ACUPUNCTURE

As a Classical Chinese Medicine practitioner, I specialize in treating mental and emotional challenges (including but not limited to anxiety and depression), women’s health, digestive issues, chronic and acute pain, and elder care.

I love building deep, caring relationships with the people I serve and find that this is the ultimate foundation for healing. My treatments aim to help you deeply unwind and find a greater measure of physical and emotional ease. The modalities I use build up your body’s natural resources, thereby fostering improved immunity, digestion, and sleep. With these building blocks in place, many illnesses and symptoms resolve. Above all else, my work is always guided by a deep respect for the body’s inherent intelligence and tremendous healing capacity.

Depending on your needs, I may utilize acupuncture, herbal formulations, yoga therapy, and various forms of bodywork including Holistic Pelvic CareTM, a powerful form of pelvic floor massage that integrates the evidence-based techniques of pelvic floor physical therapy with the more subtle and spiritual elements of the human body. I also incorporate healing song into my treatments to soothe the heart and facilitate deep relaxation.

Natural medicine education and affiliations ...

I began my formal exploration of the human condition in 2000 with Hatha Yoga, which I deepened by becoming a yoga teacher in 2008. Since 2010, I’ve continued my healing evolution through the lens of Chinese medicine. I earned my Masters of Science in Oriental Medicine from the National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, OR, and am certified by the National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) in Acupuncture, Oriental Medicine, and Chinese Herbology. I am affiliated with the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and the National University of Natural Medicine.

Outside of work ...

When I'm not practicing medicine, I love singing with others, spending time in nature, wildcrafting local medicines, and gardening. I maintain a spiritual practice in the direct realization tradition of Kashmir Shaivism. I attempt to the best of my ability to live my life in rhythm with the wisdom traditions that I have been honored to study.

Healing intentions…

A Portland native, I am head over heels in love with this city and committed to the service of bringing healing to its residents. My mission is to facilitate the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health of the individual so that they are able to live a wholehearted life and reach their fullest potential in contributing their unique genius to the world.

I have a particular focus on gentle, yet effective, treatments as a result of my own experience with needle-sensitivity. I enjoy seeing people who are sensitive and those that have never had acupuncture before. I also like to treat conditions for which biomedicine does not provide adequate relief such as fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Epstein-Barr Virus, Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, anxiety, depression and many other conditions. I have developed a specific method of addressing musculoskeletal complaints and find it rewarding to see patients who have suffered from accidents and injuries recover their functioning. I am non binary (my pronouns are they/them) and I appreciate serving the LGBTQQIP2SAA+ community.

Educational Journey…
My first Masters degree was in genetics and I worked as a prenatal, pediatric and cancer genetic counselor before realizing that while I was helping others, my true calling was in healing others. Or, rather, helping others heal themselves by tapping into the bodymind's innate wisdom to heal itself.

I received my second Masters degree, a MAcOM, from Oregon College of Oriental Medicine. While at OCOM, I studied tuina, foot reflexology and shiatsu styles of bodywork, and became a certified qigong instructor. Following graduation, I did an internship at several hospitals in Nanjing, China, as well as an herbal internship in Bozhou, China. I have volunteered with the Acupuncture Relief Project treating patients in rural Nepal and hope to volunteer there again soon.

Free time…

I take pleasure in daily meditation, literally stopping to smell the roses, reading voraciously and basking in the sunshine when it's out. I also have an incurable case of wanderlust and will travel anywhere at the drop of a hat if the opportunity presents itself.

My interest in the human form and function began early, as I was raised by a physical therapist as a mom. This background encouraged me to pursue a degree in Biology at Concordia University here in Portland. My interest in acupuncture was sparked when a guest speaker in a general-education health class finally introduced me to Traditional Chinese Medicine back in 2005. I took a blind leap into the medicine and earned my Master’s of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (MAcOM) at Oregon College of Oriental Medicine. I am licensed by the Oregon State Medical Board and nationally certified by NCCAOM as a Diplomat of Oriental Medicine. My studies have continued with a focus on orthopedic and sports acupuncture and various pain conditions.

As a practitioner, it is important to me to provide a safe space where trust and honesty are forefront, providing a solid foundation for the healing process to flourish. I find wonder in the natural capacity our bodies have to heal and I am proud to be a part of a medicine that promotes this innate power.

In my educational journey, I have found that acupuncture has potential beyond what I could have ever imagined. I believe that we all have the right to live in our bodies comfortably. No matter how long one has suffered from pain, discomfort or dysfunction, I want people to know this is not their fate. I find joy in helping those I work with to find peace in their bodies, emotionally, physically and spiritually. Through the practice of acupuncture, bodywork, nutritional advice, and herbal medicine I seek to bring the body back to a state of balance, internally and physically, in order to invoke overall health and well-being. In my years of clinical experience I have had success in treating acute and chronic pain, headaches, gastro-intestinal disorders, anxiety, depression, allergies, and various pregnancy and menopausal symptoms.

Outside of work:

While I am not in the clinic, I love spending time with my husband, our 1-year-old son and our 2 dogs. We enjoy eating our way through Portland and regularly make our way to the river, beach and mountains where we find repose among nature. I also enjoy tending to my garden and chickens, crafting, crocheting and baking.