Portland Acupuncture
Inner Gate provides the highest quality acupuncture in Portland. We supply
continuing education for all clinicians to ensure that our providers
have the best orthopedic and acupuncture skills.
Choose Inner Gate’s Portland Acupuncturists If You Want To…
- Experience relief from anxiety and stress in your life.
- Work with Portland acupuncture experts & specialists.
- Get pain relief without pharmaceutical medications.
- Have a clear, actionable treatment plan.
- Visit Portland acupuncturists that recognize the mind-body connection.
- Leave feeling grounded and relaxed.
Meet Your Portland Acupuncture Team
Our team of expert acupuncturists would love to meet you! We know that your healing process is unique—everyone wants to live a pain-free life, but it takes a different approach to get each of us there. Our Portland acupuncturists take the time to understand these differences and approach each of their patients with a unique treatment plan.
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an ancient technique that promotes your body’s natural healing process through the placement of thin, sterile, single-use needles into precise acupuncture points. A patient’s signs and symptoms determine which points to use. Acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment. Clinical research continues to prove its validity and fuel its growth and acceptance. Acupuncture has none of the toxic side effects often associated with pharmaceutical medications.
How Does Acupuncture Work?
Acupuncture promotes healing by improving blood circulation, reducing local inflammation and relaxing tight muscles. Acupuncture relieves pain by re-establishing communication between damaged tissues and the central nervous system. By stimulating muscles and neurons, acupuncture is able to re-establish proper balance, improve posture and reduce pain.
Dry Needling
Dry needling is a form of acupuncture made popular by physical therapists. It involves the insertion of acupuncture needles into trigger points.
Trigger Points are described as hyper-irritable areas in the muscles that are tender to pressure. Some trigger points correspond exactly with acupuncture points while others are considered extra points.
Acupuncturists are the experts of dry needling. We receive over 2000 hours of training in the safe and effective use of needles. We are trained to identify and treat trigger points, motor points, and acupuncture points. We study both western anatomy and Chinese medical philosophy. Like physical therapists, we are trained in anatomy, biometrics of injuries and muscle imbalances.
The difference lies in the amount of training we receive. Acupuncturists receive extensive training in the safe use of needles while physical therapists, who are also highly trained clinicians, receive minimal training for dry needling. Rather than being part of their core education, it is taught to them at weekend workshops.
Understand the differences between Acupuncturists and Physical therapists who use needles
Definitions
Trigger points are sensitive areas in the muscle or connective tissue that becomes painful when compressed. Pressing on a trigger point can cause referred pain and can help identify the external area in the body generating the pain.
Motor points are electro-physiologically defined as the point with the highest excitability of the muscle. It is thought to be the area where the motor neuron innervates the muscle.
Acupuncture Points are any of the specific locations on the body that in the practice of acupuncture and acupressure are stimulated to produce beneficial health effects, such as the relief of pain or promotion of healing.
Other Services at Our Portland Clinics
Besides acupuncture services at our Portland locations, we offer:
Acupuncture FAQs
Is acupuncture safe?
The World Health Organization recognizes acupuncture as a safe treatment for a variety of pain syndromes. All of our Portland acupuncturists are licensed to practice acupuncture and use single-use, sterile needles.
Does acupuncture work?
Acupuncture is an effective treatment for many conditions. We’ve personally seen difficult cases improve drastically using acupuncture, massage, and Chinese herbal medicine.
Is acupuncture painful?
Most people do not experience any pain during acupuncture sessions. While you may have some mild aches, acupuncture is a relaxing and restorative experience for almost everyone.
Do you accept insurance for acupuncture treatments?
Yes! We accept most major insurance companies, including workers’ compensation and accident insurance. With a quick phone call, we can verify your benefits before your first appointment.