White Salmon Acupuncture Expands into Integrative Health Clinic

Serena Whitridge Launches Holisitc Multidisciplinary Clinic in White Salmon, WA, Offering Inclusive and Insurance-Billed Care.

Serena Whitridge standing behind the front desk of the White Salmon Integrative Medicine clinic. Photo Credit: Cole Goodwin

By Cole Goodwin

White Salmon, WA, September 15, 2023—White Salmon Acupuncture is undertaking an expansion to become an Ingrative Medicine clinic that offers insurance billing. This clinic is a team of naturopathic doctors, massage therapists, and acupuncturists, who are focused on improving community health and inclusivity.

Contributed photo.

The clinic aims to create a community of healthcare workers capable of collaborating on patient care and cater to diverse populations and promote well-being of the mind, body, and spirit in White Salmon. There are also some plans to begin offering space for the community to participate in other healing modalities such as breathework, yoga, and sound healing.

Serena Whitridge, a doctor of Chinese medicine, entrepreneur, and advocate for quality care began working on the expansion early this spring after having the realization that she wanted to see more collaborative and holistic health care being offered in the Gorge.

Herbal medicines, which are offered at the clinic’s apothecary are also used to help to bring one’s health into balance. Photo Credit: Cole Goodwin

Now, her vision of a team of practitioners working in collaboration with one another and patients is becoming a reality to achieve their best health outcomes is becoming a reality. better support patients in having their best health oucomes.

“I myself can do so much, but as a team of providers, we can do so much more and provide so many more modalities of healing to our patients,” said Whitridge.

Collabortive care means that practitioners can lean on one another to address client health issues using multiple modalities that may fall outside of the scope of their practice, offering a greater range of support to clients. The result is better support for staff and clients.

"I wanted to create a space where individuals feel heard, supported, and cared for," Whitridge explained. "By fostering a collaborative approach to care we aim to be the patient's team for a healthy and whole life."

Whitridge explained that Chinese medicine in which physical, mental, and emotional health are considered interrelated has deeply ingrained the importance of personalized health care into her value system.

“I hear a lot of people compare the body to a machine. Whereas Chinese medicine and the philosophy around it see the body as more of an ecosystem. The body is like a garden. It grows and changes with the seasons. So it’s not one size fits all because every environment is different and every person is different. Everyone comes in with their own story. It’s very nuanced,” explained Whitridge.

“I have to be in tune with other people and practice with them, and learn from them as well so that I’m constantly learning and evolving my practice to meet a patient's needs. We’re not just tightening the screws down and sending you on your way. There’s more to it than that. And I feel really honored to be practicing this medicine because there’s so many layers to it. It’s very special,” she added.

Whitridge burns Moxibustion, a traditional Chinese medicine used in heat therapy to stimulate the body’s flow of Qi. Moxibustion is also used by practitioners to help support gastrointestinal health, pain relief, anxiety, nausea and turn breeched babies in the womb! Photo Credit: Cole Goodwin

Meet the Team

The clinic's team has now expanded to include several practitioners specializing in a diverse range of healing modalities.

Serena Whitridge, DSOM, MScN, LAc

Owner, Acupuncturist, Nutritionist + Herbalist.

As the clinic's owner, Serena Whitridge brings a wealth of expertise and personal experience to her role. Having experienced the healing benefits of acupuncture during her own battle with Lyme disease as a teenager, Serena pursued a doctorate in East Asian Medicine and obtained a master's degree in nutrition. Her specialties include women's health, fertility, dysmenorrhea, PCOS, endometriosis, perimenopause, menopausal symptoms, and pain patterns. Serena's treatment modalities often involve combining acupuncture needles with bodywork techniques such as craniosacral and myofascial release.

Dr. Nathan Wagner, ND

Dr. Nathan Wagner is a Naturopathic Doctor who completed his pre-medical degree at the University of Pittsburgh before graduating from the National University of Natural Medicine. His interest in natural medicine was nurtured by growing up amidst the stunning Appalachian Mountains in Pennsylvania. Dr. Wagner focuses on providing holistic care to his patients, and he has a particular afinity for men’s health, sports medicine, and dermatology. As well as lifestyle guidance, Dr. Wagner uses herbal preparations, nutraceuticals, hydrotherapy techniques, and pharmaceuticals within the scope of naturopathy to help his patients achieve health and life satisfaction.

Dr. Claire Erhart, ND/LAc

A Naturopathic Doctor and Acupuncturist, Dr. Claire Erhart brings her expertise in musculoskeletal complaints, digestive health, and nervous system regulation to the clinic. Additionally, she offers Holistic Pelvic Care™, trained by Tami Kent, to provide support for pelvic pain, sexual dysfunction, urinary issues, and more. Driven by her belief in the body's innate ability to heal, Dr. Erhart's practice embodies the mind-body-spirit connection.

Michelle Ubell MAc, LAc

Michelle Ubell is an Acupuncturist, cupping guru, and a dedicated mother. Her treatment approach involves a gentle needle technique that encourages the body to release pain and transform patterns that have developed over time. She also incorporates Gua Sha and cupping therapy to address muscle stiffness and tight fascia. Heat therapy, including moxibustion and infrared lamps, is often utilized in her treatments. Michelle's expertise encompasses various conditions, including anxiety, headaches (including migraines), neck and shoulder pain, low back pain, foot neuralgia, and sciatica.

Hayden Porter, LMT

Hayden Porter has been practicing the Healing Arts for nearly a decade, driven by her purpose to guide others in discovering the healer within themselves. With a blend of Massage/Bodywork, including Craniosacral Therapy and Myofascial Release, as well as Sound Healing, Hayden offers transformative experiences for her clients. She continually integrates ancient techniques with modern technology to create healing experiences, often incorporating various plant medicines.

Whitridge expressed her gratitude for the exceptional team she works with and looks forward to witnessing the clinic’s growth and evolution.

To book an appointment at the clinic click here or visit whitesalmonacupuncture.org.