In addition to her Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine degree from Bastyr University (1992), I have a doctoral degree in chiropractic medicine from Western States Chiropractic College(1989) and extensive training in soft tissue (muscle, tendon, ligament) treatment. She has been the chiropractor for Pacific Northwest Ballet and Greenpeace. I was named Best Chiropractor in Seattle in 1992 by the Seattle Weekly (the last time they listed Chiropractors in Seattle's Best). 

The structural elements of the body have far reaching effects on the digestive, reproductive and immune systems as well as the more familiar pain syndromes.  The human body is built to move. Restoring motion in the spine, the muscular system and the limbs can correct a multitude of disorders seemingly unrelated to the spine.  Headaches, foot pain, knee pain and other pain syndromes which respond especially well with the combination of structural techniques and systemic medicine.  My training makes me uniquely able to combine chiropractic and naturopathic medicine with over twenty years of practice and a persistent passion for learning.

Physical Medicine:/Back/Neck Pain/Headaches

Physical medicine: the application of therapeutic force by hand to painful places on the body to decrease pain and restore movement and strength. 

I went to massage school before I went to Chiropractic school, indeed found myself working on people’s backs from earliest memory. It may be that bodyworkers are born and not made, if so, I was born one. 

Spinal and cranial adjustments are made to increase mobility and function of the spine, limbs and nerves.  This decreases pain and is the work of the chiropractor and the osteopath.  But the muscles are the bone movers, the tendon pullers, and if the muscles are addressed, brought into cooperation with any bony adjustments, not only are the adjustments easier, they hold better and longer.  No more three times a week appointments for a month, like regular chiropractic. Beginning with muscular therapy decreases the number of visits necessary to a half dozen at the most, in most cases. Because I started with massage training I firmly believe in starting any treatment ofmusculoskeletal pain with the muscles.  I use a multitude of techniques to release the muscles around the injured/painful area: trigger point therapy, neuromuscular release, Bowen work, deep tissue, Orthobionomy.  Since graduating chiropractic school in 1989 I have incorporated a variety of techniques to move bones, both force and nonforce techniques from Gonstead to Network, drop table, osteopathic technique.  I absolutely love doing structural work and find it part of healing in ways and means that still surprise and delight me.

The other piece that my practice integrates into healing pain, especially chronic pain, is the systemic factors that increase inflammation and create conditions by which pain persists.  There are surprising and easy adjustments that can be made to one’s lifestyle that can be the key to banishing pain once and for all.  Arthritis for example, is not any guarantee of incurable pain or dependence on pain medicine.  I have seen chronic pain disappear with a combination of structural and biochemical therapies, including of course a healthy dose of self determination and perseverance.  And maybe yoga.