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Advanced Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal TreatmentWelcome to Advanced Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Clinic, www.aachc.com. For your safety, only sterilized, high-quality, disposable needles are used. Many insurance plans cover acupuncture. Veterans are welcome and we accepet Triwest insurance. Acupuncture is becoming more and more popular as people seek alternatives to Western medicine. Many of our patients have come to us after giving up on conventional methods prescribed by allopathic doctors today. Acupuncture treats the underlining cause, not the symptoms. We have a diverse team of practitioners, all of whom are certified as Diplomates of Acupuncture with the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Our Naturopaths, Dr. Tanis Kleckler and Dr. Helia Rasti, both received their doctoral degrees in naturopathic medicine from NUNM (National University of Natural Medicine) in Portland, OR. Dr. Tanis received her master’s in acupuncture from OCOM (Oregon College of Oriental Medicine) and she is also a licensed massage therapist (LMT). Dr. Helia received her master’s in acupuncture from NUNM, at the same time as earning her doctoral degree in naturopathic medicine. Natalie Lehmann, LAc, MAcOM, practices full-time at our Lake Oswego office; Dr. Helia Rasti, ND, LAc and Cooper Budden, LAc, LMT, both practices part-time at our Vancouver and Lake Oswego location. Dr. Nikki is very sensitive to the needs and wellbeing of each and every one of her patients. That is why she pursued her doctorate in Eastern medicine on top of having already earned a master’s degree in acupuncture, "To Better Help You"!
Graduated from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine in Portland with a Master's degree (1999) and a Doctoral degree (2007) in Acupuncture and Oriental Herbal Medicine. She also trained and interned at the China Nanjing International Acupuncture University and Training Center in Nanjing, China, with a specialty in cardiovascular medicine, with further training in the doctoral program in women's health and geriatric medicine; also trained in Seoul, Korea during this period. A Diplomat of Acupuncture, certified by the National Commission for Certification, she holds an acupuncture license in the states of Washington and Oregon. She has training in Enzyme Therapy (Dark Field) for gastrointestinal disorder from Santa Fe, NM. Nikki has a unique background in medicine. She was a dental hygienist and trained in nursing school in Iran. She moved to the United States in 1976. She was trained in dialysis as a patient care and equipment technician at the Diagnostic Clinic of Houston, with certification from Seratronics for the successful completion of the DRS4 Dialyzer Reprocessing System in Advanced Course. She trained in Biomedical Engineering at Texas Southern University of Houston until 1986, then moved to Vancouver, WA to continue her profession in home and center dialysis at Good Samaritan Hospital. Nikki considers prevention the best cure to the disease process. She focuses on helping and educating her patients as how to take better care of themselves. Our practitioners;
Biography of Tanis Kleckler:
Are you suffering from an acute or chronic health issue, or have an interest in optimizing your health? Dr. Kleckler provides therapies which are individualized and focused on improving your health concerns as well as your overall health.
I grew up in a tourist hot spot in the Eastern Sierra Nevada mountains. I'm a California girl and love the great outdoors. My image changed when I moved to Portland. With the grey clouds looming over the city for most of the year, my hair soon changed from blond to strawberry blond. I'd like to say that I went to acupuncture to get my blond hair back, but herbs won't do that. My first experience with acupuncture was nerve wracking. I didn't really want to go and have needles put in me. How biased I was since that was the profession I chose to go into. My mother went for various reasons and it helped her. I had no problems to speak of, only my "normal". I went in, sat through the interview, had my pulse taken and my tongue looked at (which I laughed about and felt very self-conscious. I never thought it would be so weird to have anyone look at my tongue). I got on the treatment table and had a few needles put in. Then the tough part came, waiting. I brought my mom to this first appointment because I was so nervous. I had her wait in the room with me and chatted the whole time. I'm very antsy and the thought of relaxing was boring to me...at the time. Now, I have come to love acupuncture and the down time letting the needles do their magic. I had no special event, realization, or vision that led me to do acupuncture. Instead, it all started with art. I was a very creative child and enjoyed all forms of drawing and painting. I soon realized I wanted to do more for my fellow man. First, the thought of being a police officer came to mind. I wanted to put bad guys behind bars, but I didn't want to have a gun. That wouldn't work, so I thought of becoming a scientist. I imagined finding cures to diseases by using different plants. I did little experiments with vegetation that never proved anything, but squirrels enjoyed eating my creations on nearby rocks. As I grew older, I came to the idea of nursing, however, in the long run it wasn't the fit for me. A family friend did Applied Kinesiology and I saw how it worked and thought 'Cool, I can do that and help people'. She told me to start by going to school for acupuncture. After I graduated from high school, my parents and I moved to Portland, Oregon. I started community college to get my prerequisites for Oregon College of Oriental Medicine (OCOM). During those years at Clackamas Community College, I received my Administrative Office Assistant Certificate. I was accepted to OCOM in 2009, and started my schooling in 2010. I graduated from OCOM with a Masters in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine.
Biography of Helia Rasti:
Dr. Helia Rasti is a board-certified naturopathic physician and licensed acupuncturist with credentials in Oregon and Washington. She earned her doctoral degree in naturopathic medicine, with a concurrent master’s degree in classical Chinese medicine, from the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, OR. Dr. Rasti grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, where for years she took part in grassroots movements striving for dignity, freedom, and self-determination. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies, with a concentration in Sustainability and Social Justice, from San Francisco State University. Her commitment to preserving planetary health is the driving force in her pursuit of natural medicine. Dr. Rasti is passionate about helping patients assert agency over their own healthcare needs. Through health education and lifestyle coaching, each patient may gain deeper insight on how to achieve the healthiest and fullest version of themselves. Dr. Rasti's individualized approach to treatment aims to support the body’s innate capacity to heal, using gentle stimulation and natural substances to reduce the harmful effects of modern lifestyles on the human body and psyche. During her free-time, Dr. Rasti enjoys exploring various creative outlets, including art, music, and theater. She takes every chance she has to connect with nature, and to share joy and laughter with her loved ones.
Biography of Cooper Budden:
I graduated with a Health Sciences degree from Whitworth University in Spokane, WA. I was a college athlete in swimming and track and field where I was no stranger to injuries. Repeated injuries affected my performance in sports and enjoyment outside. I tried many forms of therapy to improve my back pain. Out of desperation I decided to try acupuncture and much to my surprise I felt relief for the first time. To investigate why this worked I volunteered with the Global Alternative Healthcare Project led by skilled acupuncturists from all over the country. Our volunteerism on the Navajo Nation opened my eyes to the value of acupuncture. I also interned with an acupuncturist in Spokane. Both experiences deepened my understanding of the craft. Through my experiences I discovered that my personal views towards medical treatments strongly aligned with acupuncture and Oriental medicine. I completed my Master’s Degree in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine at the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine. Additionally, I became a Licensed Massage therapist in the state of Oregon. I am board certified by the National Certification Commission of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) licensed in the states of Washington and Oregon. The path to better health is unique to every individual and through a multi-faceted approach we can uncover what works best for you. I maintain a very open-minded, compassionate, and respectful approach with all my patients as we make realistic goals to move toward together. Through a safe, open, and professional environment I can provide therapies and education to help you take control of your wellbeing. I may utilize acupuncture, herbal medicine, and auxiliary modalities such as Gua sha, moxibustion, cupping, electro-stimulation and Tuina manual therapy to provide you with a personalized treatment program.
Biography of Fern Feniya:
I have always been intrigued by holistic health medicine and enjoyed helping people My professional path has been in complementary and Chinese medicine. I respect conventional medicine due to its evidence-based knowledge, but its approach to treatment, which relies heavily on the use of medication, does not agree with my understanding. I would like to spend more time with each of my patients, get to know them as individuals, and try to empower them, so that they can walk away with the feeling that they have the healing power within themselves and do not need to depend on doctors or drugs all the time. I was born and raised in Thailand. I started my journey toward becoming an
Biography of Kelly Ilseman:
Hello, I’m a licensed acupuncturist in both Oregon and Maine. I graduated from the Oregon My diagnostic and treatment style is influenced by Chinese tongue and pulse as well as Japanese point, channel, and abdominal palpation, gathering in-the-moment information to facilitate the direction of treatments. My needling style is primarily influenced by Traditional Chinese Medicine. I infuse bodywork in the form of shiatsu into my treatments, and rely on the methods of listening, curiosity, and compassion to guide diagnosis and treatment. I specialize in treating chronic and acute pain, complex biomedical conditions, stress and trauma, and substance dependence. I seek to share practices with you that have helped ease my journey and create more meaning and connection in my life. I understand from personal experience what it feels like to live with chronic musculoskeletal pain as a result of skeletal misalignment, sports injuries, and auto injury. As a former college athlete and lifelong yogi, I am fluent in working with athletes, movers, and bodies of all kinds. I am committed to helping you feel better. I have successfully used whole foods, herbs, and acupuncture to heal my gut, and invite you to begin healing yours. Acupuncture, herbs, and bodywork have softened the edges of my mind-body experience. I want you to experience the physical and emotional softness and flow that comes with stress reduction, allowing you to be more productive in your relationships and work or creative projects. Chinese medicine has offered me ease in my cycles of life and I invite you to allow it to ease yours. I honor your time on this earth and am committed to helping you find balance at every stage. I am inspired to create pathways for greater access to this medicine. I provide heart- and science-based patient care that aspires to be truly integrative. I open lines of communication with biomedical practitioners/researchers and bow to the wisdom of the ancient lineages of Chinese and Ayurvedic medicines. I am truly grateful to practice and receive these medicines. I recognize that healing flows from the universe through me, and humbly recognize the power and trust each patient places in me. I acknowledge the beautiful power of acupuncture, herbal medicine, healing touch, and mindful movement, and understand that as a practitioner I influence only a small part of the human healing experience, allowing you to take center-stage in your wellness. My heart is aligned with helping people and I am truly grateful for the opportunity to practice this medicine. Please allow me to join you on your healing journey! PS: I am a Pisces sun, Sagittarius rising, and Leo moon. I was born in 1976, year of the Fire Dragon. I am a “D” for Director according to the DISC leadership assessment. I am an animal and nature lover at heart – my part Maine Coon/Ragdoll of 14 years named “Jerry G” passed last year. I enjoy cooking, going on hikes at the ocean with my best friend, doing yin, restorative, or slow flow yoga, dancing in the kitchen, and taking care of our foster cat Rosie. I also love both technical and creative writing, and am fascinated with herbs and creative sustainable projects. My last name is pronounced “il-sah-mon” and is spelled like “island” with the “l” and the “s” inverted.
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