— ACUPUNCTURE IN PASADENA, CA
Personalized acupuncture to support better sleep, ease tension, calm the nervous system, and help your body better manage everyday stress.
— IS STRESS AFFECTING YOU
It's a normal response to challenging situations — but when it becomes persistent, it
can begin affecting how you feel physically and emotionally.
→ Constant worrying or racing thoughts
→ Difficulty relaxing or feeling "on edge"
→ Trouble falling or staying asleep
→ Muscle tension in the neck & shoulders
→ Headaches or jaw tension
→ Digestive discomfort during stressful periods
→ Fatigue or feeling emotionally drained
→ Irritability or mood changes
→ Feeling overwhelmed by everyday responsbilities
— YINTANG · HALL OF IMPRESSIONS
Your acupuncturist evaluates patterns throughout the body rather than treating every person experiencing anxiety in exactly the same way. Treatment may be incorporated as part of a broader wellness plan, and can be used alongside appropriate conventional medical or mental health care.
Explore clinical research on acupuncture and generalized anxiety disorder
SERVING LOS ANGELES SINCE
INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT PLANS
— OUR HOLISTIC APPROACH
01 / Needle
Points are selected according to your individual presentation and goals. Many people find sessions deeply relaxing — a real strategy for managing stress, not just a symptom check-off.
02 / Herbs
When appropriate, a customized or professionally formulated herbal approach based on your individual TCM pattern — never identical for every person experiencing stress.
03 / Daily
Sleep habits, caffeine, movement, and work demands all shape how you feel. We discuss practical strategies that complement your treatments.
04 / Between Visits
Gentle pressure applied to specific points on the ear, continuing acupressure stimulation between appointments.
— ACUPUNCTURE FOR STRESS-RELATED SYMPTOMS
Your personalized treatment plan takes the full picture into account — not just the
symptom that brought you in.
Racing thoughts and physical tension can make it difficult to wind down. Acupuncture may be incorporated into a holistic plan for stress-related sleep issues.
Stress often shows up physically — unconsciously tightened shoulders, a clenched jaw, braced muscles.
Muscle tension, poor sleep, and stress may contribute to headaches for some people.
The brain and digestive system are closely connected — which is why stomach discomfort often tracks with stressful periods.
Feeling constantly "switched on" is exhausting. Sleep, digestion, and lifestyle all factor into evaluating persistent fatigue.
Emotional symptoms can fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle — your acupuncturist takes these patterns into account.
— YOUR FIRST APPOINTMENT
01
We discuss your main concerns, health history, sleep, digestion, energy, stress levels, and lifestyle.
02
Your practitioner builds a treatment plan based on your needs — not a generic anxiety protocol.
03
Extremely thin, comfortable needles, then quiet time away from screens and responsibilities.
— GETTING STARTED
We take the time to understand the full picture before creating your
personalized care plan.
PART 1 - 90 MINUTES
During your first appointment, your acupuncturist will take a detailed look at your health history, current symptoms, stress levels, sleep, digestion, lifestyle, and overall wellness goals.
You'll also receive your first acupuncture treatment based on what your practitioner learns during the consultation. Please allow 90 minutes for this session.
PART 2 - 60 MINUTES
At your follow-up appointment, your acupuncturist will review how you responded to your first treatment and present your personalized Report of Findings (ROF) and Care Plan.
Your care plan will outline recommended treatment frequency and may include acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, nutrition, lifestyle recommendations, or other supportive therapies based on your individual needs. You'll also receive your next acupuncture treatment during this visit. Please allow 60 minutes for this treatement and all future sessions.
— TESTIMONIALS
Hundreds of 5 star experiences from patients across Pasadena, Los Angeles, and the San Gabriel Valley
— WHY CHOOSE HEALING WITH ZEN
Our Pasadena acupuncture clinic has served the community since 2013, providing
personalized acupuncture and holistic wellness care in a nurturing, comfortable
environment. We take the time to understand what you're experiencing and develop a
plan that may incorporate acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, nutrition, and other
supportive therapies — so you feel heard, supported, and confident in your care.
— MEET OUR PRACTITIONERS
Our licensed acupuncturists take the time to understand your health
concerns, lifestyle, and wellness goals — every treatment is personalized
to you.
Acupuncturist, Herbalist & Clinical Director

LICENSE
CA Board Certified
GRADUATE
Emperor's College
UNDERGRADUATE
UC San Diego
CLINICAL AFFILIATION
NCCAOM Certification
DOCTORAL GRADUATE
YO SAN University
Zen Tuan is a California board certified physician of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the founder of Healing with Zen in Pasadena, CA. Her path into TCM began with a snowboarding injury. One acupuncture session restored range of motion in an immobilized arm that had been in a sling, and the experience redirected her career.
She holds a Masters Degree in Acupuncture and Traditional Oriental Medicine from Emperor's College and a Bachelor of Science from UC San Diego, with specialist training in pain relief, fertility, gynecology, digestive disorders, and mental health. Zen also provided acupuncture services at The Disney Family Cancer Center for 10 years, where she focused on cancer patient care using Balance Method acupuncture.
Acupuncturist & Herbalist

LICENSE
CA Board Certified
GRADUATE
SCU of Health Sciences
UNDERGRADUATE
Pace University
CLINICAL AFFILIATION
NCCAOM Certification
DOCTORAL GRADUATE
SCU of Health Sciences
Kiera Layne is a licensed practitioner of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine at Healing with Zen. Her path into Traditional Chinese Medicine began after realizing she wanted a career that aligned more closely with her values, interests, and passion for holistic healing. Her passion for helping others discover its benefits.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Entrepreneurship-Management with a minor in Biology from Pace University and a Doctorate in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine from Southern California University of Health Sciences, where she completed a concentration in Healthy Aging. Her capstone focused on the use of acupuncture and herbal medicine for Rheumatoid Arthritis.
— FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Research into acupuncture for anxiety continues to develop. Some studies suggest it may help reduce anxiety symptoms, though more high-quality research is needed. Acupuncture may be used as a complementary approach alongside conventional medical and mental health care.
Yes — acupuncture is commonly used as part of a holistic wellness approach for people experiencing stress. Treatment is individualized according to your symptoms, health history, and TCM pattern.
Many people find acupuncture sessions relaxing. Experiences vary, but treatment typically includes a period of quiet rest after the needles have been placed.
Yes. Acupuncture can be used as a complementary therapy alongside mental health treatment. It is not a replacement for appropriate psychological or medical care.
When appropriate, Chinese herbal medicine may be incorporated into your individualized treatment plan, based on your health history and TCM pattern rather than symptoms alone.
There's no universal number. Frequency depends on how long you've experienced symptoms, their severity, other health concerns, and your response to treatment. Your acupuncturist will recommend a schedule after your first visit.
Healing with Zen is located at 221 E. Walnut St., Suite 134, Pasadena, CA 91101 — serving Pasadena and the surrounding San Gabriel Valley communities.
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— FROM THE BLOG
A gentle, movement-based practice that can complement acupuncture in supporting a calmer nervous system.
Read Article →How the Liver system in Chinese Medicine plays a central role in the way the body processes stress.
Read Article →Mid-back, low-back, and neck pain, alopecia, and anxiety often overlap — how these patterns connect.
Read Article →— WATCH AND LEARN
A simple Qi Gong movement you can practice at home to help relieve stress and support overall balance.
Watch Video →How stress and digestive discomfort are connected, and how acupuncture can support both together.
Watch Video →A case study on treating the sensation of a lump in the throat, often linked to stress, with acupuncture.
Watch Video →— FIND YOUR CALM AGAIN
Take the first step toward feeling calmer, more balanced, and supported.
Serving Pasadena, La Cañada, San Marino, Arcadia, South Pasadena, Glendale, and Sierra Madre since 2013.