Jessica Sprague, MS, EAMP
My experience with acupuncture is of a deeply personal nature – I suffer from chronic back pain. Diagnosed with scoliosis at age 13, I was fitted with a brace which, coupled with experimental therapies, I endured for years. Finally doctors concurred that I would need surgery to correct the curvature in my spine; however, my family and I objected. I completed my undergraduate degree in Maine, traveled and lived abroad for a period of time, and eventually relocated to Seattle. At that point my back pain had become debilitating and I received a referral for acupuncture. After many regular office visits, I began to experience significant relief. I was by no means pain-free but, for the first time, I was learning to listen to my body – and this awareness was to alter the course of my life.
Years later I completed my studies at Bastyr University, earning a Master’s of Science in Acupuncture and a Certificate in Chinese Herbal Medicine. I am board certified by the National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) and hold a Washington State Acupuncture License. At Bastyr I received extensive didactic and clinical training in both acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. I completed many external clinical rotations at Harborview Medical Center in the Chronic Fatigue and International Clinics, as well as at Carolyn Downs Medical Center – all high-volume urban clinics with a diverse patient base. At Providence Mt. Saint Vincent I had the opportunity to explore acupuncture techniques which focused on disorders of the nervous system as I treated elderly patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease, severe physical trauma, and post-stroke neuralgia.
Though I treat a wide range of common medical ailments, my clinical focus includes the treatment of acute and chronic pain as well as neurological conditions, insomnia, depression, anxiety and gastro-intestinal disorders. I am able to administer the acupuncture detoxification protocol to treat addictions such as nicotine, alcohol, stimulants and narcotics.
Aside from East Asian medicine, I am passionate about exploring the wilderness and spend my summer leisure time hiking and backpacking. The mountains, forest and waterways are deeply restorative and serve to ground me in the present. I adore animals – both domestic and wild. My other passions – books, music, and culinary experiments – sustain me throughout the long, dark Pacific Northwest winters. I am devoted to social justice and community outreach, and remain committed to my volunteer position at Harborview Hospital in Mental Health Services.
