Ariel Kim, R.Ac., TCMP, Ph.D.
I'm a Registered Acupuncturist and Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner serving patients in Acton, Erin, Georgetown, Halton Hills, and surrounding communities.
My path to TCM was both unexpected and inevitable. By training, I'm an educator and researcher. I hold a Ph.D. in East Asian Languages and Literatures from the University of Oregon and serve on the faculty of the Department of Linguistics and Languages at McMaster University. I also teach at the Toronto School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, where I help train the next generation of practitioners. My academic work has always explored how meaning is shaped not only through words, but through presence, connection, and context.
When the pandemic arrived, something shifted. I felt a deeper calling toward holistic care, to understand health beyond the clinical, and to help others heal in ways that words alone could not reach. That calling led me to Traditional Chinese Medicine, a path that felt both new and deeply familiar.
Training with Master Wan Cheng Liu
My training in acupuncture was shaped most profoundly by my teacher, Master Wan Cheng Liu, Ph.D., one of the most respected acupuncturists of his generation, with more than 50 years of clinical experience across China, Korea, Hungary, and Canada. He is the founder of the Heishui Method (黑水针法), a distinct school of acupuncture he developed by integrating classical Chinese medical theory with decades of clinical research. The method is recognized for its refined pulse diagnosis and its painless, precise needling technique, which has earned him the affectionate title "神针" (Shen Zhen, "Divine Needle") among his patients.
I had the privilege of becoming his first non-Chinese student, and, as he hinted, perhaps his last. After completing my training with him, Master Liu personally certified me in the Heishui Method, an honour I do not take lightly. The hours I spent learning at his side, practicing his needling techniques, observing his pulse diagnoses, and absorbing the discipline of his clinical approach, continue to guide every treatment I offer at DaBōK.
Credentials and Training
Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac.), College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario (CTCMPAO)
Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner (TCMP), CTCMPAO
Diploma in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Toronto School of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Certified in the Heishui Method of Acupuncture Technique by Master Wan Cheng Liu, Ph.D.
Ph.D., East Asian Languages and Literatures, University of Oregon
Faculty, Department of Linguistics and Languages, McMaster University
Faculty, Toronto School of Traditional Chinese Medicine
A Family Tradition
I come from a long line of healers.
In 1517, my ancestor An-guk Kim, a prominent Joseon-era scholar, compiled Ch'angjinbang Chwalyo, one of Korea's earliest medical texts on epidemics. The book was written during a time of crisis, when communities needed accessible, practical guidance to care for one another. Five centuries later, that same impulse, to make healing knowledge available to those who need it, still shapes how I approach my work.
Generations after An-guk, my great-grandfather and grandfather both practiced Korean Oriental Medicine, grounded in the classical teachings of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Their work was quiet, patient, and devoted to community. I grew up surrounded by stories of their care, and by the conviction that medicine is not just technique. It is also attention, intention, and respect for the person in front of you.
At DaBōK, I'm carrying that lineage forward, not as repetition, but as renewal.
The Meaning of DaBōK
DaBōK (다복) means "many fortunes" in Korean, a name that embodies abundance, well-being, and blessings.
It also holds deep personal meaning. DaBōK was the name of my late grandmother, who raised us with grace and healing hands. As a child, whenever I felt unwell, she would gently place her hand over the discomfort and whisper:
내 손이 약손이다(nae soni yaksongida)"my hand is medicine."
And somehow, the pain would ease.
Her spirit continues to guide the care we offer at DaBōK, rooted in love, attentive to each person, and shared with every patient who walks through the door.
Our Approach
Healing at DaBōK is unhurried, individualized, and rooted in listening.
No two bodies tell the same story, so no two treatments look the same. During your visit, I'll take time to understand your full picture, your symptoms, your history, your daily rhythms, before recommending any treatment. From there, I draw on acupuncture, herbal medicine, cupping, moxibustion, and lifestyle guidance to address not just the symptom, but the imbalance beneath it.
I work with patients managing chronic and acute pain, anxiety and stress, sleep difficulties, digestive concerns, women's health, and a wide range of internal conditions.
Visit Us
DaBōK is located in Erin Township on Wellington County Road 50, just minutes from Acton. The clinic is set in a peaceful, natural environment designed to feel restful from the moment you arrive.
We welcome patients from Erin, Acton, Rockwood, Guelph, Georgetown, Halton Hills, Milton, Brampton, and beyond.
Begin Your Healing Journey
When you're ready, I'm here.