Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Harris.
Lauren, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I had been receiving acupuncture from Dr. Jean-Marie Cartier, DACM, MATCM, L.Ac., for a number of years for a number of aliments. She helped me get pregnant with my second daughter and put me into labor for both my second and third children!
After I lost my long-time federal job thanks to DOGE cuts, I re-evaluated what I wanted in life and a career. I had been working remotely since 2020 and wanted to work with people, meet people in my community and most of all, help people.
I thought about what our community didn’t have (it has a ton!), and realized that anyone seeking acupuncture had to drive about an hour to receive it. I re-connected with Dr. Jean and she was interested in serving West Michigan Lakeshore community, so Earthroot was born!
We opened up in mid-February 2026 and have quickly grown from there. Turns out we were right – there is a demand for acupuncture in this community. We’re excited to be adding on new services in the near future!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There are always struggles in opening a new small business. Figuring out the path and what to work on with limited time and energy is always a big one. Sometimes it seems like for every one thing completed on your To Do list, five more items are added.
We were very particular about renting space, as we had a clear vision in mind. We were pretty invested in one potential location and spent a lot of time and energy discerning whether it would work for our needs. Ultimately, it did not work out, which was very disappointing at the time. However, soon after we ended up in a space that worked much better for us!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Earthroot offers acupuncture treatments with cupping and cosmetic add-ons, as well as herbal medicine.
Our acupuncturist, Dr. Jean-Marie Cartier DACM, MATCM, L.Ac, has been practicing acupuncture for over 15 years. Our philosophy is rooted in welcoming everyone exactly as they are and offering compassionate, nonjudgmental care for a wide range of health concerns. We take the time to listen, understand your goals, and create individualized treatments that honor your unique body, experiences, and path to wellness. By combining time-honored acupuncture traditions with a calm, thoughtful approach, we aim to support balance, resilience, and long-term well-being in both body and mind.
Earthroot comes from rooting ourselves deeply in the Earth element, thereby balancing yin and yang energies. As we develop our own strong centers, we can also expand more fully into the outer world, becoming members of our community, our culture and our planet.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
For anyone starting out, things take longer than you expect to get going, but once they do, it’s fast and furious! Do whatever you can to prepare ahead of time.
Growth can also happen quickly. Its hard to get out of the day-to-day to think about growing, but its important to be able to take a 40,000 foot view.
Pricing:
- New Patient Acupuncture – 80 minutes – $150
- Follow-Up Acupuncture – 55 minutes – $110
- Cupping Therapy – 30 minutes – $75
- Follow-up Cosmetic Acupuncture – 55 min – $125
- Follow-up Acupuncture with Cupping – 55 min – $145
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.earthrootacupuncture.com/
- Instagram: @earthrootacupuncture
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/earthrootacupuncture/
- Other: https://earthroot.janeapp.com/
Image Credits
Caedy Convis
