About Andrea (Cillo) Blom M.S., L.Ac.
NYS license no. 005104
It all started when I was two years old and my mom took me to see New York Dance Theater's "The Nutcracker." During the Snow Pas de Deux, I stood up, pointed to the stage and yelled, "I want to be that! But without him because I don't need his help." Needless to say, my mom signed me up for dance classes and when I was 10, I made the decision to completely dedicate myself to ballet as a student of the Frank Ohman School of Ballet. When I was 14, I was diagnosed with bursitis in both of my hips. After a stint with physical therapy and anti-inflammatories failed, I was told that if I wanted to be pain free, I'd have to quit dancing. That wasn't going to happen. This was when my mom suggested acupuncture. Pretty nervous (and skeptical), I went. After several treatments I started improving, and then improving exponentially. I went from hardly being able to walk without pain, to dancing my heart out again. Surely enough, I became Snow Queen and learned very quickly that I do in fact need his help.
When it came time to pick a major in college I immediately chose biology. I knew I wanted to be in a medical field but there are so many incredible opportunities to choose from. Again, my mom's advice led me to acupuncture. I started talking to my acupuncturist and discovered that I could do so much more than treat pain. Once he started describing the theory, I was hooked.
After receiving my associates in biology, I attended the Tri-State College of Acupuncture in Manhattan and earned my Masters of Science in Acupuncture. There I learned the unique style of Acupuncture Physical Medicine (Trigger Point Dry Needling) in addition to Traditional Chinese Medicine, Traditional Japanese Acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping and gua sha. After that, I completed a course in Classical Chinese Medicine under the mentorship of Timothy Aitken; a master practitioner in the teaching lineage of Jeffery Yuen and specialist in pediatric acupuncture. I've also completed training in Facial Acupuncture with Michelle Gellis.
What I've learned in acupuncture school influenced my ballet technique, and my dancing provides me with a deep understanding of the body. I have learned through both that what's emotional becomes visceral and the body is what tells the story - your story. With this combined knowledge, I offer a unique treatment style that blends the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual parts to see each patient as a whole being. My ultimate goal is to teach my patients how to be well through every level, not just how to manage their superficial symptoms.