Welcome to Northwest Health Specialties
For acupuncture in Vancouver WA, we have a fantastic team of experienced practitioners ready to help you optimize your health.
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an effective healing technique that has been utilized in Eastern medical culture for thousands of years for any and all health conditions.
In the Western medical setting, acupuncture continues to provide benefits for a range of health complaints and is particularly renowned for its pain-relieving effects. Acupuncture uses fine, single-use sterile needles to lightly penetrate the skin at various points on the body to balance all levels of health and stimulate self-healing.
How does acupuncture work?
From the perspective of Traditional Chinese medicine, vital energy, qi, travels through the meridians in the body which support particular organ systems. When there are interruptions in the flow of qi, illness can arise. Acupuncture needles are placed at points along these medians and then stimulated through gentle and specific movements of the practitioner's hands or electrical stimulation.
Through this process, the flow of qi is restored and healing occurs. From a contemporary Western medical perspective, acupuncture works by direct stimulation of muscles and nerves, stimulating endorphin release, increasing blood flow, and providing pain relief.
Our Acupuncturists in Vancouver WA
Dr. Julia Mortlock
Hi, I am Dr. Julia, and in addition to general medicine, I specialize in gut health, hormone imbalances, and stress & anxiety. I also enjoy helping patients with chronic pain through acupuncture and regenerative injections.
I look forward to helping you and your family with your health!
Dr. Natalie Hanan
Hi, I am Dr. Natalie. I provide advanced integrative care in hormone balancing, chronic fatigue, and digestive disorders.
It is my mission to help you start feeling better now!
Dr. Angie Elliot
Hello, I am Dr. Angie and I am passionate about helping patients enjoy wellness and harmony. I focus on chronic infections, digestive disorders, adjunctive cancer care, and pain management.
With training in numerous modalities, I address a wide variety of health concerns and provide better outcomes for my patients.

Acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment
for many health issues, including:
-
Chronic pain
-
Injury recovery
-
Migraines
-
Arthritis
-
Fibromyalgia
-
Menstrual cramps
-
Chronic pain
-
Injury recovery
-
Migraines
-
Arthritis
-
Fibromyalgia
-
Menstrual cramps
-
Digestive issues
-
Asthma
-
Insomnia
-
Fatigue
-
Anxiety
-
Acute Illness
Although acupuncture can be used for targeted relief of issues like back pain, regular acupuncture treatments often provide patients with holistic health benefits, such as:
-
Enhanced energy
-
Better sleep
-
Regulated digestion
-
Improved mood
-
Enhanced energy
-
Better sleep
-
Regulated digestion
-
Improved mood
-
Stress resilience
-
Healthier immune system
-
Fewer allergies
Moxibustion
In some cases, acupuncture treatments are combined with Moxibustion, an ancient technique that uses a heated preparation of the herb mugwort to stimulate various points along the meridians.
Moxibustion can be particularly beneficial in conditions suited to warming treatments such as indigestion, joint pain and menstrual cramps.
Are you ready to optimize your health?
If you’re looking for an overall holistic approach to your health and well-being, acupuncture is the right step for you! Book with Northwest Health Specialties for experienced acupuncture in Vancouver WA.

FAQ
The insertion of acupuncture needles is often barely perceptible, however stronger sensations may be elicited at particular points.
Once multiple acupuncture needles are placed, patients may perceive a subtle energetic shift in the body, often accompanied by relaxation. Immediately following acupuncture treatments, patients may notice a sense of calm, increased energy or some fatigue which generally passes in the next several hours.
Acupuncture treatments generally are not painful. Acupuncture needles are hair-thin and often barely perceivable when they penetrate the skin. At some acupuncture points, needle insertion can elicit stronger sensations.
If a patient experiences pain, the needle can be adjusted or removed by the acupuncturist.
If you are unsure, please contact us about acupuncture in Vancouver and we will be happy to answer your questions!
In total, there are more than 2000 acupuncture points on the body. A small number of points will be chosen by your practitioner for each treatment, suited to your specific health needs.
Initial visits for acupuncture at the Northwest Health Specialities clinic in Vancouver, WA are generally 45 to 60 minutes and follow-up visits are usually 30 to 45 minutes.
Acupuncture visits can be combined with naturopathic medical visits by our dual-licensed providers!
For acupuncture in Vancouver WA. You may wear anything you are comfortable wearing in a medical setting. Generally, loose-fitting pants and shirts can be helpful for access to acupuncture points. Medical gowns can be provided as needed.
Please note that face masks are required in medical settings.
For acute conditions, such as injury recovery, acupuncture visits may be recommended weekly for 4-8 weeks. For ongoing conditions such as recurrent migraines, acupuncture treatments may be recommended every 1-4 weeks for several months.
For health maintenance, monthly acupuncture treatments can also be beneficial.
To receive acupuncture licensure in Washington State, acupuncturists must complete a master’s or doctoral level degree from an accredited acupuncture school and pass are series of exams administered by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM).
The academic curriculum completed by licensed acupuncturists includes both modern biomedical sciences and traditional East Asian healing modalities.
For acupuncture in Vancouver WA, contact Northwest Health Specialties today!
