Modalities

Herbal Medicine

Dave has extensive training in Chinese herbal formula science under some of the finest Chinese herbalists teaching in the field right now. We choose to custom-blend all of our own formulas following classical recipes that have literally hundreds if not thousands of years of recorded clinical trials standing behind them. Following these recipes ensures that we are using the herbs with the utmost precision and care. Blending them in-house means that we can make critical adjustments (as indicated in their historical record) to suit the individual client at a specific time and place in their healing process.

We offer both a bulk herb and a granules medicinary. Additionally, we offer formula-filling services to other practitioners in the Columbia Gorge and Portland areas. Please contact the office for more information on these services if you are interested.

All of our herbs are lot-tested for the purity of their content, as well as for heavy metals and pesticides. High-quality herbs are becoming more and more scarce, but we are taking every precaution to order the highest quality available through our vendors. Currently, over 80% of our bulk herb medicinary is certified organic.

It is our long-term goal to source as many herbs as possible from a network of US growers, who are able to grow the herbs we use in their appropriate bio-region. Herbs in the Chinese pharmacopeia grow in a broad range of ecosystems, and require extensive, precise preparation before their inclusion into any formula. We are currently seeking out collaborators around the country such as the Northwest Medicinal Herb Growers Network, who are able and willing to meet these strict requirements. Our hope is that within the next decade we will be able to source all of our Chinese medical herbs from within the United States.

Diet and Lifestyle Counseling

One of the most rewarding and enticing aspects of classical Chinese medicine is that it is based completely on the observable patterns of Nature. If you can become a keen observer of Nature, you can find examples of the principles in Chinese medicine everywhere you look. Because of this, where and how we live, what and how we eat—are all integral parts of our overall heath. While the modalities mentioned above can and do work on their own, their effectiveness grows exponentially when someone applies the same principles to the broader spectrum of their lives. From the very first meeting, we will work together to recognize patterns in this broader spectrum, and identify ways of improving your health and well-being through them.

Qi Gong Movement and Exercise

Qi gong is simply translated as “breath work.” It is a system of gentle repetitive movements that affect the physical form of the body like ocean waves gently lapping at the shoreline. It plays a dual role in the practice of Chinese medicine. The movements themselves provide invaluable exercises for clients at certain places in their healing process. Many treatment plans involve qi gong homework assignments. Additionally, qi gong is an important form of personal cultivation that increases a practitioner’s sensitivity, and promotes their own health and well-being. This is an excellent example of the old imperative, “Physician, heal thyself!”

Acupuncture and Moxibustion Therapy

Classically, acupuncture and moxibustion are almost always spoken of in combination with one another. We are attempting to revive the tradition of combining these two modalities, so please come prepared to experience both during the course of your treatment, unless you prefer not to have one or the other.

Thai Herbal Massage

Thai massage is a form of assisted stretching and massage that has been strongly influenced by both Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine over the centuries. It involves deep stretching and pressing into the body, and can facilitate profound changes with minimal effort. Adding custom-blended steamed herbal compresses to the repertoire takes the experience to an entirely different level, as your body becomes literally infused with soothing, invigorating herbal medicine from the outside in.

Jin Shou Tuina
—Chinese Medical Massage

Tuina translates to mean “plucking and stroking.” It is a system of massage that has evolved within the broader science of Chinese medicine that is based on meridian theory and the basic principles of classical Chinese medicine. Dave began studying tuina with Dr. Youping Qin, MD (China,) LAc. At the National College of Natural Medicine. His martial arts and medical studies in the North American Tang Shou Tao Association have greatly enhanced his skills in this arena, and therefore massage has become a critical part of his medical practice.

Barral-Method Visceral Manipulation

While in school, Dave had the honor of studying with Dr. Sheila Murphy, DC. Of Portland. Dr. Murphy teaches a very unique system that is based on Paul Upledger’s cranial sacral methods, which engages the inherent motility of the body’s soft tissues through light touch and palpation.