Turning Point Center, LLC

“I believe acupuncture helps my body heal itself and return to a balanced state. I know it has helped me avoid surgery on several occasions. I feel at peace after each session.”

–Jim Jamieson, Eugene, OR

“I’ve worked with acupuncture for several years. I’m very aware that the medications I take, while they have been the best way to manage my rheumatoid arthritis (RA) so far, have the potential to be very toxic and harmful to other parts of my body. I really think that acupuncture has helped to balance the impact of those side effects. The medicines that work best for RA also suppress the immune system, and I strongly believe that I am able to fight off colds and other infections because of regular acupuncture sessions. Over this past year, I have had a little more trouble with some of my joints, and acupuncture has helped to ease the pain of those flare-ups too. So yes, I’m a big believer in acupuncture and the role it plays in managing my arthritis and improving my overall health.”

–Jennifer Mroz, Eugene, OR

“Acupuncture has helped me in many areas. I first went to see Tom when I was having trouble after foot surgery. I have no more foot pain. Now, I will usually try acupuncture before any other service: for anxiety, vertigo, shoulder, arthritis, neck pain, and headaches. It has consistently eased my pain.

I also use an Alpha-Stim that I received through CAFA and was surprised when I was able to use one in conjunction with acupuncture treatment at Turning Point Center. I have eased my anxiety and insomnia by using the Alpha-Stim.”

–Echo Lucas, Eugene, OR

This month, we caught up with Echo Lucas, who juggles the demands of two jobs with the joys of grandparenting five boys. You may have met Echo at the refund desk of Costco, where she has worked in a variety of capacities for twenty years. She says, “I am blessed to have such a good company to work for. They allow me the freedom to work in such a way that I am able to work at what I am passionate about.”

Tell us about your work with CAFA.

In 2007, I went part time at Costco and was able to work part-time for an agency that I co-founded in 1994. Christians as Family Advocates is a non-profit agency whose mission is “Making a Safer Place for Children.” CAFA provides programs for batterers, support groups for women, parenting classes, neuro feedback, and counseling services.

We are also the only program that provides supervised visitation in Lane County. In collaboration with eight churches in the area, we supervise visits for children and the non-custodial parent that they wouldn’t get to see otherwise. We provide a safe place for the visit to occur and train volunteers to conduct the visits in a safe, non-threatening, and comfortable setting. In 2010, we did 417 visits and logged 1076 volunteer hours.

What are the most important benefits you’ve had from acupuncture? Acupuncture has helped me in many areas. I first went to see Tom when I was having trouble after foot surgery. I have no more foot pain. Now, I will usually try acupuncture before any other service: for anxiety, vertigo, shoulder, arthritis, neck pain, and headaches. It has consistently eased my pain.

I also use an Alpha-Stim that I received through CAFA and was surprised when I was able to use one in conjunction with acupuncture treatment at Turning Point Center. I have eased my anxiety and insomnia by using the Alpha-Stim.

Effect of acupuncture in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis: a randomized controlled clinical trial.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12067084

A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of acupuncture for the treatment of childhood persistent allergic rhinitis.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15520102

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis: a randomized-controlled clinical trial.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15291903

Acupuncture in patients with allergic rhinitis: A pragmatic, randomized trial. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19055209

Auricular acupuncture: a potential treatment for anxiety.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11159266

Acupuncture for anxiety and anxiety disorders: a systematic literature review.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17641561

Auricular acupressure as a treatment for anxiety in prehospital transport settings. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12766639

Auricular acupressure as a treatment for anxiety before extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in the elderly.                                   http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17499304

Out-of-hospital auricular acupressure in elder patients with hip fracture: a randomized double-blinded trial.                                                http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16365322

Prehospital analgesia with acupressure at the Baihui and Hegu points in patients with radial fractures: a prospective, randomized, double-blind trial.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17920972