The Point and Power of Eastern Medicine with Samantha Buchanan at Pointe Acupuncture

In today’s world, it’s not uncommon to desire a braided approach to wellness, integrating Western medicine with Eastern traditions and approaches. And while that isn’t always the case for everyone, Dr. Samantha Buchanan landed on this knowledge early on after a broken leg: While she was told she wouldn’t run again, she eventually did so—completing many marathons, and doing so to this day!—largely in thanks to Eastern medicine. Though she started at school for Western medicine, Buchanan changed directions when she was able to reclaim her health through an exploration and education in Eastern and functional medicine. Since, she’s gained a doctorate from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, layering this degree on top of  BS in nutrition with an emphasis on holistic health, as well as a Master’s degree from American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Now, the Grosse Pointe Park resident and No-Cal native offers traditional acupuncture, compounding of herbal medicine, fire cupping, massage, cosmetic acupuncture, micro needling, Gua Sha, nutritional counseling, and functional medicine at her practice, Pointe Acupuncture. Each treatment is personalized to meet clients where they are, supporting both immediate symptoms and long-term systemic constitutional treatments. To learn more about Dr. Samantha and how she’s sharing her love and understanding of Eastern medicine with clients, read on!

SBS: How did you first find acupuncture and Eastern Medicine? What drew you to it?
Samantha Buchanan: After my injury, I was looking for answers that Western medicine alone couldn’t give me. Acupuncture helped me reconnect with my body and build resilience from the inside out. I was fascinated by how subtle but powerful it was and how it approached the body as a whole…not just parts.

SBS: How did that originally turn into a career path and what shape did that take?
SB: It started with personal healing and quickly turned into a passion to help others feel the same transformation. I studied deeply, both clinically and philosophically, and began integrating Eastern medicine into a modern, functional wellness framework. That’s what led to the creation of Pointe Acupuncture, a space for a full-spectrum, integrative approach.

SBS: What are your favorite aspects of Eastern Medicine, and how do you think it can be helpful to integrate into a Western lifestyle?
SB: Eastern Medicine teaches us to tune into our bodies and respond before things break down! It’s preventative, intuitive, and personalized. When combined with the data and structure of Western medicine, it becomes a powerful tool for truly feeling your best every single day.

SBS: What are some common misconceptions about acupuncture and Eastern Medicine?
SB: One is that it’s only for pain, or that it’s too ‘alternative.’ It’s actually incredibly structured, and it’s used all over the world in hospitals and clinical settings. It’s not just energy: It’s biology, it’s circulation, it’s regulation.

SBS: How did you build the team for Pointe? What did you look for in other practitioners?
SB: I looked for integrity, empathy, and clinical curiosity. I wanted practitioners who are deeply skilled, but also grounded and collaborative…people who care about humans, not just protocols.

SBS: What practical and emotional tools did you use when building your practice?
SB: Breathwork, writing, mentors, and movement. I relied on the same toolkit I share with clients: Stay connected to your ‘why,’ trust your gut, and move through fear instead of around it.

SBS: For someone new to acupuncture and/or Eastern Medicine what are your top pieces of advice on integrating them into one’s life?
SB: Start with curiosity and openness. You don’t have to understand all the mechanisms for it to work. Just stay open, be consistent, and allow your body time to adjust. It is a process, no quick fixes. 

SBS: What skills and information have you taken from your past work or life into your work now?
SB: My background in Western medicine helps me speak both languages. And my personal healing journey keeps me connected to what it feels like to be a patient. I blend clinical insight with listening to the patient: They know best. 

SBS: What’s your own health, self-care and wellness routine?
SB: My routine changes seasonally, but always includes acupuncture, herbal medicine, hydration, running, and hot springs. I believe in rhythm over rigidity.

The best, zaniest part of being Samantha: I get genuinely excited about diagnosing people’s tongues. The tongue is the beginning of the digestive tract, telling us so much about what is happening internally and constitutionally. It never lies. 

Samantha’s SBS Mantra: Be Fearless. Fear is often the threshold to healing, creativity, and change. When we lean into it, we unlock the good stuff.

Samantha’s Michigan Faves:
Healthy Restaurant: Coriander Kitchen 
Splurge Restaurant: Vecino
Yoga Studio: Citizen Yoga
Fitness Studio: Body Burn
Fun Activity: Bike riding with my kids 
Calming Activity: A bath and infrared sauna 
Online Resources: PubMed and Substack
Books: Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Healing With Whole Foods by Paul Pitchford, The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz