An alternative approach to pain management

There is a lot of media attention to the Opioid Crisis in America. It often begins as a legitimate attempt to help those experiencing pain.

Treatment may end up offering pharmaceuticals, which can become addictive and even deadly. These pharmaceuticals are often expensive, especially over extended periods of time.

Additionally, recent changes to health care program qualifications, insurance coverage limitations, and increasing medical costs, make it more difficult and expensive to receive care. Pain Relief Project is a new 501 (c)(3) non-profit clinic, designed to address these situations.

The Pain Relief Project strives to increase affordable access to integrative healthcare, since everyone deserves a path to optimal health and wellness. It offers preventative and corrective healthcare services like acupuncture and naturopathic medicine to those who cannot otherwise afford them. It offers this care on a sliding scale to those who qualify, including those on disability or unemployment, low income, without health insurance, on Medicare or Medicaid, full-time college students, Military, and Senior citizens on fixed incomes.

Ellie Heintze, ND, LAc, started the project. Dr. Ellie, a graduate of Bastyr University, is a naturopathic doctor and licensed acupuncturist with a successful practice in Bothell, WA.

She is a pain specialist, serving people who suffer from chronic pain, migraines, and joint pain. She also has a passion for helping people with digestive issues, with food allergies, and with gluten intolerance. She is the creator of The Food Allergy Formula, and author of "A Starting Point Guide to Gluten-Free Living and Healthy Digestion", available on Amazon.

An interesting feature of the Pain Relief Project is bringing services to those who need them through various pop-up pain relief clinics. The project is arranging to provide services on given dates in locations like senior centers (including Shoreline/LFP), community centers, yoga studios, medical clinics and addiction centers.

Those who have Health Insurance can receive these services at Starting Point Acupuncture in Bothell. It is a preferred provider for most major WA health plans. Call 425 686 4498 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

You can also meet Dr. Ellie at the NW Mind Body Spirit Connection Spring Expo on Saturday, April 21, 2018 from 10am - 5pm at the Hilton Bellevue, 300 112th Ave SE, Bellevue 98004.