Meet the Practitioner
Hi! I’m Cara Mafuta (she/they), L. Ac, Dipl. AHM (NCBAHM), licensed acupuncturist and board certified practitioner of Chinese herbal medicine. I attended the Won Institute of Graduate Studies in Pennsylvania, where I received my Master’s degree in Acupuncture Studies and Certificate in Chinese Herbology.
My Approach to Care
I have been practicing acupuncture since 2015 in a wide variety of treatment settings, and have developed a passion for treating all genders and ages for musculoskeletal and internal disorders, and major life transitions. I specialize in supporting women and lgbtqia+ individuals with reproductive health, including fertility, IUI, IVF, menstrual health, perimenopausal and postmenopausal health, pregnancy and postpartum, gender-affirming care, and reproductive surgery recovery.
I also have a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Art from the Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia. As an artist, acupuncture medicine resonates so deeply with me because it requires the ability to visualize patterns of harmony and disharmony and the trajectories of imbalance in the human body via the complex meridian system. The unique blending of scientific observation of nature and intuitive diagnosis and treatment makes acupuncture medicine a truly healing art that I’m excited to share.
My Story
I discovered the beauty of acupuncture when navigating chronic autoimmune illness and pregnancy complications with my first child.
Inspired by the term for midwife in my family’s language - sage femme or “wise woman” - I believe every individual is equipped with Inner Wisdom and bodily autonomy that deserves to be nourished, celebrated, and uplifted. I am inspired by holistic principles from the Midwives Model of Care, and my family’s indigenous Congolese folk wisdom - both of these philosophies of care integrate well with acupuncture medicine theory in that they emphasize the importance of cultivating intention and empowerment to provide effective, evidence-based and patient-centered healing.
I recently moved to Tucson from Philadelphia to be closer to family and the Southwestern outdoors. In my free time, I enjoy adventuring near bodies of waters and mountains, standup paddling, hiking, camping, making and enjoying art, cozying up with good music and warm beverages, and spending time with loved ones, including my two magical teens and our quirky cat.