SERVICES
Your comfort comes first
Our services are grounded in the principles of simplicity and minimalism. In both acupuncture and massage, we utilize subtle techniques and a thoughtful connection between practitioner and patient. Throughout every treatment, we prioritize your comfort and allow your body’s feedback to direct us.
The goal is simple: achieve the maximum amount of change with a minimal amount of intervention.
Pregnancy & Postpartum Acupuncture
As mothers and providers, we understand the tender time of pregnancy, childbirth and newborn bonding. We have studied with leaders in the field to understand the tradition of Yang Sheng (Nourishing Life) to nurture the body, mind and spirit in harmony with the natural rhythms of creating life.
Prior to conception, our fertility acupuncture treatments help the body find an optimal alignment for conception and pregnancy. Throughout pregnancy, we support the birthing person with pregnancy acupuncture to enhance comfort by treating nausea, back pain, acid reflux, breech presentation and more. And in the sacred postpartum time, our postpartum acupuncture and massage offerings help the birthing body recover and rebuild the resources expended in childbirth.
Sabine Wilms, Elizabeth Davis, and the work of Debra Betts, are influential in our understanding of nourishing life.
Shonishin (Pediatric Acupuncture)
For our youngest patients, we offer gentle non-insertive pedatric acupuncture called Shonishin, which traces its roots back to 17th-century Japan. Shonishin uses calming, painless techniques like stroking, tapping and rubbing to restore and strengthen a child’s natural healing mechanisms.
Developed specifically for infants and kids up to the age of fifteen, these treatments can be used to address everything from physical conditions to behavioral and emotional problems. You are welcome to contact us to discuss how Shonishin can benefit your child!
Shonishin teachers we have studied with include Koei Kuwahara, Stephen Birch, Brenda Loew and Bob Quinn.
Acupuncture
Within us all, we possess a flow of vital energy that travels along different channels in the body. When this energy is blocked, weakened or out of balance, it can cause a host of symptoms including pain, fatigue, hormonal imbalance and digestive or mental health concerns. To bring these pathways back into a state of balance, we use gentle acupuncture in our NW Portland clinic, inserting thin, delicate needles to stimulate specific points on the body. This releases pain-relieving endorphins and encourages healing from the inside out.
Acupuncture has a cumulative effect, meaning that the treatments build on one another over time to create meaningful, sustainable changes.
Master acupuncturists who are influential to our style of treatment include Shudo Denmei, Tsuyoshi Shimamura, Kiiko Matsumoto, Takahiro Funamizu and Anryu “Dr. Bear” Iwashina, among others.
Moxibustion
This powerful therapy uses heat from burning the mugwort plant, artemisia vulgaris, to warm the body and stimulate the immune system. This is a particularly useful tool in the cool, damp climate of the Pacific Northwest.
Moxibustion predates acupuncture. It has been practiced for millennia to alleviate pain, strengthen the immune system, and promote the tonification of blood and qi. In pregnancy, acupuncture and moxibustion are commonly used to help breech babies turn naturally to a head-down position, improving the chances of vaginal birth.
We specialize in the application of rice grain moxibustion or okyu, which is the warming of tiny rice grain-sized cones directly on the body. We have seen firsthand the profound effects of moxibustion in our patients and combine it with acupuncture treatments to maximize the benefits of both.
The lifework and practice of Junji Mizutani is the core of our moxibustion technique.
Pregnancy & Postpartum Massage
Prenatal and postpartum massage blend deep tissue, abdominal therapy and craniosacral therapy (CST). These treatments promote deep relaxation, relieve pain and regulate the nervous and digestive systems. During pregnancy, this work helps optimize the position of the baby for birth. In the postpartum period, this work helps the body heal and regain the expended energy from childbirth.
Each pregnancy and birth offers a unique presentation, and we are widely trained to help the birthing person feel more at ease each step of the way.
Training as a doula with the Cornerstone Doula Training and as a massage therapist with McKinnon Institute guide our work in massage. In addition, the teachings of Amy Colo, CNM, LMT and Rosita Arvigo lend substantial depth of knowledge in how to support the pregnant and postpartum body.
Herbal Medicine
Our natural environment is truly a garden of healing plants and minerals, which we apply through the art of herbal medicine. Similar to acupuncture, herbal medicine reestablishes homeostasis to allow for healing from within. With both acupuncture and herbal medicine, we select protocols based on abdominal palpation, where tonicity, texture, and tenderness correspond to specific medicinals.
At Heartwood, we utilize the ancient wisdom of Chinese herbalism to address a wide range of conditions, from minor ailments to chronic disease, including hormonal imbalances and holistic mental health concerns. Where no two individuals are alike, no two formulas are either. Our custom-blended herbs are tailored to the individual and can easily be modified as your concerns shift and change.
Our herbalism practice is guided by the 200 AD texts, Shanghan Lun and Jingui YaoLüe, by Zhang Zhongjing. The clinical expertise of our teachers, Joon Hee Lee, Michael Givens, Heiner Fruehauf and Nigel Dawes, among others, has guided us in the application of these texts in our modern world.
Abdominal Massage
When abdominal circulation is compromised, it can lead to discomfort and dysfunction. Gentle abdominal massage enhances the flow of blood, lymph, nerve impulses and qi in the abdomen. It also addresses restriction in the low back, hips, sacrum and tailbone. Releasing these areas removes congestion in the pelvic bowl and supports the optimal function and alignment of the organs. Whatever your age or stage of life, this work can help you come back into the right relationship with your creative center.
Prolapse, menstrual pain, incontinence and constipation are some examples of a dysfunctional pelvic bowl. Working directly in this area we encourage the body’s natural ability to heal and regulate.
The teachings of Amy Colo, CNM, LMT and traditions of Maya Abdominal Therapy as held by Rosita Arvigo inform our practice of pregnancy and postpartum massage.
Facial Acupuncture
Our core focus is on internal healing, and this includes the face. Facial acupuncture changes one’s emotional state and increases vagal tone. Our facial acupuncture also improves skin tone, reduces puffiness and supports overall vitality. Using fine needles (or no needles, if you prefer), we stimulate points on the face and body to enhance circulation, reduce tension and promote a natural glow. Many patients find these treatments help with jaw tightness, fine lines and stress-related skin concerns. Facial acupuncture is often referred to as an “acupuncture facelift” for its rejuvenating effect on both skin and mood.
The subtle, powerful work of our teachers Takahiro Funamizu and Yoko Ooasa are our greatest influences in facial acupuncture care.
Craniosacral Therapy & Other Bodywork
Bodywork and physical medicine effectively reduce pain while also having a phenomenal effect on the autonomic nervous system, inviting a relaxed state of being. We offer a number of different bodywork modalities that support gentle, trauma-informed care, including prenatal and postpartum massage, wellness massage, craniosacral therapy and Sotai therapy.
A combination of these therapies may be incorporated into treatment to best address your specific needs.
The hands of our bodywork teachers have guided us in our study of these modalities. Those most influential include Tiffiny Fyans, Saumya Comer, Bob Quinn, Daniel Silver, Jeffrey Dann and Joyce Thom.
