Follow your curiosity.
Understanding your body changes the way you care for it.
This is a growing collection of research, books, clinicians, tools, and rabbit holes I return to often—resources that can help you understand your physiology, participate more fully in your care, and ask better questions along the way.
Start wherever your curiosity takes you.
Research & Resources
Explore:
Acupuncture:
The Research
What are those tiny needles actually doing?
Acupuncture is an old medicine with a very modern research story. Depending on what is being treated—and how—it may engage connective tissue, sensory nerves, pain-processing pathways, local circulation, endogenous pain chemistry, and autonomic and immune signaling.
Research is still catching up to a medicine that is highly individualized by nature. No single study explains the whole of acupuncture, and evidence is stronger for some uses than others. The studies below are not an exhaustive archive or a promise of a particular outcome. They are simply some of the clearest windows we have into how acupuncture may work and where it may be useful.
How Acupuncture Works
Evidence of connective tissue involvement in acupuncture
Researchers found that rotating an acupuncture needle winds connective tissue around it, creating a measurable mechanical interaction within the tissue. This offers one possible explanation for how a very small needle can create effects beyond the exact point where it is placed.
Relationship of acupuncture points and meridians to connective-tissue planes
In this anatomical study, many traditional acupuncture points corresponded with intermuscular or intramuscular connective-tissue planes. It does not “prove” the channel system, but it offers an intriguing anatomical bridge between classical maps and the body’s fascial network.
Adenosine A1 receptors mediate local pain-relieving effects of acupuncture
In an animal model, acupuncture increased local adenosine—a chemical involved in tissue signaling and pain modulation—and its pain-relieving effect depended on the adenosine A1 receptor. This study helps illuminate one local biochemical pathway through which needling may influence pain.
A neuroanatomical basis for electroacupuncture to drive the vagal–adrenal axis
This animal study mapped a specific sensory-neuron pathway through which low-intensity electroacupuncture at one location activated a vagal–adrenal anti-inflammatory response. It is a compelling reminder that point location, tissue depth, and dose all matter—and that acupuncture’s effects are not simply generic stimulation.
Pain, Nervous System + Recovery
Acupuncture for chronic pain: an individual-patient-data meta-analysis
Pooling high-quality trial data, researchers found acupuncture effective for several chronic pain conditions, with benefits persisting over time. The size of the difference between acupuncture and sham acupuncture was smaller than the difference between acupuncture and no acupuncture, suggesting that both specific needling effects and the broader treatment context may contribute.
What does the research say about acupuncture for pain?
A readable overview from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health covering back and neck pain, osteoarthritis, headaches, postoperative pain, and safety. This is a useful place to begin if you want the wider evidence landscape without reading individual papers.
NICE guidance for chronic primary pain
The United Kingdom’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence includes a single course of acupuncture or dry needling among the nonpharmacologic options clinicians may consider for chronic primary pain.
Pelvic Health
Acupuncture treatment for chronic pelvic pain in women
This review found encouraging evidence for acupuncture alongside conventional treatment, while also emphasizing that the available studies were limited. The honest takeaway: acupuncture may be a useful part of multidisciplinary pelvic-pain care, but stronger research is still needed.
Acupuncture for endometriosis-related pain
This meta-analysis found improvements in dysmenorrhea and pelvic pain, but the authors also noted meaningful limitations in study design and quality. Promising is not the same as definitive; this is an area where individualized care and collaboration remain especially important.
Pregnancy, Birth + Postpartum
The safety of acupuncture during pregnancy
In this systematic review, serious adverse events were rare and those reported were considered unlikely to have been caused by acupuncture. Most treatment-related effects were mild and short-lived. Pregnancy care should still be provided by a practitioner with specific training and experience.
Acupuncture for pregnancy-related low-back and pelvic pain
This review found improvements in pain, function, and quality of life for people experiencing low-back or pelvic pain during pregnancy. As with much pregnancy research, study quality and treatment protocols varied.
Acupuncture for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy
This review found acupuncture may be helpful for pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting, either alongside conventional treatment or on its own. The authors also called for larger, more rigorous studies.
Moxibustion for breech presentation
Moderate-certainty evidence suggests that moxibustion used alongside usual care probably reduces the chance that a baby remains non-cephalic at birth. Moxibustion is related to acupuncture but distinct from it; it uses the warmth of burning mugwort near a specific point and should be taught with appropriate safety guidance.
Acupuncture or acupressure for induction of labor
This review did not find that acupuncture reduced Cesarean birth, though it may improve cervical readiness. I think of late-pregnancy acupuncture as preparation and support—not a lever that can force the body into labor on command.
Clinical Foundations + Safety
Acupuncture: effectiveness and safety
Acupuncture is generally considered safe when performed by a qualified practitioner using sterile needles. Minor bruising, tenderness, fatigue, or temporary symptom aggravation can occur; serious adverse events are rare but possible when treatment is performed improperly.
World Health Organization benchmarks for acupuncture practice
The WHO’s benchmarks address procedures, clinical environments, and safety. They offer a useful global reference point for what responsible acupuncture practice should include.
A note on reading research
Research can help us understand averages. Clinical care still happens one person at a time.
Your diagnosis, medications, pregnancy status, health history, constitution, goals, and response to treatment all matter. A study can help us ask better questions; it cannot decide what care is right for you.
Pregnancy, Birth + Postpartum
Support for the threshold—and the person moving through it.
Pregnancy, birth, feeding, and postpartum recovery come with no shortage of information. The harder task is finding guidance that is trustworthy, humane, and capable of holding both physiology and lived experience.
These are resources I return to when helping families prepare, make informed choices, find support, and keep the mother or birthing person inside the circle of care.
Preparing for Birth
Clear, deeply researched guides to common birth questions and interventions. Especially useful when you want to understand the evidence behind a recommendation before making a decision with your care team.
Evidence-based information about medications, supplements, vaccines, health conditions, and other exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Their fact sheets and specialist service can be especially helpful when the internet has given you five conflicting answers.
A beautiful companion for treating pregnancy as a whole-person threshold rather than a nine-month medical project. It weaves food, ritual, Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, and the emotional and spiritual experience of becoming a mother.
Feeding + Lactation
A peer-reviewed National Library of Medicine database covering medications and other substances during breastfeeding, including milk and infant levels, reported effects, and possible alternatives. Bring what you find back to your prescribing clinician rather than changing a medication on your own.
A free app that makes the LactMed database easier to search from your phone and is updated monthly.
Part postpartum philosophy, part kitchen companion. I return to it for its insistence that the person who gave birth also deserves to be fed, warmed, protected, and cared for.
Mental Health + Relationships
Postpartum Support International
Support for depression, anxiety, OCD, trauma, loss, and other emotional challenges during pregnancy and postpartum. PSI offers a helpline, peer mentors, provider connections, and more than 50 online support groups.
Oregon Postpartum Support International
Oregon-specific connections alongside national support options, including online groups, peer support, and routes to trained perinatal mental-health care.
Maternal + New Parent Mental Health — NAMI Central Oregon
A local starting place for understanding perinatal mental-health symptoms, treatment options, and where to reach for help.
If you or someone you love may be in immediate danger, call or text 988 or go to the nearest emergency department. The PSI HelpLine is a support and resource line, not an emergency service.
Community + Support
Central Oregon Birth: Postpartum Mom + Baby Group
A facilitated six-week group for local mothers and babies in the first four months postpartum. Because information matters—but so does sitting beside people who understand the season you are in.
Postpartum Support International: Online Support Groups
Free virtual groups for perinatal mental health, pregnancy and infant loss, fertility challenges, parenting after loss, and many other experiences that can otherwise feel profoundly isolating.
Postpartum Recovery
A practical, whole-person guide to the physical, emotional, relational, and sexual dimensions of postpartum healing. Especially helpful for remembering that recovery is not a six-week deadline.
Recipes, teas, and a broader argument for warmth, rest, community, and deep nourishment after birth. A book I wish every postpartum household could read before the baby arrives.
Postpartum Support International
If postpartum feels harder, darker, stranger, or lonelier than you expected, you do not need to wait until it becomes unbearable to reach for support.
Thoughtful Products + Low-Tox Swaps
“Low-tox” can quickly become another expensive, fear-laden project—especially in a season when your nervous system already has enough to carry. That is not the invitation here.
Hormones respond to very small signals, and some chemicals found in plastics, fragrances, textiles, and consumer products can interfere with endocrine signaling. The goal is not perfect avoidance. It is reducing a few repeated exposures where the swap is simple, useful, and within reach.
Start with what touches the body often, what holds something hot, and what you are already replacing.
Menstrual Care
Choose unscented products when you can, and favor products that clearly disclose their materials. Organic cotton does not make a product perfect, but it can be a useful starting point.
A thoughtful option:The Honey Pot non-herbal pads with an organic-cotton cover. If your tissues are sensitive, I generally prefer their non-herbal products; “cooling” or fragranced ingredients can be irritating for some bodies.
Underwear + Close-to-Skin Textiles
For underwear and sleepwear, prioritize breathable natural fibers such as cotton or merino wool. Look for transparent fiber labels and, when possible, certifications such as GOTS or OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100.
A small label-reading note: most silky “bamboo” fabric is actually rayon or viscose made from bamboo cellulose—not an intact natural bamboo fiber. It may still feel comfortable, but it should not automatically be treated as equivalent to cotton or wool.
Hot Food + Drink
Avoid putting very hot soup, coffee, or leftovers directly into plastic when an easy alternative exists. Glass, stainless steel, and ceramic are excellent everyday choices for hot food and drink.
This includes takeout. You do not need to panic over an occasional paper cup or plastic-lined soup container; simply transfer hot food when it is practical and make your repeated habits do most of the work.
Cookware
You do not need to replace the whole kitchen at once. Begin with scratched, peeling, or frequently used nonstick cookware. Stainless steel, cast iron, enameled cast iron, and glass are durable alternatives.
PFAS have been used in some nonstick cookware and grease- or water-resistant packaging. “Nonstick” does not tell you everything about a product, but visibly damaged coatings are a sensible place to begin replacing.
Heat Without the Plastic
Warmth can be wonderfully supportive for menstrual discomfort. For regular use, I prefer a simple cotton- or linen-covered rice, flax, or cherry-pit pack over putting heated plastic directly against the body. Follow the product’s heating instructions carefully and avoid sleeping on any heating device.
If You Want to Go Deeper
Endocrine disruptors — National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
PFAS and common sources of exposure — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
What “bamboo” fabric usually means — Federal Trade Commission
Choose one swap. Let it become ordinary. Then choose another if and when it feels accessible.
Build Your Care Team
Care works better in relationship.
This is a growing, intentionally non-comprehensive collection of Central Oregon practitioners and practices I trust, have collaborated with, or regularly refer patients to. The focus areas below come from each provider’s own materials so you can get a quick sense of fit before exploring further.
Fit still matters. Availability, insurance participation, and services change, so please confirm current details directly with the practice.
Primary + Functional Medicine
Functional medicine · Gut and nutrition health · Hormone health · Environmental and toxin burden · Individualized testing and care plans
Pediatrics
Holly Hawkins | Heartfelt Pediatrics
Concierge pediatric primary care · In-home visits · Telehealth · Newborn and child care · Relationship-based family support
Kristen Poppert, LPC | Thriving Families Counseling
Child and teen therapy · Trauma and EMDR · Anxiety and depression · Family counseling · Parenting support
Paige McAfee, MSN, PNP-PC | SHIFT Functional Medicine
Pediatric functional medicine · Infant, child and adolescent health · Nutrition and gut health · Development and resilience · Whole-family education
Child, adolescent and adult psychiatry · Medication management · Supportive psychotherapy · ADHD and mental-health care · In-person and telehealth visits
Tracey Colacicco, MS, LPC | Starfish Counseling
Child and adolescent counseling · Parent and family support · Young-adult transitions · Emotional and behavioral health · Relationship-centered therapy
Women’s Health + Support
Holistic women’s health · Mind-body-pelvic health · Pelvic pain and tension · Prolapse and bladder concerns · Whole-person education and support
Perimenopause · Menopause · Sexual medicine · Sexual pain and low desire · Sexual and relationship counseling
Gynecology · Hormone and reproductive health · Trauma-informed care · Pain and anxiety support for procedures · Inclusive women’s health
Lauren Ward-Sellinger | Wildflower Natural Medicine
Hormone management · Menopausal hormone therapy · Hormone-pellet insertion · Customized functional medicine
Pregnancy, Birth + Postpartum
For a broader view of local doulas, midwives, lactation specialists, mental-health providers, educators, and other perinatal support, visit Perinatal Providers of Central Oregon.
Prenatal massage · Doula support · Emotional support · Birth preparation · Perinatal wellness
Licensed midwifery · Prenatal care · Home and birth-center birth · Postpartum care · Well-baby care
Hypnobirthing · Comprehensive childbirth education · Private birth preparation · Group courses · Pregnancy meditation and confidence-building
Birth and postpartum doulas · Childbirth and newborn education · Breastfeeding support · IVF and surrogacy support · Placenta encapsulation and car-seat checks
Compass Perinatal Family & Community Support
Perinatal peer support · Perinatal depression and anxiety · Pregnancy and birth experiences · Trauma and loss support · Community groups and family connection
Birth doula support · Postpartum doula support · Childbirth education and care planning · Pregnancy bodywork · Parent community and events
Obstetrics · Gynecology · Midwifery · Fertility care · Gynecologic surgery and procedures
Home-birth midwifery · Prenatal care · Labor and birth care · Postpartum support · Evidence-based shared decision-making
Birth doula support · Postpartum care · Childbirth and newborn education · High-risk pregnancy support · Nutrition and mindful movement
Meg Rozek | Juniper & Pine Doula
Birth doula care · Postpartum support · Full-spectrum doula support · Infant-feeding support · ASL-informed family care
Lactation Support
Sarah Rafail, RN | Nurse with Sarah
Lactation consultation · Prenatal lactation visits · In-home feeding support · Doula care · Newborn and parent support
St. Charles Mommy & Me Breastfeeding Support Group
Drop-in lactation support · Breastfeeding and pumping questions · Baby weight and milk-intake checks · Infant sleep and postpartum discussion · Nurse and lactation-consultant guidance
Willow Merchant, RN, FNP, IBCLC | Emerging Hearts Collective
Lactation consultation · Postpartum doula care · Complex feeding journeys · Newborn and family support · NICU-transition support
Pelvic Health + Physical Therapy
Mind-body-pelvic health · Pelvic pain and tension · Prolapse · Bladder leakage · Sexual difficulties and whole-person pelvic care
Jennifer Miles, PT | Miles Pelvic Therapy
Pelvic pain · Bladder and bowel concerns · Pain with sex · Pelvic-organ prolapse · Postpartum recovery
Laura Cooper, PT, DPT | Therapeutic Associates
Women’s health · Prenatal and postpartum rehabilitation · Post-mastectomy and breast-cancer rehabilitation · Sports medicine · Therapeutic yoga and orthopedics
Laura Flood, PT, DPT, RYT | Lotus Flower Physio
Holistic pelvic-floor physical therapy · Prenatal and postpartum care · Birth preparation · Trauma-informed and nervous-system-aware care · Yoga and mindful movement
Mackenzie Van Loo, PT, DPT | Sanctum Physiotherapy + MovementX
Pelvic-floor rehabilitation · Pregnancy and postpartum · Visceral-informed care · Pelvic and sexual pain · Hypermobility/EDS-informed rehabilitation
Pelvic-floor therapy · Pre- and postpartum rehabilitation · Chronic pain · Sports and performance injuries · Pre- and post-surgical recovery
Neurology + Rehabilitation
Muscle-system assessment · Neuromuscular function · Complex pain and movement problems · Exercise-based rehabilitation · Movement performance
Dr. Jacob Plasker, DC, DACNB | Plasker Chiropractic + Functional Neurology
Functional neurology · Individualized neurologic rehabilitation · Post-concussion care · Vertigo, dizziness and balance concerns · Childhood developmental disorders
Dr. Laura Ahmed, PT, DPT, CBIS | Aspire Physical Therapy
Concussion rehabilitation · Vestibular and BPPV therapy · Brain-injury recovery · Balance and dizziness · Whole-person physical therapy
Mackenzie Van Loo, PT, DPT | Sanctum Physiotherapy + MovementX
Hypermobility/EDS-informed rehabilitation · Complex neurologic presentations · Visceral-informed care · Chronic pain · Pelvic-floor and whole-body rehabilitation
Morgan Knapp, PT, DPT | MovementX
Lymphedema management · Chronic pain · Hypermobility disorders · Neurologic and vestibular rehabilitation · Post-surgical rehabilitation
Neurologic rehabilitation · Vestibular care · Balance · Complex mobility · Healthy aging
Mental Health, Grief + Relationships
Pregnancy and infant loss · Grief education · Guided healing courses · Live support groups · Retreats and community
Loni Verzuh, PMHNP | Center + Flow
Therapy · Psychiatry and medication management · Nervous-system regulation · Community meetups · Psychedelic consultation
LGBTQ+-affirming therapy · Trauma · Sex and intimacy · Identity exploration · Couples and non-monogamous relationships
Trauma and PTSD · Anxiety · Spirituality · EMDR · Internal Family Systems and mind-body approaches
Mindful Movement + Strength
Georgia Walker, MS, CSCS | BOSS Sports Performance
Corrective exercise · Strength and conditioning · Return to movement after injury · Pregnancy and postpartum fitness · Individualized performance coaching
Mindful movement · Yoga · Strength-training foundations · Breath and body awareness · Mobility and sustainable performance
Nutrition + Food Support
Beth Buchanan, MS, BCHN, FMCHC | Well Nourished
Female hormone health · Thyroid health · Blood-sugar regulation · Autoimmune conditions · Digestive health
Childbearing-year nourishment · Nutrient-dense prepared meals · Farm-to-table cooking · Local meal delivery · Family and postpartum food support
Noosh by Lily | Noosh Nurtures
Postpartum meal delivery · Persian and lineage-based food traditions · Digestive warmth and tissue repair · Lactation-supportive nourishment · Meals for recovery and major life thresholds
The directory will keep growing.
This is a living ecology of care. I will continue adding and refining referrals as relationships deepen, services evolve, and new gaps in the local care landscape become clear.
Chiropractic Care
Amanda Armington, DC | Armington Chiropractic
Prenatal chiropractic · Infant and pediatric care · Family chiropractic · Sports chiropractic · Pain and functional movement
Dr. Patrick Prentice | Prentice Chiropractic
NeuroStructural and upper-cervical chiropractic · Atlas Orthogonal care · Headaches and migraines · Spinal decompression · Corrective exercise and mobility support
Power Performance Chiropractic
Chiropractic care · Soft-tissue therapies · Functional rehabilitation · Blood-flow-restriction training · Winback TECAR therapy
Bodywork + Massage
Brighton Loughlin | Beyond Body Wellness
Breathwork · Somatic support · Nervous-system capacity · Functional-health integration · AquaStretch and bodywork
Geneva Mayall, LMT | Sweetgrass Healing
Integrative massage · Sports and deep-tissue massage · Myofascial release · Cupping and assisted stretching · Swedish and relaxation massage
Michael Hahn | Advanced Healing Therapies
Hellerwork structural integration · Craniosacral therapy · Visceral manipulation · Osteopathic-informed bodywork · Complex structural and mobility support
Monika Stefanac | Boundless Bodywork
Therapeutic massage · Gentle deep-tissue work · Breathwork · Energy work · Intuitive and nervous-system-aware bodywork
Sierrah Umhauer | Flowbility Therapeutics
Therapeutic massage · Structural bodywork · Ashiatsu barefoot massage · Mindful touch · Individualized pain and mobility support
Terie Sandusky | Kimimi Healing Arts
Prenatal massage · Fertility acupressure · Reiki and Reiki training · Massage ritual and bodywork · Energy and sound healing
The Bookshelf
Chinese Medicine + the Body
The Spark in the Machine — Daniel Keown
A lively bridge between classical Chinese medicine and modern anatomy and embryology. I recommend it to curious skeptics, science-minded patients, and anyone who has wondered how ancient channel theory might converse with contemporary physiology.
Tao Te Ching — Lao Tzu, translated by Stephen Mitchell
A book to read slowly rather than finish. Its brief verses return to simplicity, balance, non-forcing, and the intelligence of moving with life rather than against it—the philosophical landscape that also shaped Chinese medicine.
Cycles, Hormones + Fertility
Taking Charge of Your Fertility — Toni Weschler
The foundational manual for learning to read basal body temperature, cervical fluid, and other fertility signs. Detailed and practical, whether you are trying to conceive, avoiding pregnancy, or simply trying to understand what your cycle is saying.
Awakening Fertility — Heng Ou, Amely Greeven + Marisa Belger
A gentler companion to preconception—one that makes room for nourishment, ritual, relationship, uncertainty, and the emotional life of fertility alongside practical recipes and care.
Hormone Intelligence — Aviva Romm, MD
A deeply researched, readable guide to the body’s hormonal ecology—and the ways cycles, stress, sleep, nutrition, metabolism, and nervous-system health speak to one another. Useful when you want more context without being reduced to a single symptom or lab value.
The Way of the Fertile Soul — Randine Lewis, PhD, LAc
Part fertility guide, part invitation back into self-trust. Randine Lewis brings Chinese medicine, Taoist philosophy, emotional life, and the deeper meaning of creativity into conversation—especially welcome when fertility care has begun to make the body feel like a problem to solve.
Pregnancy + Postpartum
Nine Golden Months — Heng Ou, Amely Greeven + Marisa Belger
A beautiful reminder that pregnancy is not only about producing a healthy baby. It is also a profound transformation in the life and body of the person becoming a mother.
The First Forty Days — Heng Ou, Amely Greeven + Marisa Belger
A love letter to postpartum warmth, food, rest, and community. Come for the recipes; stay for the radical suggestion that recovery deserves time and care.
The Fourth Trimester — Kimberly Ann Johnson
A grounded guide to the physical, emotional, relational, and sexual landscape after birth. I especially appreciate its refusal to reduce postpartum healing to a six-week clearance appointment.
Food + Kitchen Medicine
Ancient Wisdom, Modern Kitchen — Yuan Wang, Warren Sheir + Mika Ono
Approachable Chinese food therapy with recipes you can actually imagine making on a weeknight.
Healing with Whole Foods — Paul Pitchford
The book to open when you want to understand not only what a food contains, but how different traditions understand what that food does.
The Moon Cycle Cookbook — Devon Loftus + Jenna Radomski
Recipes for sweets, savory meals, and snacks organized around the four phases of the menstrual cycle. A practical bridge between cycle awareness and the everyday question of what to make for dinner.
This page will continue to grow as the research evolves, new resources emerge, and trusted people join the wider ecology of care.
These resources are offered for education and are not a substitute for individualized medical care. Research links are summarized in plain language and should be read in the context of each study’s design and limitations. Inclusion in the provider directory is not a guarantee of availability, insurance coverage, or a particular outcome.