Common reasons to come to acupuncture include:

  • Preventive health care 
  • Anxiety, depression and PTSD
  • Insomnia
  • Stress
  • Acute and chronic pain
  • Digestive disorders
  • Autoimmune disorders
  • Chemotherapy and radiation side effects
  • Stroke and traumatic brain injuries
  • Pregnancy symptoms, women's health, and infertility
Acupuncture is just one tool in a doctor of acupuncture's toolbox. Your treatment is likely to include multiple modalities and some brief counseling sessions all aimed at improving your symptoms and quality of life. Some services you could receive throughout your sessions are listed here.
A woman's back is exposed on a table with a series of acupuncture needles going down her spine, two hands place another needle below the others.

Acupuncture

There are many different styles of acupuncture ranging from deep trigger needling into muscles to very gentle styles that rest in your skin. What they all have in common is the use of very thin, single-use needles inserted into specific points with the goal of improving your health and wellbeing while decreasing pain and other symptoms. While some people are very sensitive to needle insertion the process is relatively painless. I practice a variety of styles in order to tailor your treatment to your specific concerns.
A small thread of mugwort burns on a woman's ankle with a hand holding a bamboo tube ready to put it out.

Moxibustion

Like acupuncture, moxibustion can be done in many different ways. My preferred method is rice grain moxa, in which high grade ai ya, or mugwort (Folium Artemisiae Argyi), is rolled into threads the size of grains of rice and burned to stimulate acupuncture points with heat rather than needles. The moxa will be extinguished so that you will feel some local heat but will not be burned. It can be effective for digestive disorders, arthritic pain, or many other concerns that might bring one to acupuncture.
Two hands massage a woman's lower back

Massage

I practice mainly tuina and zen shiatsu massage but incorporate some deep tissue techniques as needed. Tuina can be translated as “pushing and pulling” and many of the techniques will feel familiar to anyone who has received western massage before. Zen shiatsu is a much gentler massage that does not knead the muscles. Pressure is applied down the qi channels in order to restore balance. Most people find it very relaxing and it can be a great approach when someone is very sensitive to needles.
Hands hold a clear round glass cup over a tattooed back with a flaming cotton ball in it.

Cupping

Cupping therapy is the practice of creating negative pressure inside a cup and placing it against the skin to improve blood flow, relieve muscle tension, pain, and headaches, and even alleviate cough and asthma symptoms. A flame can be used to burn the oxygen in the cup before placing it on the body, or the air can be pumped out. The cups can be left still more moved up and down muscles for a massage like effect. This is becoming a very popular tool in sports medicine. It is not uncommon to see the circular marks on professional athletes.
A wooden bowl filled with various dried herbs mixed together. In the background are jars filled with the individual herbs.

Herbal Formulas

Traditional Chinese herbs can be a great compliment to the more physical modalities associated with acupuncture. In addition to several “patent” formulas that come as pills, custom formulas to make into a drink are an option as well. The ingredients of these are usually plants as you would expect to find in a tea, although occasionally animal products or minerals are used. I order from https://www.rootandbranchpdx.com/ to ensure the quality of the product and will not use any endangered or protected species.
A green salad with coconut and salmon on top.

Nutritional Counseling

Food is medicine! So much of a person’s health and wellbeing start with what they eat. There’s a lot of information out there and it can be intimidating to sift through fad diets with strict rules. Much like different people need different acupuncture points, different people have different nutritional needs. In addition to telling most people (including myself) “more leafy greens and less processed foods” we can talk about what your body needs through a traditional Chinese medicine lens for a variety of ailments from inflammation to anxiety.

But what is actually happening?

That’s a big question.

We are just starting to understand why acupuncture works on a biochemical level.  We know that it has an effect on the connective tissue where the needles are placed as well as systemic effects throughout the body.  Acupuncture can affect cell regeneration and growth, inflammation, your central nervous system and more.

What acupuncturists study and work with is called “qi.” (氣)  It is often translated as “energy” but that does not fully capture everything that qi is.  It is the substances of your body and the unseen forces that manage those substances and the way they interact.  Injury and illness are caused by an imbalance in your body or mind.  Acupuncture and the other modalities practiced by acupuncturists are meant to nudge your body back into balance.  Sometimes there is a quick fix but just as often it can take some time to reharmonize so a commitment to yourself and the process is helpful.

Traditional Chinese medicine has a history several thousand years old.  A respect and understanding of East Asian culture is important when delving into the how and why of acupuncture.  These modalities started in a time when there were no microscopes and through years of observation a system of medicine was developed that has stood the test of time.

Book Recommendations

If you want to dive deeper into traditional Chinese Medicine these are some great introductory books. 

 The Spark in the Machine: How the Science of Acupuncture Explains the Mysteries of Western Medicine by Daniel Keown 

Who Can Ride the Dragon?: An Exploration of the Cultural Roots of Traditional Chinese Medicine by Zhang Yu Han and Ken Rose

The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine by Ted Kaptchuck

These are some of my favorite (mostly) healthy cookbooks.  The first two have some really good explanations of Chinese nutritional theory.   

Ancient Wisdom, Modern Kitchen: Recipes from the East for Health, Healing, and Long Life by Yuan Wang, Warren Sheir, and Mika Ono

The Chinese Medicine Cookbook: Nourishing Recipes to Heal and Thrive by Stacey Isaacs

50 Best Plants on the Planet: The Most Nutrient-Dense Fruits and Vegetables, in 150 Delicious Recipes by Cathy Thomas

The Seaweed Cookbook by Xa Milne

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