Acupuncture at The Wellness Center

Acupuncture is the most familiar form of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The Wellness Center offers a holistic approach to the treatment of many health problems, and we embrace acupuncture as one of several complements and alternatives to Western medicine. This offers our patients in and around Portland a range of choices in dealing with their health needs. The Wellness Center’s acupuncturist are all licensed in acupuncture and range from master’s to doctorate level training in acupuncture and Chinese medicine.” 

Acupuncture involves the insertion of hair-thin, sterile, single-use stainless steel needles into “trigger points” in the skin. Developed over thousands of years, acupuncture has historically been used to treat a wide range of health problems. Needle insertion is virtually painless according to most patients. Needles are placed in specific places called trigger points, based on TCM. These points may not be in or near the area of the body that requires treatment or pain relief. In some cases, heat or mild electrical stimulation may be used to enhance the results of acupuncture. 

Acupuncture is often recommended to treat conditions involving chronic or long-term pain, but can frequently provide relief in other situations, such as following an injury or accident. It has also provided relief to those suffering from tension headaches and been effective in reducing the severity and frequency of migraines. 

The Wellness Center has patients who have benefitted from acupuncture  treatment for whiplash following auto accidents, back, neck and  shoulder pain, and knee pain from sports or other injuries.  Our patients have also found acupuncture to be beneficial in the treatment  of carpal tunnel syndrome and fibromyalgia. 

Your first session will generally be longer than follow-up sessions. The acupuncturist will discuss your health issues and treatment goals, explain how the session will proceed, and perhaps show you an acupuncture needle. For most treatments, you will be lying on a comfortable padded table.

With these preliminary steps complete, the acupuncturist will individually dab or wipe each insertion location with alcohol or a similar agent, place the needle, and move on to the next trigger point. When all needles are placed, the lights may be dimmed and soft music played to aid in relaxation. The needles will generally be left in place for 15-20 minutes, but the actual time varies depending on what the treatment is for. The acupuncturist will dab each insertion point with alcohol again when removing the needles. Following treatment, most patients feel very relaxed; an after-treatment nap is not uncommon.