By Brenna Wiegand
Andrea Fisk recently began practicing at Eng Acupuncture and she loves it. She practices independently in Portland as Singing Bird Acupuncture, but was eager to fill a part-time position in a small town.
“I grew up on a sustenance farm in North Carolinian a town very much like Silverton,” Fisk said. “My parents built a log cabin from scratch.”
Eng Acupuncture is well established, having been in the community for nearly 25 years.
“When I first got here in 1986, people didn’t think I’d ever make it,” said Marjorie Eng. “But Silverton embraced us. Now we’ve got people coming from Portland, Albany…
“People usually try acupuncture as a last resort,” Eng said. “They discover that acupuncture helps your body heal itself by stimulating your immune system.
“As soon as you needle up, your body doesn’t like it – the foreign object.” She said it has been proven that the insertion of acupuncture needles increases circulation, reduces swelling, releases endorphins and stimulates the limbic system.
Eng says Fisk nicely rounds out the practice, which also includes Tim Eng (no relation to Marjorie).
“Andrea has really been a blessing; she’s really good with women and children.”
While Marjorie calls herself “old school; trained in China,” Tim employs the newest techniques. Fisk combines the two.
“Alternative medicine doesn’t eliminate the need for Western medicine,” Fisk said. “In fact, it’s important enough to me that I pay for our own health care.”
How did a North Carolina farm girl come to be a practitioner of Eastern medicine; needling, cupping, massaging, administering medicinal herbs and many other treatments that most Westerners have never heard of?
It began with a childhood and adolescence characterized by allergies, asthma, upper respiratory tract infections – and lots of medications.
When she gave acupuncture a try, Fisk experienced significant relief within a short period of time, although rebuilding her practically non-existent immune system would take years. With the welcome relief, Fisk embarked on an journey of body awareness and involvement in her healing as she grew stronger and healthier.
This fertile new ground sprouted a passion to bring hope into the lives of others.
Her training began with five years at Chicago’s Midwest College of Oriental Medicine. In 2001 she graduated summa cum laude with a Master of Science degree in Oriental Medicine.
Licensed by the Oregon Board of Medical Examiners, Fisk is also nationally board certified in acupuncture and the administration of traditional Chinese herbs. She practiced for two years at Chicago Institute of Neuroresearch and Neurosurgery, collaborating with physical and occupational therapists in helping patients gain control of their bodies, overcome pain and recover from illness or surgery.
She worked for three more years in Illinois alongside internist Karen Koffler in Evanston Northwestern Hospital’s Integrative Medicine program. While there, a breakthrough made by a patient under Fisk’s care became part of a Chicago Magazine cover story about Dr. Koffler and alternative medicine.
Fisk still uses her clinical expertise in consulting and assisting in research projects.
The last 10 years have confirmed her career path and allowed her to treat a wide range of issues. Her areas of interest include pain problems, immune system difficulties and women’s health. She seeks relief from pain – physical and emotional – and often, patients are able to wean themselves off longtime use of prescription drugs.
Fisk said she often works with people who are skeptical and weary from years of pursuing relief to no avail.
She uses optimism, nonjudgmental compassion and a fresh arsenal of treatment options to stirs hope in those beginning to think things were never going to change.
She knows that a patient’s cure lies not solely in her hands and that if she can bring some immediate relief she might be able to get her patient involved in his or her own healing process and on the road to a new way of life.
“To do this work really well you have to practice in a way that is not judgmental,” Fisk said. The objective is to listen and get the whole picture of the whole person – mind, body and spirit – and then, using traditional Chinese medicine theory, discern and treat underlying causes along with the immediate complaint.
For young children and others who’d rather not be “needled,” there are other treatment options, including herbs in which Fisk has been trained.
Since having children of her own, she has transitioned her practice to include children and her gentle demeanor complements her enthusiasm for Chinese medicine.
Fisk husband, Jerry; and daughters, Scarlett and Veronica; live in Southeast Portland where she operates Singing Bird Acupuncture. Fisk has practiced yoga the past 17 years, taken classes in Mandarin and buys only organic food, the fresher and more local the better.
“I believe every person is capable of experiencing good health and vitality,” she said. “Through conscious awareness anyone can live a life of empowerment and success.”
