Why Choose Us

HISTORY

Acupuncture, a component of Chinese medicine, is an ancient art of healing dating back thousands of years. Today, acupuncture is widely practiced by licensed acupuncturists and medical doctors. The awareness of acupuncture has continued to grow leading more and more individuals to discover its amazing benefits.
The Ly family practice holds a rich history in and of itself dating back to the late 1800’s in mainland China. Founder of multiple clinics in Alabama and Tennessee and with over forty years of experience, Alexander Min-Shin Ly and Catherine Ly are proud to carry-on this time-honored family tradition of natural healing to help thousands of patients. They are committed to giving each patient quality care with compassion, a standard first set by Alexander’s father and great grandfather more than a century ago.

WHY CHOOSE US

Dr. Ly Natural Health has been caring for patients in the Southeast U.S. since its establishment in 1982. Our founder and senior acupuncturist, Alexander Ly has over fifty years of experience practicing Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and acupuncture. Alexander is highly regarded and respected by his peers and patients both on local and national levels. Over the past few decades, he has mentored and trained health care professionals including other acupuncturists and physicians. At our three thriving practices in Alabama and Tennessee, our team has been providing effective, holistic, personalized treatment with great results.

Drs. Helen and Amy Ly are daughters of Alexander Ly. They are board-certified neurologists and medical acupuncturists (medical doctors practicing acupuncture). With a solid foundation in conventional medicine, Drs. Helen and Amy Ly can diagnose and treat neurological conditions. As the fourth generation in the Ly family lineage of healers and acupuncturists, they were taught principles of acupuncture and TCM from a young age. Drs. Helen and Amy Ly learned acupuncture from their grandfather and father, whose clinical experience and proven acupuncture skills span over a century. They further honed their clinical skills in acupuncture and TCM at the Academy of Pain Research, a comprehensive acupuncture training course for physicians in San Francisco, California. They are active members of medical societies including the American Academy of Neurology and American Academy of Medical Acupuncture. Combining their medical expertise in both Eastern and Western medicine, the Ly sisters offer a highly effective, efficient and qualitative integrated approach to a variety of health conditions with an emphasis on health promotion and maintenance.

MEET OUR TEAM

The Dr.Ly’s Health Team is a group of health-care professionals working together for the benefit of their patients.

Learn more about the roles of the different members of our team, and how each role can assist you as a patient.

ALEXANDER LY- MS, LAC

With over thirty-five years of practice in the Southeast U.S., Alexander is loved and respected by his patients and the local community. He comes from a reputable family lineage of healers and experts in acupuncture and Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). He founded his first acupuncture clinic in Florence, Alabama in 1982 and went on to establish two more clinics in Huntsville, Alabama and Memphis, Tennessee. With over fifty years of experience, Alexander is a highly-regarded expert in acupuncture and TCM. He supports an interdisciplinary and integrative approach to patient care by complementing conventional western therapies with TCM, acupuncture, massage, and nutritional therapy. Passionate about his profession, he serves as a dedicated teacher and has mentored many students including acupuncturists, medical students, and physicians. He has given lectures around the globe acting on the importance of patient education in health and wellness. His collaborations with clinical researchers have influenced topics such as herbal and nutraceutical medicine, pain management, weight management, and cancer supportive therapies.

AMY LY, MD

Dr. Amy Ly was influenced at an early age by her family’s tradition in Chinese medicine and decided that she would be pursuing a career in medicine. She attained her bachelor’s degree magna cum laude in neuroscience from Vanderbilt University. She worked at Harvard Medical School’s Osher Center for Integrative Medicine Institute where she investigated the effects of acupuncture on irritable bowel syndrome. Dr. Amy Ly attended medical school at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, during which she spent a year in China studying acupuncture and Chinese medicine at the prestigious Tsing-Hua University in Beijing.

She completed her residency training in neurology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. During this time, she presented a seminal grand rounds lecture on acupuncture to her department. Dr. Amy Ly’s passion for integrating Eastern and Western medicine has now led her to join her father, Dr. Alexander Ly, in further developing a truly integrative medical practice.

HELEN LY, MD

Dr. Helen Ly cultivated an interest in medicine through the teachings of her grandfather and father in Chinese medicine. She completed her undergraduate studies in neuroscience at Vanderbilt University and graduated magna cum laude. She completed an acupuncture research tenure at the Children’s Hospital Boston and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, where she studied the effects of acupuncture and neuropathic pain. Helen went on to attend medical school at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. After finishing a year of preliminary medicine at the University of California, Irvine, Helen moved to Memphis where she completed her residency training in neurology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. She then also completed a fellowship in clinical neurophysiology. She is currently a board-certified neurologist and is working to develop more integrative approaches towards patient care at Dr. Ly Natural Health

Timothy Zhao, MD, ADS

Dr. Tim Zhao received his medical degree and served as Assistant Professor in the Department of Cardiology at Harbin Medical University in Harbin, China. He then served as Associate Professor at the prestigious Peking University Health Science Center in Beijing, China. During his medical training, he also learned and practiced traditional Chinese medicine. He is a licensed Acupuncture Detoxification Specialist (ADS) in Tennessee and a member of the American Heart and American Stroke Associations. Tim is eager to combine his expertise and skill in both Eastern and Western medicine to provide the best integrated care to his patients.

Catherine Ly, LAc

Catherine is a well-respected licensed acupuncturist who has been in practice for over twenty-five years. She specializes in cosmetic acupuncture, facial rejuvenation, and acupressure. She currently oversees the Wellness and Beauty program at Dr. Ly Natural Health.

Allen Chen, MBA

Allen graduated from National Taiwan University where he majored in Economics. He then obtained his MBA at Krannert School of Management at Purdue University. After receiving his degree, Allen started his career at Cummins Inc. where he gained experience in corporate finance and management skills. Allen joined Dr. Ly Natural Health in 2014. He currently acts as one of the clinic’s practice managers, and oversees community outreach and Veterans Affairs patient coordination.

Derrick Choi, PhD, MBA

Dr. Choi received his bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University and doctoral degree in neuroscience from the University of Cincinnati. His research focused on the neurobiology of obesity, addiction, and ingestive behaviors. He completed a fellowship in weight management using Chinese medicine techniques and auricular therapy at Tsing-Hua University in Beijing. Upon returning stateside, Dr. Choi oversaw the weight management and auricular therapy programs for Dr. Ly Natural Health. He then joined the Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery for his postdoctoral training in the development of novel therapies in treating Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia. Transitioning to healthcare management, Dr. Choi completed his MBA in healthcare administration at the Jack C. Massey Graduate School of Business at Belmont University, and worked in strategy and analytics at MissionPoint Health Partners, a population health company, in Nashville. He currently manages Dr. Ly Natural Health’s integrative medicine strategy and development.