About Us

Ancient Wisdom for Modern Humans

Our mission is to help you manage your acute situation and give you tools to incorporate into a daily wellness plan. Health is not a goal it's a path. We hope to provide you with transformative techniques to better balance your life and help minimize the effects of the continuous stress that come along the way.

Our Story

In many Zen Buddhist temples, onions are not used when cooking. It is thought that they agitate the mind. The idea of being aware of the actions of such a seemingly small commonplace thing that we eat or do every day is awe-inspiring. In our culture we don’t usually notice something unless it’s overpowering or abrasive. We have lost or maybe never had the subtle nuanced awareness of our consumption and cumulative habits.

It took me years to first notice and then stop drinking coffee because it was giving me panic attacks. Talk about an overpowering message to reflect! I can only imagine what subtle effects the things we take in every day are doing to us. We consume so much unaware for perceived necessity or enjoyment: food, drinks, air, skin products, environment, information. What would more awareness show us? Is there really enjoyment when you're eating ice-cream if you're addicted to sweets? Are you really enjoying the company of friends if you’re afraid of being alone?

For me, one of the best ways to bring awareness is a change in perspective. One of my favorite contemplations is the poem (translated) Free and Easy Wanderer which happens to be the inspiration for a widely popular herbal formula:

Long ago, a certain Chuang-Tzu dreamt he was a butterfly, a butterfly fluttering here and there on a whim happy and carefree, knowing nothing of Chuang-Tzu. Then, all of a sudden he awoke to find that he was, beyond all doubt, Chuang-Tzu. Who knows if it was Chaung-Tzu dreaming a butterfly or a butterfly dreaming Chuang-Tzu?

Milwaukee Urban Acupuncture has had its own journey of awareness and change in perspective. We were founded in 2013 as a community acupuncture clinic trying to bring health to as many people as possible. We soon realized we were not having the impact we wanted. Today we are here as a guide for people ready to deepen their wellness routine and bring awareness and new perspective into their lives.

Meet The Team

Anne Putra L.Ac.

Founder & Acupuncturist

Anne is a Wisconsin Licensed Acupuncturist and Massage Therapist with fifteen years of professional experience. She earned her Masters of Science in Oriental Medicine and Bachelors in Nutrition from the Midwest College of Oriental Medicine. She has taken advanced continuing education classes in the Dr. Tan Balance Method. Anne is also certified in Dry Needling, Motor Point acupuncture, Neurofunctional Acupuncture, and the EXTORE body assessment system. She has also taken continuing education classes on the treatment of Fibromyalgia and autoimmune diseases, Aerobiome Mastery, and Advanced Tongue and Pulse Diagnosis. Anne is newly certified in BaZi traditional Chinese birth charting or timing as well as I Ching reading.

Anne welcomed her first child Seymour in 2021. She continues to love learning, mythology, and the outdoors.

Johanna Paulus LMT

Massage & Reiki Therapist

Johanna Paulus is a licensed massage therapist and Reiki Practitioner with over nine years of professional experience. She works in both pain management and stress relief. Her therapeutic massage treatments are custom designed to meet the specific needs of each individual.

Depending on the session goal, an integrated treatment style is used, drawing from the following modalities: Swedish massage, Sports Massage, Neuromuscular Therapy, Myofascial Release, and Trigger Point Therapy.

Johanna graduated from the Cortiva Institute - Chicago School of Massage Therapy in 2010. Prior to entering the field, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology/Philosophy from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee.