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Karin Nelson, L.Ac., Vashon, WA

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Karin Nelson, L.Ac.

Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine

About Karin

I am a Vashon Island native and licensed acupuncturist with 20 years in private practice. I have created Becalm as a home for my acupuncture clients and a community resource for deep healing and relaxation.

As a child I suffered with severe eczema and asthma. Frequent visits to doctors’ offices gave me an interest in healing and compassion for others dealing with illness. When not treating clients, you can find me hiking, practicing yoga, and carefully preparing beautiful and healthy food—I trained as a chef and worked in restaurants for years before studying acupuncture.

My mission is to provide natural health care that is personalized, preventive, educational and holistic in a safe, comfortable environment. I give my acupuncture patients time to be heard in order to get a full understanding of what brings them in. Following the principles of Chinese Medicine, I facilitate the inherent healing ability unique to each individual. Comprehensive services include: acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and nutritional counseling, cupping, moxibustion, gua sha (dermal friction) and tui na (Chinese massage), and Aroma Acupoint Therapy. I believe that the experience of deep relaxation promotes healing and that most people in our culture respond well to warming therapies.

karinabout

Qualifications
My qualifications include a Bachelor of Science in Natural Health Sciences (1995), Master of Science in Acupuncture (1997), and a post-graduate certificate in Chinese Herbal Medicine (1998) from Bastyr University, where I trained with Dr. Yajuan Wang. I am licensed in the state of Washington, Board Certified as a Diplomate of Acupuncture by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, and a member of the Washington East Asian Medicine Association. I have had advanced training in the use of essential oils and aromatherapy in Chinese medicine.

Your Acupuncture Visit - Download New Patient Forms Here
Your first visit will be about an hour and a half long. We will have time to discuss your particular health concerns as well as your health history, diet and nutrition, exercise, emotional tendencies and current stress levels. I will take your pulse on each wrist and look at your tongue. I will use this information along with your history to assess any patterns of disharmony to devise a treatment plan specifically for you.

You will receive an acupuncture treatment that will last approximately 40 minutes. When it is necessary for you to undress you will be properly draped and the room will be warm. I will gently insert the needles and leave you to rest. Most people report feeling deeply relaxed after a session and many fall asleep during treatment. Follow-up visits typically last an hour and include a check-in time and evaluation. Your treatment plan may also include diet or lifestyle recommendations and possibly a Chinese herbal formula.

Established patients may schedule brief appointments for Gua Sha or Cupping.

karin

karin@becalmvashon.com

Book with Karin

Insurance & Payment
Accepts cash, check or charge at the time of treatment. Also a Preferred Provider with the following insurance:

  Kaiser Permanente HMO/Core and PPO  | Regence Blue Shield | Aetna | United Healthcare | Auto Injury PIP Claims

Please consult your plan documents for information about coverage of acupuncture treatments. Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HAS) can be used to cover acupuncture and prescribed Chinese herbal medicines.

REVIEWS

Karin is a healer and it is wonderful just to be in her presence.

She is my go-to person to help with any pain.

Karin takes care with every detail. The whole experience is more like getting a massage than having needles all over your body.

Read More Reviews

Learn more about...

Moxibustion Expand

Moxibustion, or Moxa for short, is the use of Mugwort (Artemisia Vulgaris) to stimulate the acupuncture points and meridians with heat. Mugwort emits a quality of heat that is deeply penetrating and healing, and a comforting smell when burned. According to the principles of Chinese Medicine, heat is used to expel cold, and invigorate Qi and Blood. As pain is considered to be due to a blockage, Moxa is an excellent way to open pathways, soothe, tonify and relieve pain.

There are many forms of Moxibustion. My favorites are Warming Needle, Direct and Tiger Warmer. To perform Warming Needle, I apply a ball of Moxa to the head of a needle that is inserted in the body. It is lighted with the tip of an incense stick and slowly begins to smolder, warming the needle and the surrounding skin and muscle. This may sound dangerous, but the ash becomes sticky and adheres to the needle, and I am at the ready to remove it if it becomes uncomfortable. This kind of heat can be deeply relaxing to the muscles and great for the treatment of chronic pain.

With Direct Moxa, I prepare small pieces of very refined mugwort the size of about a half grain of rice, apply a salve to the skin, and place the rice-grain moxa atop the salve and light it with an incense stick. It smolders and burns very quickly so only a quick flash of heat is felt. As with all forms of Moxa, I am ready to remove it the instant it feels uncomfortable.

Most often in my practice I use the Tiger Warmer, because people love it so much and it brings such a deep sense of relaxation to have local heat applied. The Tiger Warmer uses a smoke-free composite that looks like a fat incense stick placed in a metal tube. When lit, the Moxa warms the tip of the tube. I lightly oil the skin and am then able to roll the Tiger Warmer along the points and meridians. It is soothing and can cause you to fall asleep on the table in minutes.

Cupping Expand

Cupping is an ancient technique that has been used across many cultures for thousands of years. The practice uses glass or silicone jars that are applied to create a suction. The cups can be left in place or the skin can be lubricated with oil and the cups can be moved around, creating a massage effect. The sensation is unique and is painful only with strong suction—generally, I use moderate suction for the comfort level of the patient. It is extremely helpful in the treatment of musculoskeletal aches and pain, such as neck, shoulder and back pain, digestive disorders, and respiratory disorders such as cough and asthma. It can warm the muscles by promoting the free flow of qi and blood, improve circulation in the lungs and strengthen the immune system.

Gua sha Expand

Gua sha is a dermal friction technique used in traditional East Asian medicine. It is often called “coining or “spooning” depending upon the instrument used and is commonly used as a home remedy for coughs and colds. Modern research has demonstrated Gua Sha’s ability to produce an anti-inflammatory and immune protective effect that persists for days following a single Gua sha treatment. It resolves muscle spasms and pain, increases range of motion, and promotes normal circulation to muscles, connective tissues and organs. It stimulates the immune system, heading off colds and quieting lingering coughs, and releases enzymes that reduce internal organ inflammation.

In my practice I use a moderate technique with emphasis on the patient’s comfort level. I start by oiling the skin with a soothing salve or oil and use a disposable, single-use tool. The skin is gently scraped using long strokes that can leave the skin with red to purple marks, called petechiae. This discoloration differs from a bruise and fades quickly, resolving within two to three days. In my practice I have seen remarkable reduction in stiffness and pain and immediate increase in range of motion after a treatment with Gua sha.

Aroma Acupoint Therapy (AAT) Expand

I use the Snow Lotus brand of essential oils, and have had training in Aroma Acupoint Therapy (AAT) with Snow Lotus’ Peter Holmes, L.Ac., M.H. Snow Lotus produces high quality, organic artisan essential oils. With AAT, I select essential oils to be applied to specific acupuncture points, carefully matching the resonance of the oil with the spirit and function of the acupuncture point. The use of essential oils can help to harmonize the acupuncture treatment, access deeper mental, emotional and spiritual levels of healing and for those sensitive to needles can be used in place of acupuncture.

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Typical Reasons Patients Seek Acupuncture Care with Karin:

General Health
Wellness & Preventive Care
Stress Management
Allergies
Anxiety, Depression, Addiction
Musculoskeletal Pain
Digestive Disorders
Post-Operative Recovery
Seasonal Attunement

Women’s Health
Fertility Support
Menstrual Discomfort
Prenatal & Post-Partum Care
Menopause

Men’s Health
Urinary Disorders
Prostate Pain

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(206) 463-0900

karin@becalmvashon.com

Monday thru Saturday, by appointment.

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Location

17520 Vashon Hwy SW, #221
Uptown Vashon Island, next to Island Yoga in Thriftway Shopping Center

Mailing Address: PO Box 2960, Vashon, WA 98070

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