Many people have never had acupuncture and don't know what to expect, so hopefully this information will be useful.

When you come in for your first treatment I’ll start with doing a very thorough intake about your health and the reason you came in.   After the intake I’ll discuss with you a plan for treatment and answer any questions you have.

For the acupuncture you will lay down on my treatment table, which is the same type of table used in massage.  Acupuncture is the insertion of fine needles into the body at specific points shown to be effective in the treatment of specific health problems.   Most people are surprised at how relaxing acupuncture is.

For tight muscles I sometimes use a technique called cupping.  Small, plexiglass cups are placed against the skin and a hand held pump creates suction.  It is believed the cups moves the blocked energy in the muscles, allowing them to relax.

 Frequently I use a technique called Microcurrent  Positional Tuina or MPT.  MPT is very effective in relieving pain and inflammation; it increases range of motion and speeds up healing.  It uses a small microcurrent machine combined with Tuina, a Chinese massage technique followed by acupuncture.

 Click here to see a video of Malvin Finkelstein, the originator of MPT doing a demonstration.

 I also offer supportive treatment of Chinese herbs as needed.

“I was diagnosed with some arthritis in my left knee and was hobbling about in pain, unable to walk more than a block or two. My doctor advised that I would need cortisone shots to get back my mobility- something that I did not want to do! Instead I decided to try a different route and had approximately five sessions with Kathy West using the Microcurrent Positional Tuina (MPT) technique. I am now totally without pain and able to take brisk, five-mile walks daily. Needless to say I am thrilled and highly recommend Kathy West and her practice.”

Patricia Powell, Portland, OR