Specialized & Supportive Methods

Acupuncture

Restoring Balance Through East Asian Medicine

Acupuncture is one of the foundational branches of East Asian medicine and has been used for centuries to support health, resilience, and well-being.

By working with the body’s channels, meridians, and systems of communication, acupuncture seeks to encourage balance, adaptability, and the body’s innate capacity for healing.

Whether you are seeking support for pain, stress, digestive concerns, sleep issues, recovery, or general wellness, treatment is tailored to your individual needs and goals.

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What Is Acupuncture?

針灸 (Zhēn Jiǔ)

The traditional Chinese term for acupuncture is 針灸 (Zhēn Jiǔ), which combines the characters for needle and moxibustion (heat therapy). Together, they reflect two of the foundational methods used within East Asian medicine to support health, resilience, and healing.

Needling and moxibustion are often viewed as complementary approaches. One emphasizes precision and regulation, while the other introduces warmth, movement, and nourishment. Together they reflect the principle that health emerges through balance and the harmonious interaction of complementary forces.

 針 Zhēn (Needle)
灸 Jiǔ (Moxibustion)

Acupuncture & East Asian Medicine

Acupuncture is one part of the larger tradition of East Asian medicine, which also includes herbal medicine, bodywork, dietary therapy, Qigong, and other methods of cultivating health.

Rather than focusing solely on symptoms, East Asian medicine seeks to understand patterns of relationship throughout the whole person and support the conditions in which healing can occur.

Clinical Influences & Philosophy

My clinical approach has been shaped by study in a variety of East Asian medical traditions, including Chinese acupuncture, Japanese acupuncture, Meridian Therapy, Master Tung Acupuncture, scalp acupuncture, auricular acupuncture, herbal medicine, bodywork, and channel-based approaches to treatment.

Several teachers have had a particularly significant influence on how I understand and practice East Asian medicine.

During my training at the Seattle Institute of Oriental Medicine (now the Seattle Institute of East Asian Medicine), Jason Robertson introduced me to Applied Channel Theory, helping me develop a deeper appreciation for the meridian system as a living clinical framework that can be explored through palpation, observation, movement, and direct patient interaction.

Through Stephen Brown’s teaching of Japanese acupuncture and moxibustion, I gained an appreciation for the importance of touch, sensitivity, presence, and the therapeutic use of heat. His emphasis on refined palpation, careful clinical observation, and the therapeutic relationship continues to influence how I assess and treat patients today.

Following graduate school, I studied with Wei Chieh Young, whose teaching of Master Tung Acupuncture expanded my understanding of distal treatment strategies and family lineage acupuncture traditions originating in Taiwan. Through this work, and through continuing influence from practitioners such as C.T. Holman, I gained a deeper appreciation for channel relationships, distal and contralateral treatment methods, and the broader possibilities contained within the meridian system.

My studies with William Morris deepened my understanding of Neo-Classical Pulse Diagnosis, tongue diagnosis, and classical East Asian medical assessment. His teaching emphasized the importance of viewing a patient’s condition through multiple complementary lenses, allowing information gathered through the pulse, tongue, patient history, palpation, and clinical presentation to inform and reinforce one another. This approach strengthened my appreciation for careful listening, pattern recognition, and diagnostic reasoning as foundations for effective treatment.

I also studied Dr. Zhu’s Scalp Acupuncture, an approach that demonstrated how acupuncture can be applied to support neurological function, rehabilitation, and recovery. A particularly influential aspect of this work was the integration of Dao Yin, where movement, guided activity, or manual engagement are paired with needling to help facilitate change. In this framework, the needles may help unlock the door, while movement and participation help complete the process.

Rather than adhering rigidly to a single style or lineage, I draw from multiple traditions and select the approaches that best fit the needs, goals, and presentation of each individual patient.

More Than Needles

East Asian medicine has developed a variety of ways of interacting with the body’s systems of communication, regulation, and healing. Acupuncture is perhaps the most widely recognized of these approaches, but it is only one of many methods used to engage the body’s capacity for adaptation, balance, and recovery.

Depending on an individual’s needs, treatment may involve acupuncture needles, acupressure, moxibustion, cupping, Gua Sha, herbal medicine, micropoint stimulation, sound-based approaches, light-based therapies, movement practices, or other methods that work through similar therapeutic principles.

While these methods differ in appearance, they share a common intention: to provide information and stimulation that encourage the body toward regulation, resilience, and healing.

Modern research continues to explore possible mechanisms involving the nervous system, connective tissue and fascial networks, microcirculation, bioelectrical signaling, and the interstitium. Some researchers have proposed that relationships among fascia, fluid-filled connective tissue spaces, and mechanical signaling may offer useful parallels with classical East Asian concepts such as the San Jiao. These connections remain an area of ongoing investigation rather than a definitive explanation of the meridian system.

At the same time, many of these therapeutic relationships have been observed, refined, and applied through centuries of clinical experience.

Rather than viewing traditional and modern perspectives as competing explanations, I see them as complementary ways of understanding the same human experience. My goal is not to promote a particular modality, but to draw upon the most appropriate tools available to support each individual’s healing process.

Therapeutic Approaches

Treatment is individualized and may incorporate one or more of the following approaches.

Acupuncture

The foundation of many treatment plans, acupuncture uses precise stimulation of traditional points and channels to support balance, adaptability, regulation, and the body’s capacity for healing.

Herbal Medicine & Nutritional Support

Individualized East Asian and Western herbal formulas, nutritional supplements, and dietary recommendations may complement acupuncture and address broader patterns underlying an individual’s health concerns.

Recommendations are selected according to each person’s presentation, health history, medications, treatment goals, and preferences. Dietary and lifestyle adjustments may also provide practical ways to support treatment between visits.

Qigong & Self-Care

Breathing practices, gentle movement, standing, self-applied massage, and awareness exercises provide practical tools that can be used between visits and integrated into daily life.

Qigong Healing

Qigong Healing applies principles of Qigong cultivation to support balance, regulation, and well-being. Sessions may involve guiding qi, holding specific points, and applying techniques informed by Qigong practice, training, and cultivation traditions.

Qigong Healing may be offered as a stand-alone session or incorporated into acupuncture treatments when appropriate.

East Asian Bodywork

Drawing from Zheng Gu Tuina influences, palpation, and embodied clinical training, bodywork may support mobility, circulation, structural balance, and awareness of the body’s channels.

Dolphin MPS & Micropoint Stimulation

Dolphin MPS provides gentle electrical stimulation at selected acupuncture points, microsystems, scars, and other selected treatment areas.

It is frequently incorporated as an adjunct to acupuncture, particularly when addressing painful conditions, scar tissue, and patterns involving the body’s regulatory systems. It may also be used as a stand-alone, needle-free treatment when appropriate.

Dolphin MPS is not suitable for everyone. It is avoided for people with pacemakers or other implanted electronic devices. Treatment planning includes a review of health history, medications, treatment goals, and individual preferences.

Specialized & Supportive Methods

Moxibustion is a traditional warming therapy using prepared mugwort. Depending on the treatment goals and individual presentation, I may use indirect moxibustion, direct rice-grain moxa in the Japanese style, or warming-needle techniques with moxa placed on the needle handle.

I also occasionally incorporate a TDP mineral heat lamp to provide gentle warming, particularly to the feet and other selected areas. This can complement acupuncture or other heat-based approaches when appropriate.

The method is selected according to health history, sensitivity, treatment goals, and individual comfort. One form of heat therapy is not automatically appropriate for everyone.

Cupping uses gentle suction to support circulation, ease muscular tension, and address areas of discomfort or restricted movement.

A manual technique using a smooth-edged tool to support circulation, tissue mobility, and areas of tension or discomfort.

When clinically appropriate, selected auricular or Jing-Well point techniques may involve a very small amount of bleeding. These methods are always discussed beforehand and used only after considering health history, medications, safety, and patient preferences.

Many treatments do not involve bleeding. Gentle needling, acupressure, micropoint stimulation, or other needle-free approaches may be considered instead.

Sound and light may be incorporated as additional layers within an acupuncture treatment. Weighted and unweighted tuning forks, wave drum, and light- or color-based applications, including Molimed, may provide gentle sensory input or stimulate selected acupuncture points.

These methods may occasionally serve as needle-free approaches. More often, they are used to complement acupuncture and other foundational therapies.

Sound and light approaches are selected according to treatment goals, patient preferences, and clinical context. They are not used during every session and are intended to complement, rather than replace, assessment and foundational treatment.

Conditions Commonly Addressed

Patients commonly seek acupuncture care for a variety of concerns. Treatment is individualized according to each person’s presentation, goals, health history, and preferences. The following list reflects areas in which acupuncture and related approaches may provide support.

Pain, Tension & Recovery

  • Back, neck, shoulder, knee, and joint pain
  • Muscle tension and soft-tissue discomfort
  • Headaches and migraines
  • Support before and after surgery
  • Recovery following injury, surgery, or neurological events

Stress, Sleep & Emotional Well-Being

  • Stress and tension
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Support for relaxation and nervous-system regulation
  • Emotional well-being during periods of illness, change, or recovery

Digestive Concerns

  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Digestive discomfort
  • Changes in appetite or digestion

Women’s Health & Fertility Support

  • Menstrual-cycle and menopause-related concerns
  • Fertility support as part of an individualized care plan
  • Pregnancy-related comfort and well-being
  • Preparation for labor in the weeks leading up to birth

Pregnancy care is adapted to the stage of pregnancy, individual circumstances, and the guidance of the patient’s prenatal care provider when appropriate.

Healthy Aging & General Wellness

  • Healthy aging
  • General health cultivation
  • Recovery and resilience
  • Preventive care and lifestyle support
  • Support for overall well-being

Supportive Cancer Care

Acupuncture, Qigong, herbal medicine, dietary guidance, and nutritional support may be incorporated alongside conventional oncology care to help manage some treatment-related symptoms and support comfort, vitality, and overall well-being.

Supportive approaches are individualized alongside ongoing care from a physician and oncology team. They are intended to complement rather than replace conventional cancer-directed treatments.

What to Expect

Initial Visit

Your first visit includes a conversation about your health concerns, goals, health history, lifestyle, and the factors that may be contributing to your current condition. This time allows us to develop a clearer understanding of your concerns and establish a treatment plan tailored to your needs.

Assessment

Assessment may include traditional East Asian medical methods such as pulse and tongue diagnosis, palpation of the channels and body, observation, movement assessment, and discussion of symptoms, health history, and treatment goals.

Treatment

Most initial visits include treatment on the same day. Depending on your needs, treatment may incorporate acupuncture, herbal medicine, bodywork, moxibustion, Dolphin MPS, cupping, Gua Sha, or other supportive approaches.

Recommendations & Self-Care

Recommendations may include herbal medicine, nutritional guidance, lifestyle modifications, self-care practices, breathing exercises, Qigong, movement, or other supportive strategies that can be integrated into daily life between visits.

Ongoing Care

Follow-up visits build upon the information gathered during the initial evaluation. Treatment plans evolve as your needs change, with the goal of supporting both immediate concerns and long-term health and well-being.

Frequently Asked Questions

Most people are pleasantly surprised by how comfortable acupuncture can be. Acupuncture needles are much thinner than the needles used for injections or blood draws, and many points are inserted with little or no discomfort.

Depending on the point being used and the individual’s sensitivity, sensations may include tingling, warmth, heaviness, movement, pressure, or a mild dull ache. These sensations are often brief and may indicate that the body is responding to treatment.

Comfort is important to me, and treatments can be adjusted according to your needs and preferences.

Experiences vary from person to person. Some individuals feel warmth, tingling, heaviness, fullness, or a sensation of movement along a channel. Others may feel deeply relaxed and notice very little sensation at all.

Many patients report feeling calmer, more grounded, or deeply rested during and after treatment. While acupuncture is often associated with needles, treatments may also incorporate other methods such as moxibustion, bodywork, micropoint stimulation, herbal medicine, or self-care recommendations depending on your needs.

In many cases, yes.

Many patients seek acupuncture while also receiving care from physicians, physical therapists, chiropractors, mental health professionals, oncologists, or other healthcare providers.

Acupuncture and other East Asian medical approaches are often used alongside conventional care as part of a more comprehensive approach to health and well-being. It is important to discuss medications, diagnoses, and ongoing treatments during your visit so that recommendations can be tailored appropriately.

Wear comfortable clothing that allows easy access to the arms and legs whenever possible.

Many acupuncture points are located below the elbows and knees, so loose-fitting clothing can be helpful. However, treatment can usually be adapted regardless of what you are wearing, and draping is always used when appropriate to maintain comfort and privacy.

Dolphin MPS (Microcurrent Point Stimulation) is a needle-free therapy that uses gentle electrical stimulation applied to acupuncture points, microsystems, scars, and other selected treatment areas.

I frequently incorporate Dolphin MPS as an adjunct to acupuncture, particularly when addressing painful conditions, scar tissue, and patterns involving the body’s regulatory systems. It may also be used as a stand-alone treatment when appropriate.

Some individuals prefer Dolphin MPS because it allows acupuncture points to be stimulated without the use of needles.

Dolphin MPS is not appropriate for everyone and is avoided in individuals with pacemakers or certain implanted electronic devices.

Absolutely.

Being uncomfortable with needles does not prevent someone from benefiting from East Asian medicine. Depending on your needs and comfort level, treatment may incorporate acupressure, Dolphin MPS, moxibustion, bodywork, tuning forks, light-based approaches, herbal medicine, Qigong, or other needle-free methods.

Many people who initially describe themselves as needle-sensitive eventually become comfortable with acupuncture, but there is never any pressure to use techniques that do not feel right for you.

There is no single answer because every person, condition, and treatment goal is different.

Some people notice meaningful changes after their first treatment, while others may benefit from a series of visits before clear patterns begin to emerge. When someone is unsure about committing to ongoing care, I often suggest allowing three to six treatments to evaluate whether we are making meaningful progress.

Treatment frequency is individualized. Depending on the situation, visits may be weekly, biweekly, monthly, occasionally more frequent for short periods of time, or simply scheduled as needed. Throughout the process, we regularly evaluate progress and adjust the treatment plan according to your needs, goals, and response to treatment.

Do you practice herbal medicine?

Yes. Herbal medicine is one of the many tools available within East Asian medicine and is often used alongside acupuncture, nutrition, lifestyle recommendations, and self-care practices.

When appropriate, recommendations may include traditional herbal formulas, Western herbs, supplements, dietary guidance, or other supportive approaches. Every recommendation is individualized according to your health history, goals, preferences, and existing care plan.

Learn more about our herbal medicine philosophy and offerings → Apothecary Page

Begin Your Healing Journey

Whether you are seeking relief from a specific concern or exploring ways to cultivate long-term health and resilience, acupuncture offers opportunities to support your body’s natural capacity for healing and adaptation.

Every treatment is a collaboration, informed by your goals, your experience, and your unique path toward health and well-being.

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