What is Acupuncture?
At the North Portland Wellness Center, all of our Portland Acupuncturists are trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine and have years of experience to share with you. We specialize in acute & chronic pain, injuries, women's & family health, fertility, pregnancy and pediatrics. We accept most major insurance including motor vehicle/bike accidents and work injuries.
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is one of the oldest medical practices on record – documentation suggests it originated over 5,000 years ago. The ancient Chinese developed this unique medical system through careful and diligent study of the body, mind, emotions and the natural world around them. This methodology is based on the idea that pathways of energy, or ‘qi’, run in systematized patterns throughout the body. These pathways or ‘meridians’ circulate energy and nourish the tissues. Obstructions in the movement of this energy can result in a variety of potential imbalances and, if untreated, eventually pathology and disease.
How does Acupuncture Treatment work?
Each person has/consists of their own unique blend of constitution, health history, family influences, environment, diet, emotions, thought patterns, etc. In contrast to the western medical model, which focuses on and treats generalized symptoms, Chinese medicine is a holistic system, which focuses on and treats the root cause of individual pathology. As such, assessments and treatments are tailored to each patient individually.
In addition to the practice of acupuncture, a practitioner may also include massage, cupping, moxibustion (heat therapy with the herb Artemesia), infrared heat, herbal formulas, nutrition and lifestyle recommendations in their treatments.
