Blue Heron Acupuncture & Wellness
Established in 1999 by founder Kathryn Cooper, Lindsey Thompson-originally from Port Angeles, now carries on the Blue Heron legacy.
Our goal is treating the individual, and helping you on your personal healthcare journey. Lindsey has extensive experience working with people of all ages, from infants to 90 year olds, and all ages in between.
Acupuncture points lie on meridians with both a superficial pathway and an internal one that wraps around and connects various internal organs in East Asian medical theory. Because these meridians travel all over the body, acupuncture can treat a wide variety of conditions using points far away from the sight of injury or illness. Learn more below!
Acupuncture
Gua Sha
Gua Sha is another non-invasive therapy that treats scar tissue, trigger points, and myofascial adhesions with a scraping technique using a ceramic spoon or smooth-surfaced stone on the skin.
Adhesions, trigger points, and scar tissue can develop overtime from intense athletic training, poor posture, a stressful work environment, sports injuries, and from car accidents.
Gua Sha can decrease musculoskeletal pain and improve range of motion and flexibility by breaking up these myofascial adhesions to allow your body to lay down new connective tissue fibers in the proper directions.
Cupping Therapy
Cupping Therapy dates back to 3oo AD. It has been used across the globe in many cultures as a non-invasive treatment to relieve a variety of health conditions.
It draws metabolic waste from muscle, skin, and fat to the skin’s surface, and allows the lymphatic system to circulate properly. The lymphatic system eventually eliminates waste the from the body via the kidneys.
Certain cupping techniques can leave discolorations on the skin, called “sha. These can go away within 3-7 days. It is best to keep areas that have been cupped covered for 24 hours after treatment. Ie- if we’re going to cup your neck, please wear a scarf to your visit.
Not all cupping techniques create discolorations. Some cupping techniques are geared towards gently moving lymphatic drainage and loosening fascia. These techniques do not leave discolorations.
What is Cupping Good For?
Cupping loosens the muscles, reduces pain in muscles, encourages blood flow, activates the lymph system, and sedates the nervous system. It helps with neck pain, back pain, digestion, menstrual imbalances, respiratory issues (i.e. congestion in the lungs due to common cold and asthma), muscle stiffness, anxiety, migraines, fatigue, and recovering from injuries and chemotherapy treatment. Cupping is often compared to feeling like massage, and is quite relaxing.
East Asian Herbal Medicine
Chinese herbal medicine deeply supports your acupuncture treatments or health.
Herbs are similar to food, in that they provide the body with the tools it needs to make things like hormones, neurotransmitters, qi, blood, body fluids, etc. Herbs are much stronger than food, so if your body has moved beyond the ability for food alone to regulate your symptoms, herbs are definitely the way to get back on track as quickly as possible.
The combination of acupuncture and East Asian herbal medicine is one of the fastest ways to get back to ideal health—whether you are treating pain, working with women’s health, managing strong fatigue, coping with anxiety, depression, PTSD, or managing a variety of health conditions.
Lindsey Thompson has 10+ years of experience in prescribing herbal medicine, has passed her national herbal medicine board exam, and studied herbs for 4 years in her higher education training.
Moxibustion
Moxibustion is the burning of moxa on or near an acupuncture point or meridian and is often added to an acupuncture treatment.
We use two types of moxa in treatment: direct or indirect moxa. Direct moxa is the floss or fuzzy part of the Chinese mugwort plant. In herbal medicine, mugwort is a very warming herb when taken internally. When burned on or near an acupuncture point, it increases its ability to warm the acupuncture meridian, point, or entire person. Direct moxa is rolled into rice grain sized piece and placed directly onto an acupuncture point. A protective salve is placed on the skin before placing the moxa. Indirect moxa is a compressed charcoal stick of mugwort that is burned above an acupuncture point or used to trace a meridian. It is held about one inch from the skin and used until the desired warmth is achieved.
Moxibustion therapy is useful for a large variety of conditions. Depending on the technique and acupuncture points chosen to warm, it can help boost the immune system, regulate digestion, improve the menstrual cycle, decrease pain, and helps to resolve both feelings of anxiety and depression. For more information on moxibustion therapy, cupping, or guasha please do not hesitate to send an email to info@blueheronacuwellness.com with your questions.
Appointments Available:
Tuesday: 9am -2pm
Wednesday: 9am-6pm
Thursday: 9am-6pm
Friday: 9am -2pm
Book Your Appointment
We accept most insurance, please call the front desk so we can check your benefits for you.
Front Desk: (360) 417-8806
*Before scheduling your appointment, please review our Covid Policy