Did you know most insurance companies cover at least 12 acupuncture visits per year? We accept Premera, Regence, Aetna, First Choice, United Health Care, PIP, Uniform Medical and more!

Our Woodinville Licensed Acupuncturists and Herbalists can address the following and more:

Weight Loss * Cravings * Detox * Auto Injuries *Natural Pain Relief

Headaches and Migraines *Fibromyalgia *Joint Pain and Arthritis

Anti Aging Remedies *Women's Health

Emotional Imbalances such as Stress, Anxiety, Depression

Chronic Fatigue *Respiratory Disorders such as Asthma, Cold, Flus

For More Information on The Natural Path To Healing's other holistic practitioners, please see

www.thenaturalpathtohealing.com

www.woodinvillenaturopath.com

www.woodinvillemassage.com

www.thenaturalpathmassage.com

www.thenaturalpathtoweightloss.com

Who We Are

Doraine Raichart, LAc, LMP

He Shou Wu- used for greying hair or hair loss

Huang Qi- Astragauls Root used to strengthen a weak immune system

What is Acupuncture and What Can it Treat?

This is the number one question we get from patients- "How does acupuncture work"?

Acupuncture works on the electrical impulses that fire off in our body when the brain, spinal column and nerves communicate. For example, your heart beats with an electrical impulse, which is why when you are having a heart attack or your heart rhythm is dysfunctional, a medic will use an electric paddle to shock your heart. If there is a blockage at the brain stem or at the area of the  upper cervical spinal column, the brain is not able to communicate with the rest of the body and the heart is unable to function normally. So, in the event of a major trauma, the neck breaks, and all communication ceases from the brain to the rest of the body, resulting in death. Our bodies rely on this electrical communication for good health.

We use fine needles to direct  and manipulate this communication. Needles, being stainless steel (and single use only) directs these impulses because metal is a good conductor of electricity. Imagine standing next to an electric fence and reaching out with a metal pole!

Acupuncturists are trained to think of the body as a part of nature, and not separate from nature. Here is the "world view" of an acupuncturist or Chinese Herbalist. We call the "electrical impulses qi ("chee") or energy, the basic building block of everything in the universe, and the balance of yin (that which is cooling, moistening, settling etc) and yang (that which is hot, dry, expanding, active, etc).

We hear all the time "I don't believe in energy" as though not believing in something makes is invalid. Acupuncture is not a religion! It does NOT matter if you "believe" in it or not. Some of my best patients are children and babies. We have seen miracles when acupuncture is done on animals. They certainly do not "believe" in it. It just works because it's real.

 It is our task to assess your energy's strength as well as whether or not it is blocked and where the blockage is occurring. I say that acupuncture and herbal medicine has 100% accuracy! The weak link is the practitioner's ability to assess you properly (or a poor diet and lifestyle). As long as we diagnose you properly and apply the right treatment, and the protocol is followed by the patient, the treatment outcome is very good. We encourage patients to switch between April and Doraine to see which practitioner they prefer.   

 We will often recommend a Chinese Herbal Formula. Most TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) formulas are a combination of several different herbs. Typically a TCM formula has one "Chief" herb and many "Deputy" herbs so that the formula is very directly targeting a particular imbalance. For example, a PMS formula will have one herb in it "Chai Hu" or buplerum, that moves the stuck or stagnant qi or energy that is so common, PLUS herbs that help with bloating etc. It is very rare for a TCM practitioner to prescribe a single herb or two.