An Interview with Johanne Picard-Scott

It was Johanne's love of dance that brought her to really appreciate the body as a physical manifestation of the soul. Recognizing the human being as a unified whole of body, mind, and spirit made her want to dive deeper into Eastern philosophy and medicine. She first developed a dedicated yoga practice and studied Feng Shui. She then delved deeper with complete studies of Chinese medicine and herbology while she was a practicing attorney. She eventually left her legal career to practice full-time and opened Harlem Chi Community Acupuncture.

Where did you grow up?

Haiti

How long have you've been doing this work?

I opened HarlemChi in 2014 -- 8 years in practice

How do you get into this acupuncture?

I practiced as a corporate attorney for 18 years before opening my practice. I started studying Chinese Medicine clandestinely mid-way through my practice as a lawyer. It took me 8 years to complete the formal studies but it will be a lifelong practice and study. My career always meant a great deal to me, but I can say that now I don’t have a career but a purpose.

Has anyone died of a hundred needles from acupuncture? (funny question)

Certainly not, but many have healed from 1.

What's the strangest request you've been asked to heal using acupuncture?

Most recently a woman I’ve treated for other things asked to help her study for and pass an exam. She brought her husband in for the same reason.

How do you feel about the question, does Acupuncture hurt?

It is a natural question to ask. It is rare to find someone who is not apprehensive about being needled. However, it is the benefits they get after that keeps them coming. These needles are extremely thin. Nothing like the hypodermic needles that many are most familiar with.

What is it that people don’t get about acupuncture?

Many wonder why it is that it can help with so many ailments - not just pain. Acupuncture is one therapy from a large cannon of medicine that over thousands of years evolved an ultra "whole" -istic concept of the body and how it functions. In addition to understanding the dynamic interdependence of all of the body's functions it evolved from an acute insight into the body's innate propulsion to maintain its integral order to sustain the whole. Acupuncture is a very simple, yet sophisticated therapy that taps directly into this natural propulsion to restore physiological homeostasis in the body. That is why it is able to help with so many disruptions in function.

Fried Chicken vs Fried Fish (whitey to be exact) funny question?

Fried Fish -- just stopped eating all other meat.

Whats your go-to for fun uptown?

Any good restaurant.

What do you dislike most about western medicine?

The idea of treating "a disease" as opposed to treating the individual -- This leads to a "one-pill/intervention-for-this" mentality that can be very myopic when it comes to true healing

Did you have a b-girl name of nickname growing up?

Unfortunately not

What is your most treasured possession?

My daughter but she is not mine

What would your superpower be?

To never know or experience worry

What's your healthy natural hair secret?

Healthy food

Which book changed your life?

Many, many books have impacted my life. I seriously can’t come up with just one.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

An architect