HELP AND SUPPORT
Natural medicine & traditional methods for modern problems
Every person has a unique path to recovery and health. We will work with you to create a treatment plan that addresses your individual needs and challenges.
Treatment can be a number of different healing modalities based on what kind of balance your body needs to be brought into. This can include acupuncture, tuina, moxibustion, guasha, cupping, and herbal medicine.
Our Practitioners
Serena Emerson LAc, DAOM
I'm a licensed acupuncturist with years of apprenticeship and professional experience in Chinese medicine. I'm thrilled to have made my home on Lummi Island and to serve its residents.
My passion is working with challenging or complex cases: injuries, chronic pain & illness, or mysterious symptoms. I developed a special interest in Japanese acupuncture after experiencing its gentle and remarkable effects firsthand.
I was introduced to Chinese medicine through the practice of gongfu (Chinese martial arts) and tuina. This training remains the foundational grounding of all my work.
Japanese Acupuncture
We practice Japanese-style acupuncture and moxibustion, which emphasizes diagnostic palpation, precise and gentle needling, and the union of classical Chinese medical principles with an understanding of modern pathophysiology that brings out the best in both. Palpation provides immediate feedback on the success of a treatment as it is being given. The goal of treatment is to resolve constitutional imbalances and consolidate the body's natural healing abilities.
Classical Chinese Herbal Medicine
We follow a methodology of herbal prescription that closely adheres to the classical texts of Chinese medicine. These texts articulate a method for treating disease that is timeless...though the environment we live in has changed over time, the human body continues to respond in similar ways as it always has. Classical herbal medicine is based upon functional and holistic parameters and naturalist philosophy, rather than the principles of modern biomedicine.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to questions you may have about treatment
What should I expect from my initial appointment?
Your first appointment includes an intake, palpation (diagnosis through pressing on different points of your body), and gentle needling as appropriate for your symptoms and constitution. At the end, we formulate a plan for how to proceed. Expect the appointment to last 90 minutes.
Be careful when leaving your first appointment, as you may feel drowsy.
Do you accept insurance?
Insurance is complicated when it comes to acupuncture. I am in-network with most major insurers. There are several I am not accepting (including WellCare). Please reach out to your insurance company before your appointment to ensure that your policy will cover our visit.
Is there clinical data to show the efficacy of Acupuncture?
Yes! There is a lot of peer-reviewed evidence that acupuncture can help (especially with pain).
What should I wear to my appointment?
Wear loose-fitting clothing that makes you feel comfortable.
Tell me about the two locations
Serena works on Lummi Island Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday in the Isle Aire Neighborhood and in Bellingham on Wednesday and Saturday in the Haskell Business Park.
Shannon works on Lummi Island exclusively.
What conditions do you treat?
● Muscular/skeletal issues (pain your body might be feeling)● Metabolic Issues (digestive, cardiovascular, etc.)● Idiopathic Pain and Other Symptoms (symptoms with unknown cause)● Mood or Emotional Disregulation● Reproductive and Hormonal Issues