Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is an amalgamation of medicinal practices of East Asia, developed over thousands of years. These practices are rooted in Daoism, notably the concept of Yin and Yang, Five Element Theory, the concept of Qi, and the interconnectedness with nature. In TCM, disease or pathology arrives from an imbalance in the body. TCM looks beyond just the symptoms to see how the entire person - mind, body, and spirit - is functioning and finds a pattern of dysfunction. Then modalities like acupuncture and herbal medicine are used to help the body find balance again.

Acupuncture uses very small, rounded needles rather than the larger, sharp needles that are used in injections. Acupuncture can produce a variety of sensations, but rarely hurts, and is safe for virtually every patient. If you are needle averse, there are mulitple modalities that can be used as an alternative, such as acupressure or manual therapies.

Yes! Acupuncture and herbal medicine have been proven to be effective in multiple scientific studies. Acupuncture can modulate the immune system, regulate the nervous and endocrine systems, stimulates the release of endorphins, and has anti-inflammatory effects. Acupuncture's effectiveness is recognized by the World Health Organization and is used in complement with allopathic medicine at some of the top medical facilities, including the Cleveland Clinic, the Mayo Clinic, and Johns Hopkins University. 

A new patient appointment will last 1.5-2 hours and will include a detailed intake, followed by a treatment. Subsequent appointments will usually last around 1 hour with a shorter intake followed by treatment. For existing patients, shorter or longer appointments can be scheduled if needed.

Dry needling is the practice of inserting filiform needles into trigger points or other tight myofascial tissue. It's referred to as "dry" because there is no liquid injected into the tissue. This is a type of neuromuscular needling and is similar to the practice of ashi point needling in TCM. Neuromuscular needling is one of the key ways we treat pain and injury at Panax. Many physical therapists or other allopathic medical professionals use dry needling because it can be incredibly effective. The benefit of seeing acupuncturists for neuromuscular needling is that we have years of extensive training and supervised experience. The holistic nature of our medicine also means that we can help the whole body heal the injury, rather than focusing just on the area of trauma.

Panax does not currently accept insurance but can provide a superbill for patients to submit to their health insurance companies.

Yes! All of our offerings are available in the comfort of your home in the Portland area for an additional fee. Contact us for more information.

Yes! Care should be accessible! Panax offers a variety of options to make treatment more affordable, including sliding scale pricing. Contact us for more information.