What makes Dr. Meghan Peckinpaugh with Balanced Thistle a good neighbor?

The intersection of holistic health and beauty has gained significant attention in recent years, but few practitioners are approaching it with the depth of knowledge and personal experience that Dr. Meghan Peckinpaugh brings to Balanced Thistle. Established in Fort Collins in 2019, this innovative clinic has quickly become a cornerstone of holistic health in Northern Colorado, offering services that bridge traditional Eastern medicine with contemporary wellness and beauty practices.

Dr. Meghan's journey into holistic health wasn't a straightforward path. Like many practitioners who find their calling through personal experience, she initially pursued pre-med studies at Colorado State University. Her trajectory changed dramatically when she fell seriously ill during college. This challenging period led her to an acupuncturist who "completely changed her life," inspiring her career pivot. After completing graduate studies in acupuncture and functional medicine, Dr. Meghan founded Balanced Thistle, bringing her personal healing journey full circle by helping others navigate their own health challenges.

What sets Balanced Thistle apart is their pioneering approach to integrating traditional Chinese medicine with contemporary beauty practices. They were the first in Northern Colorado to offer gua sha facials—a treatment that gained viral popularity in the beauty world but has deep roots in traditional Chinese medicine. These facials blend conventional elements like cleansing and steaming with the therapeutic benefits of the gua sha stone, creating a truly holistic beauty experience. Since then, they've expanded their services to include various holistically-based facials and comprehensive functional medicine offerings.

Dr. Meghan offers fascinating insights into how acupuncture works, acknowledging that even modern science doesn't have complete explanations for its effectiveness. She points to our society's constant "go-go-go" mentality that keeps us locked in fight-or-flight mode (sympathetic nervous system), preventing our bodies from accessing their innate healing capabilities. Acupuncture provides a respite by shifting patients into the parasympathetic ("rest and digest") nervous system, giving the body space to check in with itself and address underlying issues. This perspective challenges the quick-fix mentality prevalent in our modern healthcare approaches.

Though Balanced Thistle welcomes clients of all ages and genders, they specialize in women's health concerns including fertility, menopause, PCOS, and endometriosis. Interestingly, they've developed expertise in treating jaw pain, which began as an extension of their aesthetic work but revealed profound connections between facial tension and chronic discomfort. Many clients discover that treatments addressing jaw clenching not only relieve pain but also have sculpting and lifting effects on the face—a perfect example of how health and beauty are inherently connected in holistic practice.

To learn more about Balanced Thistle go to: 

https://www.balancedthistle.com/

Balanced Thistle

970-658-5777