My Why: The Heart and Healing Behind Perilla Wellness
A Dream Rooted in Healing
Perilla Wellness was born from a deep desire to create a space that feels more like a home than a clinic—a sanctuary for holistic healing, emotional support, and true transformation.
I’ve always been drawn to helping people. After experiencing the life-changing benefits of acupuncture firsthand in my twenties, I knew I had to share this powerful medicine. My dream was simple yet profound: to offer a nurturing, peaceful environment where authentic healing could begin.
Early Struggles and Unwavering Purpose
When I decided to pursue acupuncture in 2010, I was a struggling single mother determined to create a better future for my son and myself. Despite the fears and obstacles, I moved us to Maryland to attend acupuncture school.
Starting Perilla Wellness after graduation was not easy. I was facing a mountain of student loan debt and almost no training in how to run a business. The early years were filled with long hours, financial uncertainty, and moments of deep self-doubt. I wore every hat, made mistakes, and often felt overwhelmed trying to build something lasting from nothing but a vision and heart.
Still, what kept me moving forward was a deep sense of purpose—an unshakable belief that this was what I was meant to do: help others heal.
Even during the hardest times, life kept unfolding in beautiful ways. My son thrived in our new environment. I met and married my husband, and together we welcomed our daughter into the world. These milestones reminded me that growth often happens alongside struggle—and that building something meaningful is rarely a straight line.
Growing the Vision: From Hidden Gem to Wellness Sanctuary
In 2018, I moved the business to a hidden gem at 1481 Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard—a peaceful, tucked-away location that immediately felt like home. It was here that Perilla Wellness truly began to blossom, nurtured by trust, community, and the heartfelt care that remains the core of everything we do.
In September 2024, I expanded the dream even further, leasing the entire house to create more space for our growing team, expand our holistic wellness offerings, and build a true sanctuary for healing and connection. Every step of growth has been guided not just by strategy, but by heart.
Perilla Wellness Today: A Home for Healing
Today, Perilla Wellness is more than a holistic health center. It’s a reflection of my journey and a commitment to serving others with authentic, heart-centered care.
Our offerings—acupuncture for pain relief, emotional health support, allergy treatment, therapeutic massage, energy healing, and counseling—are all designed to help you reconnect with your best self.
At Perilla Wellness, we believe true healing happens when you feel safe, seen, and supported. Every treatment, every interaction, is infused with the values that inspired me to begin this path: kindness, integrity, and the unwavering belief that healing is possible for everyone.
Welcome to Perilla Wellness. Here, you are not just another appointment—you are family. 🌿
Love,
Melissa
