Gina, the owner and acupuncturist at Acupuncture of Columbia, has a strong educational background and professional affiliations that demonstrate her commitment to providing high-quality care. She completed her undergraduate education at Olympic College in 2000, laying the foundation for her future career in healthcare. Gina went on to pursue her passion for acupuncture and Oriental medicine at the Seattle Institute of East Asian Medicine, where she earned her Master’s degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in 2004. She holds board certifications as a Diplomate of Acupuncture and a Diplomate of Chinese Herbology, reflecting her expertise in these modalities. Gina’s dedication to staying current in her field is evident through her membership in professional organizations, including the Missouri Acupuncture Association and the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association. These affiliations enable her to stay connected with other practitioners and access ongoing education, ensuring that she provides the most effective and up-to-date care to her clients.

​Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Gina Butler first encountered acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine in 1999. Thanks to her mother, who encouraged her to seek Chinese medicine for her ailments, she not only found resolution of her condition but also the beginnings of a life long study of this medicine.  After obtaining her Master’s of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine degree at the Seattle Institute of East Asian Medicine in Seattle, Washington, Gina became an associate at the very clinic where she first received acupuncture. 

After graduating in 2004, Gina’s practice began at the Acupuncture and Wellness Center in Poulsbo, Washington.  Over the years, she has studied extensively with experts in the field of both acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine: Dr. Richard Teh Fu Tan, Robert Doane, and Dr. Jimmy Zhang Wei-Yin Chang. She is nationally board certified in both acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) and is licensed by the State of Missouri to practice acupuncture.

In 2011, after moving from the Pacific Northwest to Columbia, Missouri, Gina saw a need for holistic therapies such as acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine in the community. Thus, Acupuncture of Columbia was founded.  She has seen firsthand how Chinese medicine can be extremely effective in the treatment of acute and chronic illnesses and can spare the body the side effects of pharmaceuticals and unnecessary surgeries.  

Outside of clinic, you’ll find Gina enjoying the outdoors, hiking & biking Columbia’s trails, gardening, cooking and eating delicious foods with friends and family, playing the piano (since 5 years old…thanks mom & dad for making me practice) and most of all, experiencing life with her husband, son and their pets (loyal dogs Moses & Juniper, ungrateful cat Singee, Miso the chinchilla, a bearded dragon, 2 sugar gliders and 4 Rhode Island Red hens).