplements. There’s never a good explanation for why you still feel the way you do. That process — of looking for answers and not finding them — is exhausting in its own right.
Conventional medicine is good at many things. Finding the root of a complex, chronic condition is often not one of them. It's designed to treat what's measurable, not what's subtle. Chinese medicine works differently. It looks at the whole person — your history, your constitution, your patterns over time — and asks what's actually driving the symptoms, not just what to call them. Chinese medicine is human medicine. It doesn't start with your diagnosis. It starts with you.
I came to this the hard way. At 17, sick and out of options, I tried acupuncture as a last resort. One treatment changed my life. I've spent 43 years since then working out why — and what I know now is this: when the diagnosis is exactly right, the body responds. That's what I'm here to find.
Stubborn Internal Conditions
Complex & unexplained syndromes
Eye, ear, nose & throat conditions
Women’s Health & Fertility at all Life phases
You're not a mystery.
Your body has a pattern —
and Chinese medicine has a language for it.
How I work
Most complex conditions aren't untreatable.
They're under-diagnosed.
Where most medical care reacts to symptoms at the surface, Chinese medicine asks what's driving them. I look for the pattern underneath — the thread that connects the things you've been told don't go together. Then I use the full depth of classical Chinese herbal medicine to address it at the root.
Herbs prescribed to match your exact constitution aren't the same as supplements you buy off a shelf. They're compounded, adjusted, and refined over time as you change. That precision is what makes the difference.
Patient stories
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Harriet got to sleep
Pandemic anxiety along with a high stakes job dysregulated Harriet’s biorhythm so she was unable to sleep an all. Acupuncture and Herbs restored her natural sleep-wake cycles
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Rosemary got off antibiotics
Rosemary came to see me after a year of antibiotic treatment for recurrent sinus infections. Using herbs targeted at both eliminating infection and boosting her immunity did the trick.
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Andrea's Impossible fertility challenges
First diagnosed with blocked fallopian tubes, we used herbal formulas and compresses. After an HCG test proved the tubes were open, we then learned her ovarian reserve was low. After 3 months of herbs to support egg quality she conceived and carried the baby to term
HOW I WORK
It’s time to experience what the right treatment will do
Deep-Dive Consultation
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One focused intake session to get the full picture — your history, your constitution, and everything that's been missed before. You leave with a clear diagnosis, a custom herbal formula compounded for you, and a plan built around your specific pattern. This is where everything starts to make sense.
Ongoing Telehealth Care
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Healing isn't a single appointment — it's a process that evolves. We meet regularly to track your progress, refine your formula, and adjust as your body responds. Herbs are shipped directly to you. Whether you're in Philadelphia or anywhere in the US, care continues without interruption.
Health Journeys (Coming Soon)
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Each Health Journey applies my signature method to the conditions that I've treated most. Choose a self-guided journey or live support to address your specific health challenges with a clear path to better health.
Link: Join the waitlist →
TESTIMONIALS
Jackie
“I have been seeing Cara Frank to keep my autoimmune disease under control and already felt that she was a life saver. I was blown away by the level of care I recieved.
I had to bring my toddler with me because I couldn't find a babysitter. Cara and her team made the entire experience wonderful.
There were toys for my child to play with and gave me time before my appointment to let my child get acclimated to the office, Cara reassured them that I was just going to be "taking a nap" in the next room.
I was able to totally and fully relax and heal my body because of the wonderful level of care. It was really touching to be seen as a patient but also as a parent who can use extra help sometimes.
I cannot recommend Cara Frank enough, everyone needs people like this in the healthcare team!”
Andrea
“After three weeks of herbal treatments I feel hopeful for the first time in four years. I'm less depressed, less fatigued, and have a much more positive outlook on life. I highly recommend Six Fishes- they are miracle workers!”
Isabel
"I was told at 25 that I had early ovarian failure and needed medication to ever ovulate. After working with Cara on Chinese herbs, I was pregnant six weeks later. My husband and I now have two children. I will be forever grateful for her knowledge and kindness."
Eric
“Cara is a masterful Chinese herb practitioner. She listens carefully and makes a diagnosis with your input and feedback. Then she thoughtfully dials in a formula and sends it right out to you. The results over time approach being magical—relief from longterm ailments and a very grounded sense of wellbeing. Don’t hesitate to try her.”
Free resources to start learning your own patterns
Chinese medicine gives you a framework for understanding your body that stays with you. These guides are a place to start.
RECENT
podcasts
I’ve been fortunate to be interviewed by my esteemed colleagues
RECENT
podcasts
Curious to hear more about my work, background, and teaching? Here are three recent podcasts I had the pleasure of being a part of.
