Inger Johnson
L.Ac., EAMP
“Your health is best served by a unique treatment plan, which I will design by applying the five modalities of Chinese medicine: Acupuncture, Chinese Herbs, Tui Na (massage) and Cupping Therapy, Food Recommendations, and Qi Gong (exercise).”
—Inger Johnson
—Inger Johnson
A Little About Me
Over the course of treating patients for 16 years, I have discovered that emotional health has a significant impact on physical health. A person with a history of emotional trauma often experiences physical symptoms in the present, such as stomach aches, neck pain, and insomnia. This pattern of disharmony can be resolved by regulating the body’s qi to reset and balance the physiological and nervous systems.
- My specialties are women’s health issues (including infertility), autoimmune disorders, anxiety and depression, and pain relief (such as back and neck pain).
- I also treat autoimmune conditions, motor vehicle accidents, seasonal allergies, addiction, eating disorder recovery, PTSD, sleep disorders, diverticulitis, Crohn’s disease, IBS, dizziness, vertigo, post-concussive syndrome, chronic fatigue, Bell’s palsy, psoriasis, eczema, and the side effects of cancer treatments.
- Master’s degree in Acupuncture & East Asian Medicine, Seattle Institute of East Asian Medicine. Diplomate in Oriental Medicine, National Certification Commission for Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine. Certificates of completion for Kiiko Matsumoto’s palpation diagnosis series and the Medical Qi Gong series under the guidance of Dr. Guan-Cheng Sun.
The Five Modalities of Chinese Medicine
Acupuncture
Practiced in China for thousands of years, acupuncture involves inserting thin-gauge needles into the skin at specific points of the body to control pain and other symptoms. Inserting needles at specific acupuncture points stimulates the body, regulating its physiological activities and helping the body better manage various chronic health issues. Acupuncture bears no resemblance to an injection from a medical syringe. Pain from an injection is due to the large-diameter hollow needle and the fluids being forced into the tissue by pressure. An acupuncture needle is very fine and flexible, about the diameter of a human hair. Roughly 40 acupuncture needles can fit into one 18-gauge hypodermic needle. I use single-use, sterile, disposable needles.
Tui Na (Massage) and Cupping Therapy
Tui na, translated as “push-grasp,” is a form of therapeutic massage using fingers, hands, and
elbows on acupuncture points rather than needles. It is an effective way to invigorate qi flow and
reduce stagnation (and it works well for patients who are sensitive to needles).
I also provide cupping therapy, a form of deep-tissue massage achieved by placing special cups
on your skin to create suction. The skin is highly vascularized (rich in blood supply), and the
applied suction increases circulation by dilating the capillaries and assisting lymphatic drainage.
Cupping regulates the immune system and controls the inflammatory process while also
relaxing the nervous system.
Chinese Herbs
Chinese herbal medicine is a comprehensive treatment that effectively addresses many conditions. It has a long clinical history, a balancing effect on the body, and is usually gentler than pharmaceutical drugs. Chinese medicine has developed a unique system of combining herbs into special formulas designed for particular medical uses. Herbs that supplement qi (the body’s vital energy) are classified as “Qi Tonics,” herbs that regulate blood are called “Regulate Blood” herbs, and so on. I will prescribe a Chinese herbal formula based upon your current pattern presentation and check in with you at your next scheduled appointment.
Food Recommendations
Foods, just like herbs, have an impact on your body’s health. Chinese medicine pays attention to the energetic attributes of foods. If there are not enough nutrients in the foods you eat, your body is not getting enough qi and your blood is not being appropriately nourished. Also, if the temperature of foods is too cold, it can directly affect your digestion. Dietary suggestions are an important component of your treatments—I will make recommendations based on your current state of health.
Qi Gong (Exercise)
Qi is your “vital energy” and gong is translated as “work.” Qi gong is a form of gentle physical
exercise practiced in China for centuries to cultivate qi and relax the nervous and muscular
systems simultaneously. This clears the body’s channels, renewing circulation of the body’s
natural energy. When your body’s qi is strong and circulating well, you are less likely to become
ill, and if you do become ill, the symptoms are not likely to last very long. Qi gong can be easily
practiced for ten minutes each morning and is an effective part of health maintenance and
prevention.
Thousands of qi gong styles, traditions, and schools exist, all with different interpretations and
approaches.
The Five Modalities of Chinese Medicine
Acupuncture
Practiced in China for thousands of years, acupuncture involves inserting thin-gauge needles into the skin at specific points of the body to control pain and other symptoms.
Tui Na (Massage) and Cupping Therapy
Tui na, translated as “push-grasp,” is a form of therapeutic massage using fingers, hands, and
elbows on acupuncture points rather than needles.
Chinese Herbs
Chinese herbal medicine is a comprehensive treatment that effectively addresses many conditions. It has a long clinical history, a balancing effect on the body, and is usually gentler than pharmaceutical drugs.
Food Recommendations
Foods, just like herbs, have an impact on your body’s health. Chinese medicine pays attention to the energetic attributes of foods.
Qi Gong (Exercise)
Qi is your “vital energy” and gong is translated as “work.” Qi gong is a form of gentle physical
exercise practiced in China for centuries to cultivate qi and relax the nervous and muscular
systems simultaneously.
Insurance Networks Accepted
For those without insurance listed above I provide a time-of-service discount when you are paying my cash, out of pocket rate. I can then issue a superbill for you to submit to your insurance for possible reimbursement (depending on your plan).