The ancient Chinese practice is reinventing itself in the Emerald City.

Originating in East Asia, the form of alternative medicine known as acupuncture has been healing the sore and stressed since 200 B.C.Community acupuncture, a model based on using communal space and balancing the treatments with reasonable pay, is thriving at The Pin Cushion: Affordable Community Acupuncture on Capitol Hill. Owner and acupuncturist Julie Johnson sat down with us to discuss her field of expertise — and the growing number of Seattleites receiving regular acupuncture treatment.  

Seattleite Magazine: What led you to open a community acupuncture practice in Seattle?

Julie Johnson: I had been practicing out of a couple different spaces and at the time had been training to become a detox specialist where they treat people in a group setting. It’s part of a really successful program that turned me on to the group model. As acupuncturists, we try to revolutionize medicine, which is kind of ironic because it’s more of a return to the traditional way that is practiced in China, in a group model and at a lower cost.

SM: You do not use insurance to cover your practice — how does your sliding pay scale function?

JJ: I have so many clients who have come in and had successful results but couldn’t keep spending money on it. Especially with acupuncture, what I think we treat best is stress and stress-related issues. Having the prices on a sliding scale between $20 and $40 means we’re not adding to people’s stress. So people with varying income maybe pay something this week and more next week, depending on that week for them. We’re really trying to eliminate cost as a barrier.

SM: Other than stress, what issues bring your patients in?

JJ: So many different things. I’ve had someone come in at 6 years old and at 88, so it’s a diverse group of patients and pains. Stress-related issues are high on the list with pain, insomnia, anxiety and depression disorders and a lot of allergies and menstrual issues. People will come in for acute injuries from sports-related activities and a lot of people for chronic pain. They’ve run the gamut of Western medicine and want to give acupuncture a try. They’re able to get results they were never able to receive.

SM: What are the benefits to community acupuncture?

JJ: It creates more of a sense of community and it’s kind of a way to give back. The medicine is so wonderful for so many reasons. Part of it is there aren’t really any side effects.

People are really grateful that they can come in and use this space as it’s available to them and not feel this pension tightness around their wallet when they come in. It’s very rewarding for me as a practitioner to be able to tell people I need to see you x times in x weeks and not feel bad asking for that.

SM: What does acupuncture offer that other healings do not?

JJ: It’s a very restorative medicine. It offers a stillness because you’re literally pinned to a chair and you can’t move. You’d be surprised how challenging that is for many people to be still. There are so many other beneficial types to alternative and Western therapies but one of the things that is so unique to acupuncture is that it requires nothing of you. You can completely rest and meditate in the treatment so it’s active and passive at the same time. It also heightens body awareness, it makes you more conscious of what you’re feeling and thinking.

SM: How do you handle those weary of needles and other fears with the practice?

JJ: If they’ve come this far, then they’re ready to do it. We do have the occasional person who has needle-phobia — but usually when I open the door and they come in the room and see the people asleep and peaceful, they are more at ease. There’s not much convincing that needs to happen on my part. It’s simply just a needle, in two different sizes, there’s no medication or side effects. You get to take a really great nap!

SM: What is your greatest success story?

JJ: I have so many! I’m so fortunate because I have so many people that have had great experiences with acupuncture here. They say that it’s given them their life back and they can move again. It can really impact people in such a positive and life changing way. It’s so rewarding, I love what I do.

The Pin Cushion is part of the Seattle Community Acupuncture Network. This organization of nine local centers works to make the practice more affordable and accessible by providing care in a community setting for a sliding scale of $15-$40 per treatment.

The Pin Cushion  |  1716 E. Olive Way, Seattle  |  (206) 324-3650