Donica Schmidt Acupuncture

11385 Southwest Scholls Ferry Road Beaverton, OR, 97008 United States

503-524-9040

DS Acupuncture in Portland, Oregon offers the following Traditional Chinese Medicine services to treat a variety of ailments: acupuncture, cupping, moxa, tuina, herbs and formulas, guasha, nutritional counseling, electrical stimulation, and qi gong.

Donica Schmidt (L.Ac., Dipl. Ac., MATCM) is the founder and owner of DS Acupuncture.  She received with honors a Masters of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine from Yo San University in California.  Shortly after, she moved to Portland to continue practicing.  Before this, she graduated with a BFA in Dance through California State University, Long Beach.  Movement of the body lead her curiosity to yoga.  She received her 200-hour Yoga Certification in 2008 and has been practicing and teaching yoga ever since.  She has also invested time studying other forms of physical healing through Thai Yoga Massage and the MELT Method.  As well as various forms of Tai Chi.

"I believe, if the body can feel so good after big movement such as yoga, dance or anything physical, then there must be small movement that when shifted the correct way can make a person feel just as good, if not better.  That's what acupuncture does, supports a natural flow of movement in the body to help it work with better function."

Frequently Asked Questions about Acupuncture

What to expect on your first treatment?

We will go over your full medical history. You will receive an acupuncture treatment with possible other TCM modalities included. We will discuss a treatment plan.  

*Please have a meal or a snack within two hours before your treatment.  

is acupuncture painful?

The needles are as thin as a piece of head hair and painless. Sometimes there is a prick but sensations quickly subside. After a needle is inserted, no feeling or comfortable feelings of dull ache or heaviness arise. Awareness is different for everyone but most people find treatment deeply relaxing.

what I should be feeling after My treatment?

Often people feel relaxed after treatment. This is a sign that the body was able to get rest. Results from acupuncture may only last a couple hours to a couple days before symptoms start coming back. Sometimes the feel good reaction is delayed, symptoms may seem the same or worse following treatment, and the next day get better. These are all normal responses I have seen. It is best that you contact me if you have any concerns about your treatment. I am happy to answer all questions or concerns.


How many treatments will I need?

Acute conditions, within the past 3 months: 4-8 visits. Patients being treated with acute pain issues usually see immediate results their first treatment. On your first treatment, you will leave with a treatment plan that is best for your condition. In the first week of your treatment, it is common to get 2-3 treatments and then spread them to weekly or biweekly as the condition improves and stabilizes.  

Chronic conditions, over 3 months: 8+ visits. After your first assessment, we will go over a treatment plan that is best for your condition. Initially, it is common to see your acupuncturist more than once in a week. With stability, treatment will be spread out.

What kind of needles do you use?

Disposable, sterile, single-use stainless steel needles. Acupuncture needles are unlike hypodermic needles which are hollow, ridged, and used to inject or extract fluids. To get an idea of the size of an acupuncture needle, it would take anywhere form a half a dozen to a dozen acupuncture needles to fit the size of a hypodermic needle.

CAN YOU STILL BENEFIT FROM TREATMENT WITHOUT THE USE OF NEEDLES?

Yes, using other modalities such as tuina, guasha, moxa, cupping, or herbs can be very effective.