In 1995, Jan Wilson was in a horrific car accident that left her suffering with chronic back pain. Then owner of the popular Cafette BYOB restaurant in Chestnut Hill, Wilson tried many of the usual treatments for her injury, but nothing seemed to work until her sister, Ginger Wilson-Williams, suggested she try acupuncture. 

She was skeptical, but Wilson-Williams was insistent, so Wilson decided to give acupuncture a try. After just one treatment, she said she felt “as if my soul was back in my body.” 

The experience was so transformative that Wilson, of Chestnut Hill, went back to school to learn about the traditional Chinese medicine technique that helped her recover. She earned a master’s degree in acupuncture from Won Institute of Graduate Studies, then located in Glenside. 

Wilson is now a board-certified and licensed acupuncturist, and serves on the board of the Association for Professional Acupuncture in Pennsylvania. In 2014, she opened Chestnut Hill Family Acupuncture at 7825 Germantown Ave. You might say she is now on pins and needles.

“My own healing from my car accident was so profound that I knew in an instant I wanted to do for other people what Qi Gong Master FaXiang Hou had done for me,” Wilson told the Local. “I still take classes with him after 30 years.”

Turning over a new leaf

Wilson graduated from Jenks Elementary School in Chestnut Hill and Philadelphia High School for Girls in West Oak Lane. She operated Cafette at 8136 Ardleigh St. for 21 years until closing the restaurant in 2013. Wilson, with her sister, also owned the clothing store Straw Flowers at Germantown and Hartwell Avenues for five years.

On the subject of Cafette, Wilson reflected, “For a while I didn't understand why people told me they missed Cafette so much. Now when I go to McNally's, I understand. It's that sense of community. You know the servers and the owner and some of the customers, and you are all happy to see each other. And of course, good food. We had the same formula.”

When she was in her 40s, Wilson enrolled at Rosemont College in Montgomery County. She returned to school to earn the undergraduate degree the Won Institute required to study acupuncture. 

“I have met so many people in their 80s and 90s who are holding up and have made acupuncture a big part of their preventive regimen,” Wilson said. “You don't have to wait until you're thirsty in order to build a well. In this country, you have every possible convenience, but we still have an epidemic of obesity, heart disease, back pain, insomnia, depression, anxiety, and stress.”

As part of her training, Wilson also became an expert in Chinese herbal medicine and has a massive library of herbs in huge bottles in her basement. They are an integral part of her practice. According to the Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine, “There are roughly 13,000 herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine, with about 700 being commonly used.” 

Help for all ages

Peg Hearn, of Chestnut Hill, told the Local, “Jan is a gifted acupuncturist, an astute healer and compassionate listener. … I have been working with her for almost four years through a variety of health issues, including a car accident. She continues to be my positive light in my healing journey toward pain relief and wellness.”

Kate Matia’s daughter Sofia, 14, suffered so badly from seasonal allergies she was often absent from school.  “No over-the-counter medications offered lasting relief,” said Matia, of Phoenixville. “[Sofia’s] allergist recommended weekly allergy shots, but we wanted a more natural approach, so we reached out to Jan.”

After several weeks of treatment, Sofia started to notice a significant difference in her symptoms and, Matia said, managed to make it through allergy season without missing school. “Jan is not only knowledgeable but very kind and compassionate as well. She took the time to understand Sofia's situation and to help her find relief,” she said.

Wilson adheres to a healthy exercise regimen of regular swimming and walking, follows a diet full of vegetables from local farms, tofu, beans, and rice, along with “a little bit” of meat and fish. “Buddhists say you can't take care of others until you take care of yourself, and I have taken that to heart,” she said.

Wilson explained that in traditional Chinese medicine, the goal of acupuncture treatment is to restore the flow of “Qi,” the energy that flows through the body, so all its parts can work together in harmony. For medical professionals who are skeptical about the effectiveness of acupuncture and herbal medicine, Wilson said, “You might say there has been 2,000 years of clinical testing behind this system of diagnosing and treating illness, preventing disease and improving well-being. Doesn't that count?”

For more information, call 267-670-0989 or visit chillacu.com. Len Lear can be reached at LenLear@chestnuthilllocal.com.