Hello!
I'm Jennifer, a licensed massage therapist, licensed acupuncturist and board certified Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine.
My path to whole body and integrative medicine began in 2010 when I moved to Portland from Florida. Growing up in Florida I had never heard of acupuncture, and massage was something you get at a spa. As a person who has suffered from migraines since the age of 12. Until I started regularly seeing an acupuncture physician and receiving massage and herbal medicine nothing I had been given had ever worked to relieve the pain.
After getting acupuncture and massages regularly I realized I was taking a step in the direction of wellbeing. With every session, I was committing to and investing in my health. My struggle with migraines was slowly dissipating. Not only did my episodes get further apart and with less severity, but I was eating better, I was sleeping better, I was being more mindful in all aspects of my life, and most importantly, I realized that I was in charge of my wellbeing. That I could make small changes that had a huge impact on how I felt in my body.
This was revolutionary. Health is not about radical changes, it is the small steps we take every day that begin again every morning.
My next steps... with a fascination for the beauty, simplicity, and availability of herbal medicine, I spent countless hours walking my neighborhood and local forests with my plant ID book. After a couple of years of self-study, I craved more formal education of the harvest, application, and clinical uses of herbal medicine. In 2014 I graduated from the Elderberry School of Botanical Medicine; a training program for local wildcrafting, medicine making, and clinical herbalism.
I soon started working at Integrate Health and Wellness PDX a Chinese Medicine clinic and apothecary. It is here that my love and passion for acupuncture and massage bloomed. In 2015 I enrolled in the 800-hour massage therapy program at East West College of the Healing Arts. With an emphasis on Swedish relaxation, Tuina, Deep Tissue, Craniosacral, and Pre- and Perinatal Massage. After that I graduated from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine with a doctorate in acupuncture and herbal medicine, a 4000-hour training program.
I am excited to bridge the worlds of massage therapy, acupuncture, and herbal medicine by offering custom blended massage oils, tinctures, tonics and individualized treatment sessions.
When not working with people and their muscles I am gleefully tending my garden with my son or out in the woods walking amongst the trees, and plants and admiring the flowers.
I look forward to working with you on your path of well-being!
Warmly,
Dr. Jennifer Sylvia, DACM, LMT, LAc
LMT# 23033
LAc # AC217021 - OR
AC #176 - KY