Turning Point Center, LLC

“Hi, my name’s Alayne Clarke. This is my daughter Heather.We came to the Turning Point Center because a friend. . . recommended Tom when I told her that both of us suffered from pretty bad allergies. I didn’t suffer from allergies until I moved to Eugene, which was about 14 years ago. Heather really has a hard time with allergies. My friend Kathy mentioned that they have this wonderful treatment with acupuncture that will help your symptoms. And we thought, well, we’ll give it a shot. I wasn’t sure how Heather would react to that, but she said she would be willing to give it a shot. We came here and met with Tom and he asked if we had any questions.  Do you remember what you asked him at that first meeting?”

Heather: “What happens if you roll over?”

Alayne: “Yes.” (laughing) “If it had ever happened that anyone had ever rolled over onto their needles. And he said, no, he didn’t think so. That was last year and it helped us quite a bit. It relieved a lot of our symptoms. I know a lot of people think acupuncture is needles and painful, but it’s not at all. We were really happy to see that it’s very relaxing. When we come out of a treatment, we are both so, ah, that was so relaxing. It’s almost like a nice little respite to look forward to when we know we have an appointment. It’s been very helpful for us, and Tom and Janeen have both been really wonderful.

(To Heather): “Anything? Has it been helping you?”

Heather: “Yes.”

Alayne: “And you like coming to acupuncture?”

Heather: “Yes.”

Alayne: “And you would recommend it to people?”

Heather: “Sure.”

--Alayne and Heather Clarke, Eugene, OR

“My name is Dick Pershern. I came to Turning Point Center to have Tom help me with my allergies. In particular, I am allergic to Scotch Broom, which right now, at this time of year, very heavy. Last weekend, I worked all weekend outdoors on my farm with not a hint of reaction to the Scotch Broom. In a word, it works. For the first time in twenty years, I can breathe in the month of May. I can’t tell people who haven’t experienced it, what is like to be free of the allergy symptoms. It opens up your life. You have energy. You can continue on with your life instead of hiding indoors trying to avoid the symptoms or just being miserable from the symptoms.”

--Dick Pershern, Eugene, OR

“Hi, I’m Dan Close and I came to the Turning Point Center because I have seasonal allergies.

Ever since I came to Eugene in 1974 I had severe allergies in February, March, April, May, and June. I attempted to manage these allergies through a variety of procedures: Medicine, avoidance, over-the-counter medications, masks, everything.

My wife had been telling me for years that I should try acupuncture but I was just a little nervous or leery about that. One day she persuaded me to go see an acupuncturist… I heard a good report on Tom Williams, and the Turning Point Center was so close to the University that I came over. I think this is my fourth or fifth year, having my seasonal allergies treated.

It’s an unbelievably effective treatment in that you come prior to the onset of the major allergens from the trees and grasses and you sort of build up the ability to counter them. I don’t know how. I’ve never really figured out how it works. But what’s interesting is you come for a period of time and you kind of build up and then go away for a awhile. I usually come three separate sequences of time: in the middle of February, late March to early April and then mid-May to June. That seems to be an effective way to treat my seasonal allergies and I would encourage you to do the same.”

--Dan Close, Eugene, OR

“As far as anyone can remember, my migraines started in the first grade. They were a consistent presence through my adolescence and became especially debilitating when I began at the University and took on all the stress, transition, and poor health habits that came with it. Throughout the years I saw several doctors and neurologists. I was prescribed four different prescription migraine medications, one of which actually worked for a while but then gave way to far worse breakthrough migraines. One pill was a daily preventative medication, which failed to cause any difference in my migraine frequency or severity but heavily impaired my mental function, furthering my compromised experience. I had several migraines a week, almost all of them lasted the entire day and caused me a great amount of pain and nausea. The various doctors I saw had no new information for me and continued to pressure me to take various medications. At the risk of sounding melodramatic, I was feeling quite helpless and fearing a lifetime of suffering.

I honestly got a little teary eyed writing this. Thank you all so much, from the bottom of my heart.”

–Navit, Eugene, OR

“I would like to thank you for the allergy relief this past allergy season. Tom’s work alleviated a number of my symptoms, and when I did have an attack, I seemed to rebound more quickly than usual. With your help, I was able to weather the storm without using any pharmaceuticals. That was a first for me. Keep up the great work!”

–J.B., Eugene, OR

“I am allergic to EVERYTHING! After nearly twenty years of immunotherapy, round the clock antihistamines and decongestants, daily sinus headaches, numerous sinus infections and asthma episodes, not to mention one too many systemic reactions to allergy shots, I finally had the good sense to seek alternative treatment.

I have not had so much relief from allergy symptoms, nor have I felt this healthy in general in more years than I can remember! No more decongestants (I still use an antihistamine nasal spray), no asthma meds, very infrequent headaches, very mild rhinitis and loving the outdoors!

I highly recommend acupuncture treatment at the Turning Point Center to control your allergies! You’ll love the staff too!! They are all welcoming, friendly, and competent and make your visits a pleasure.”

–Kathy Sniezko, Eugene, OR