Your Benefits | Aspen for Health Chiropractic Clinic

Why choose Aspen?

Aspen is Portland's premier provider of complementary and alternative medicine, or CAM. We offer affordable, quality health care for the entire family. Founded in 1999, our 3000 square foot facility is home to the principal CAM services: chiropractic medicine, herbal medicine, homeopathy, massage, nutrition and traditional Oriental medicine. Aspen also features a physical medicine and rehabilitation suite for therapy following automobile and work-related accidents, sports injury and surgery.

The Aspen environment is unlike other health care clinics. Aspen embodies the holistic concept of caring for the patient as a person, not as an illness. The surroundings touch the patient on every level: the aesthetic, the intellectual, the physical. Original art and an atmosphere of healing and renewal are part of the Aspen experience.

The majority of Aspen patients enter care for treatment of musculoskeletal conditions caused by overexertion, repetitive stress, sports injury, surgery and automobile or work-related accidents. About 33% (or one-third) of Aspen patients enter care for medical conditions such as acid reflux disease, allergies, simple anxiety, asthma, cold and flu, fibromyalgia, high cholesterol, migraine, muscle spasm, nutritional support, pain relief, sleep disorder, symptoms of menopause and weight control.

Many patients choose Aspen because they want to improve their health by combining CAM with medical treatment; this is the spirit of complementary medicine and medical professionals frequently refer their patients to Aspen for these services. For other patients, conventional medicine did not help their condition and they want to try an alternative. Referral from a friend, co-worker or family doctor is the most cited reason for choosing Aspen. The Aspen reputation is one of quality CAM, professional integrity and service to the community.

Herbal medicine

Aspen providers prescribe conventional and Chinese herbs to treat illness in the same way as conventional drugs. We also emphasize the use of whole foods to promote nutritional balance through a varied diet. Because some herbs conflict with prescription drugs or do not effectively control serious medical symptoms, the advice of a qualified, licensed health care professional is critical when selecting safe, effective herbal medicine.

Aspen providers strive to choose herbal preparations that are based on controlled and independently confirmed human trials, and contain quality natural substances in the same amounts that are effective in clinical research. Our priority is to provide products with validated freshness, purity, potency and with high percentages of certified organic ingredients.

The majority of Aspen patients combine herbal medicine with conventional treatment they receive from their medical doctor. About 20% (or one-fifth) of Aspen patients choose herbal medicine as an alternative to prescription drugs; this reflects the national average for all people who choose CAM.

Homeopathic medicine

Homeopathy is a modern medical system that uses specially formulated drugs to stimulate the natural healing ability of the body. These drugs are derived from natural substances found in the animal, chemical, mineral and plant kingdom. The formulations are highly diluted in order to enhance the curative properties and eliminate possible side effects. In homeopathy, symptoms of illness are a positive sign of the body's defense mechanism in action and typically clear up in reverse order of appearance once homeopathic treatment begins.

Aspen doctors use homeopathic medicine to treat a variety of health problems, most often for pain, swelling and inflammation caused by sprain and strain injuries or degenerative joint disease. We also choose homeopathic drugs to stimulate body defenses rather than suppressing symptoms when treating common allergies, bronchitis and sinusitis, cold and flu symptoms, and earache. In our clinical experience, other medical conditions respond favorably to homeopathic medicine including arthritis pain, digestive problems, gynecological conditions, migraine headache, simple anxiety and sleep disorder. Some patients effectively use homeopathic drugs to counteract the effects of radiation and chemotherapy.

Our doctors meet high standards

Aspen doctors of chiropractic are licensed primary care physicians who use complementary and alternative medicine to treat common illnesses and injuries. Our professional titles are approved by Oregon law: chiropractor, Doctor of Chiropractic and Chiropractic Physician.

Aspen doctors have completed at least six years full time university-level education, which includes two years of university credits in qualifying subjects and then a doctorate program at chiropractic college. Dr. Penny Domm holds a Bachelor of Science degree and dual Master of Science degrees, and she is a certified Athletic Trainer. Dr. Kimberly Queen holds a Bachelor of Science degree and is certified as an Independent Medical Examiner for the Oregon Workers Compensation Division. She is currently enrolled in the post-graduate Diplomate Program in Chiropractic Forensic Science through the University of Bridgeport (CT).

Aspen doctors have excellent relationships with many medical and allied health providers in Portland including orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, physical therapists, podiatrists, psychologists and radiologists. For various reasons, much of the former conflict between the chiropractic and medical professions has been replaced by mutual respect and cooperation. At Aspen, interdisciplinary practice is common; we work willingly with other providers as partners in health care.

Chiropractic medicine

Aspen doctors are concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease using non-invasive CAM therapies. Because we are licensed primary care doctors, all patients have the right to consult an Aspen chiropractor directly for any health concern including automobile accidents and Workers Compensation claims. We value our duty to diagnose your health concerns, make an appropriate treatment plan, order needed tests and make referrals to specialists as necessary.

In general, chiropractic medicine includes joint manipulation; in fact, the word chiropractic means "treatment by hand." However, adjusting the spine and other joints of the body is only one element of health care delivery at Aspen. Aspen doctors are willing to take a broad therapeutic approach for the benefit of each patient. Treatments may include physical medicine and massage, physical therapy modalities, therapeutic exercise programs, nutritional advice and lifestyle modification. We also prescribe herbs, homeopathic drugs and nutritional supplements as appropriate for your condition.

Chiropractic medicine is a modern science and art. The art of chiropractic acknowledges the inherent recuperative power of the body and reinforces this capability through effective CAM treatments. Chiropractic is the leading example of CAM in North America and current research supports chiropractic's unique contribution to health care. There is good evidence that the chiropractic spinal adjustment decreases pain, increases range of movement, increases pain tolerance and promotes widespread physiological responses that help regulate general health.

Massage

Massage therapy is a scientific method of manipulating the soft tissue of the body to alleviate emotional, mental and physical ailments. The soft tissues include skin, muscle and fascia, and they can be potent sources of pain and dysfunction. Massage therapy tends to displace fluid content within or around soft tissue and this promotes blood, lymph and tissue drainage. This also allows an influx of fresh oxygenated blood, which promotes normal metabolism and reduces the effects of pain-causing substances that may be present. Massage also has a direct effect on muscle tension and pain receptors located in the skin, muscles and joints. Pressure techniques can effectively relax muscles and inhibit pain.

At Aspen, we are concerned with the holistic application of touch to influence physiological function, release emotional and physical tension and promote relaxation. We take pride in the skillful application of force to the soft tissues in order to improve circulation of blood and lymph, stimulate breathing and cellular respiration, lower heart rate, improve muscle tone and relieve pain.

Traditional Chinese medicine

Traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM, describes a range of traditional Oriental medical practices used in China for thousands of years. These include acupuncture, herbal medicine, joint manipulation (Tuina) and lifestyle modifications that include diet, exercise and martial arts, massage and meditation. As in other holistic healing arts, TCM defines optimal health as emotional, mental, physical and spiritual balance. In TCM, this balance is regulated by vital energy, called Qi (pronounced "chee"), and the opposing energetic forces of yin and yang influence the equilibrium between health and disease. A balanced diet is the root of balanced Qi.

The artful TCM practitioner does not look for a specific disease but attempts to diagnose the unhealthy phenomenon in each individual. A patient is evaluated in terms of their unique body, or constitution, and the focus is on finding why disease developed in the first place rather than searching for a cure. Because treatment centers on the person rather than the disease, synthesizing or piecing together signs and symptoms is fundamental to choosing appropriate therapy to balance Qi and restore a positive, harmonious feeling of wellness.