Inspiring Conversations with Nyla Simjee of AMMA Acupuncture and Wellness

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nyla Simjee.

Nyla, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m the founder of AMMA Acupuncture and Wellness in Claremont, where I focus on women’s health, chronic stress, and autoimmunity. Being a TCM doctor has challenged me to remain a student, integrate my skills as a space holder, and deepen my ability to listen.

The path here started long before that.

I began studying herbalism when I was 16, and have been a ceremonialist studying the importance of ritual, intention, and the creation of space for deep healing. I studied traditional West African medicine through the entirety of my 20s, and through all of it I leaned on acupuncture as a primary source of healing for my own body, a way of replenishing what I’ve always loved offering to my community.

During the pandemic, I committed fully to TCM, earning my master’s and doctorate under the guidance of generational herbalists and acupuncturists.

I spent a lot of my life trying to understand my own health, my discomforts, and my imbalances. Traditional Chinese Medicine helped me make sense of so much I couldn’t put into words, and to finally feel at home in my body. Now I’m grateful to be able to provide this experience to my patients and community.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t always been smooth. Earning my doctorate and licensure was demanding, but that’s the foundation every practitioner has to build. The harder part has been building my practice. Starting a practice is a significant act of self-trust, a deep knowing that you are competent and able to carry your dreams forward. There are moments of beauty and flow, and moments where I have to act and take risks even when I’m afraid.

Building and developing my practice has been one of the most challenging and rewarding things I’ve done in my life. Welcoming people into my practice, seeing them release and rest deeply, and watching them find tangible healing in their lives makes it all worth it.

We’ve been impressed with AMMA Acupuncture and Wellness, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
AMMA Acupuncture and Wellness offers Traditional Chinese Medicine through acupuncture, clinical herbalism, and TCM nutrition therapy, with virtual care for those outside the area. I primarily see women through many phases of life, from pre-teens to preconception to perimenopause.

People come to me because I listen deeply. I’m an expert in women’s health, autoimmunity, and chronic stress, and I communicate treatment plans clearly so we can track progress and see the needle move, so to speak. Just as important is the environment I create: safe, welcoming, and even fun. Laughter, curiosity, and connection are the foundation of every session.

AMMA is named after my grandmothers, the women who taught me how to care for others as they poured into me. The name embodies the nurturing, deeply loving, and at times fiercely honest nature of my work. I’m proud of the organic, intentional, and safe space I’ve created. Patients tell me they feel transported, as if they’ve been plucked from their daily lives and placed somewhere they can simply be with themselves.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Claremont has a true small-town feel. The mountains hug the foothills, trees line every street, and neighbors bring each other’s trash cans in. There’s a beautiful central Village with staple restaurants and coffee shops like Iron & Kin. It’s a great place to visit for the day and an even lovelier place to live.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://amma-wellness.com
• Instagram: amma.wellness
• Other: amma-wellness.janeapp.com (to book directly)

Image Credits
Amy Avila