Onkodo Clinic was born out of discussions between two practitioners committed to gentle work, Bob Quinn and Lauri Elizabeth. Both have studied various styles of acupuncture, some gentle and some not, but they find their comfort and joy in working primarily gently. They have trained in the Toyohari system, an approach developed in Japan by blind practitioners, and it is a key influence on their clinical thinking. Other styles of acupuncture come into play as well, such as the Kuma style of Anryu Iwashina (Dr. Bear), the Shakujyu system of Shoji Kobayashi, and the Shen-Hammer pulse system. In addition Lauri Elizabeth offers lessons in the Alexander Technique, also remarkably gentle work.
Once a suitable building was found for the clinic, other like minded practitioners were invited to join the project of creating a home for gentle medicine in Portland (see our list of practitioners here). It is our hope to promote a gentle alternative to stronger styles of acupuncture. Those styles can, of course, be quite effective, but certain patients simply cannot accept such strongly stimulating treatment. It is our goal and mission to provide gentle, effective treatment for these patients.
Why we are called Onkodo Clinic?
One bodywork technique many of the practitioners at our clinic use is called Sotai. This ingenious, and yet simple, system was put together by a Japanese doctor, Keizo Hashimoto, MD. He called it a "gentle medicine" when asked to describe its character. His clinic in Sendai was called the Onkodo Clinic. Onkodo means "warm old traditions." We have taken Onkodo as our clinic name for two reasons:
Once a suitable building was found for the clinic, other like minded practitioners were invited to join the project of creating a home for gentle medicine in Portland (see our list of practitioners here). It is our hope to promote a gentle alternative to stronger styles of acupuncture. Those styles can, of course, be quite effective, but certain patients simply cannot accept such strongly stimulating treatment. It is our goal and mission to provide gentle, effective treatment for these patients.
Why we are called Onkodo Clinic?
One bodywork technique many of the practitioners at our clinic use is called Sotai. This ingenious, and yet simple, system was put together by a Japanese doctor, Keizo Hashimoto, MD. He called it a "gentle medicine" when asked to describe its character. His clinic in Sendai was called the Onkodo Clinic. Onkodo means "warm old traditions." We have taken Onkodo as our clinic name for two reasons:
- To honor Dr. Hashimoto's work and continue it in the US
- It describes the gentle character of the work we promote here at our clinic