Dr. Joy Yan Zhao, MD

I had been struggling with arthritis in both hands—constant inflammation, swollen joints, and fingers that were painfully twisting out of shape. The discomfort affected everything I did. I also had a long-standing issue with a swollen, inflamed neck that included a noticeable hump at the base and severely limited range of motion. These problems had persisted for years, and I felt increasingly hopeless about finding real relief. When I met Dr. Joy Zhao, MD at Integrated Neurology, everything changed. Dr. Zhao truly listened to my symptoms and behavior in a way no one else had. She thoroughly investigated my conditions and thoughtfully presented both Western and Eastern medicine options, giving me real choices instead of a one-size-fits-all approach. I decided to start with acupuncture for my hands. The results were nothing short of miraculous. Within treatments in June 2024, the inflammation completely resolved, the swelling disappeared, and my twisted fingers straightened out. It is… now April 2026—nearly two years later—and I still have zero inflammation, no swelling, and no twisting in my fingers. The relief has been lasting and life-changing. Encouraged by those results, I chose acupuncture again for my neck. It was a complete game-changer. The inflammation and swelling vanished, and the hump that had been there for years is gone. For the first time in a long time, I have full range of motion and feel better than I have in decades. I’ve never felt so amazing. Dr. Zhao didn’t just treat symptoms—she got to the root of the problems and gave me a comprehensive plan that has truly changed the course of my health for the better. She restored my hope when I thought my conditions might be hopeless. I know she has done the same for many others, including patients whose issues had gone unsolved for over 10 years. If you’re dealing with complex neurological or inflammatory conditions and feel like no one is really hearing you or that there’s no solution, I cannot urge you strongly enough: schedule an appointment with Dr. Joy Zhao. Your perspective will shift quickly, and you may finally find the lasting relief you’ve been searching for. Thank you, Dr. Zhao, for your expertise, compassion, and integrative approach that blends the best of Western and Eastern medicine. You have given me my life back.

I’ve been bringing my Mother to Dr. Joy Zhao for a few years now. My Mom has dementia and she actually really likes Dr. Zhao. My Mom likes no Doctors. My mother is 84 years old and insists on receiving excellent service and when she does not receive it, she lets them know to their face and will refuse to return and make me pick a new Doctor. This was not the case with Dr. Zhao’s Office. Dr. Zhao truly listens to my Mom and myself, and explains everything very clearly. She includes my Mom in everything. We trust her and recommend her.

I’ve been bringing my Mother to Dr. Joy Zhao for a few years now. My Mom has dementia and she actually really likes Dr. Zhao. My Mom likes no Doctors. My mother is 84 years old and insists on receiving excellent service and when she does not receive it, she lets them know to their face and will refuse to return and make me pick a new Doctor. This was not the case with Dr. Zhao’s Office. Dr. Zhao truly listens to my Mom and myself, and explains everything very clearly. She includes my Mom in everything. We trust her and recommend her.

I waited 6 months to see Dr. Zhao and not only did she miss my diagnosis an MRI would have picked up, she spent the 45 minute visit pitching her acupuncture services. Horrible.

I have had some peripheral neuropathy problems for many years, and my symptoms became progressively more severe over time. I lost feeling in my lower legs, my feet were always frozen, I could not get up out of a chair without help, etc. After moving to this area from out-of-state, I started to work with Dr. Zhao. There has been amazing improvement on all my conditions, and some have nearly returned to normal. I feel blessed to have found Dr. Joy Zhao. She wholeheartedly helps her patients and makes us feel cared for and understood. Dr. Zhao’s training and experience in both neurology and acupuncture have equipped her with a unique capability to serve her patients. For those of us who have had first-hand experience with the positive results, we are very thankful and highly appreciative!

I went to Dr. Zhao about some possible neurological problems I was having. Our first meeting we spent about an hour listening to her extolling the virtues of her unique approach to acupuncture. It was a pretty hard sell, a glowing testimonial full of miracle cures and changed lives. I was not very interested in all that, just wanted some testing to see if I had some sort of brain or nerve defect. Later we did some actual neurological tests, an EEG and some nerve testing, which yielded nothing of interest to her, and she concluded that my problem was muscular (back spasms were the most obvious symptom). However, my symptoms continued to get worse and more neurological in nature. I ended up going to another neurologist who immediately ordered an MRI of my brain. Bingo, a meningioma (benign brain tumor) was found and brain surgery performed. It seems to me that this is what a neurologist should be doing, not dabbling in unproven eastern techniques like acupuncture. I feel fortunate that… I'm not sitting in a some chair still getting poked uselessly with needles. This was what she seemed to think I needed.

A friend recommends me to see Dr. Zhao for a chronic neurological problem. She is a current patient who admires Dr. Zhao's skills and experience. I feel good about following this recommendation. Dr. Zhao is very thorough, attentive, and knowledgeable. She is very patient with me even though she is very busy.

Prior to meeting Dr. Zhao, I had seen other neurologists and tried various medicines. None of them really worked. I felt lucky to finally get an accurate diagnosis from Dr. Zhao. She then put me through the right treatment and eventually had my symptoms under control.

The best neurologist in the Seattle area. She is also highly experienced in acupuncture treatment

I had my first Grand Mal seizure 30 days after Dr Zhao handed me a prescription. I missed a couple of doses and ended up in the hospital. Not her fault but I wasn't thrilled with the idea of taking more pills so I TRIED to ask for her professional opinion on the effects of medical marijuana and epilepsy. Before I could finish the question she laughed in my face and told me to go see a different doctor if that's why I was there. I was humiliated. She told me a story about alcoholism and completely avoided the question. I am writing this review because I desperately needed her help this weekend and I was turned away. It has been exactly one year since my incident. I just had to make a 15 hour drive alone and my pills ran out two days before. They refused to give me even a couple days worth for the trip unless I paid $350 for a follow up appointment, which they knew I couldn't. They risked my life for something so petty. It is a miracle I survived. I don't think Dr. Zhao… is a bad doctor, but this was my experience. Oh and don't expect a smile from her receptionist.