Dr. Tara Radsliff, L.Ac. DSOM

Licensed Acupuncturist

A photo of Dr. Tara Radsliff, a licensed acupuncturist and board-certified doctor of science in oriental medicine who practices at the Nourishing Life Collective whole health clinic and community hub in Portland, Oregon.

When we're not feeling well physically, this directly impacts our emotions. And when we're feeling emotionally stressed, this also impacts our physical body. You've felt it. The tight neck and shoulders. The urgent run to the bathroom. The sleepless nights. Maybe you've been told it's all in your head, but you know it's not. The answers you were given, if you were given any at all, treated you like a set of replaceable parts.

I came to this medicine from civil and environmental engineering, where I studied how water moves through a landscape. Chinese medicine understands the body the same way — as an ecosystem, always in motion, never a set of static parts. It was the first time a model of the world actually made sense to me.

In this model, Chinese medicine recognizes three causes of disease: External, Internal, and Neither. External is weather and climate, which in modern life we're largely protected from. Internal is our own inner weather. Our emotional state. And Neither includes injury, overwork, how you eat and move. Your symptoms often wear on your emotions all while your mental and emotional state influences your day-to-day habits. This all creates a self-feeding cycle.

I practice Classical Five-Element Acupuncture which focuses on treating the root imbalance causing your symptoms. I listen not just to your symptoms, but to your life. I ask detailed questions and follow-up questions, and I remember what you tell me, because it is all diagnostically significant. When you get to show up fully as yourself in the room, I get better clearer information, and you get more from your treatment. Many people come to me having felt dismissed or disbelieved. Pain and suffering can leave us feeling isolated, like we're the only one. If you've felt that, you don't have to carry it alone. I listen, and then I show you how your symptoms actually make sense.

I've been practicing since 2022, and what I've seen again and again is real change: pain regularly eases, digestion settles, and people leave feeling more centered, more relaxed, more themselves.

You are not a malfunctioning machine. You are whole.

Testimonials
“I've been working with Tara for about two years, and that time with her has resulted in changes and evolution that sometimes feel immeasurable. She melds her expertise in Worsley Five Element acupuncture with her intuitive sense, often cutting through the story to see the true, deeper message. More than once I've walked out of the room with my mind blown by her ability to distill my scattered explanations and get right to the center of what is actually happening. My personal experiences have ranged anywhere from chronic pain, to grief, to anxiety, to hypermobility, and so much more. She has been a true companion, confidant, and guide in my healing.” — Julia M.

“I have been seeing Tara Radsliff for the past two years. Tara’s 5 element acupuncture has helped me improve my outlook, mental and physical health and I quit drinking. A gentle personality and genuine care for patients shines through in all of our sessions. Thanks, Tara!!” — Jesse F.

“I’ve been seeing Tara Radsliff for acupuncture here for a couple of years and she is the best. I’ve been dealing with chronic issues from a bad car accident 25 years ago and she has been so very helpful in my continued recovery. She is knowledgeable, thoughtful, caring, always treats me like a whole person, and I feel a bit better, sometimes even a lot better (which is saying a lot for me), every time I see her. I highly recommend Tara for acupuncture” — Angel O.

Modalities
• Acupuncture
• Chinese herbal medicine
• Bodywork & gentle hands-on techniques
• Moxibustion
• Qi gong instruction

Identity/Affirming Care
• Pronouns: she/her, they/them
• Queer- and trans-affirming care; LGBTQ+ welcoming

Practical
• Accepting new patients
• In-network with Aetna, Kaiser/Heraya, Moda, Pacific Source, Providence, & Regence Blue Cross/Blue Shield
• If cost is a barrier, reach out — we’ll find a solution
• Children of any age welcome in the treatment room

What I Treat
• Headaches & migraines
• Dizziness, palpitations, shortness of breath
• Digestive concerns: constipation, loose stools, bloating, cramping
• Menstrual cycle support, pregnancy, menopause
• Stress, anxiety, low mood & emotional wellbeing
• Body pain & tension, including stress-related neck & shoulder

Education & Training
Doctorate of Science in Oriental Medicine (DSOM), National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM) 2021
BS, Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of California, Davis 2009
• Clinical Residency with David Berkshire, 2021–2024
• Worsley Institute Classical Five-Element Acupuncture Intensive Training (WIT℠) 2021
• Shen-Hammer Pulse Diagnosis 2018–2025
• Chinese Herbal Mentorship with Dr. Heiner Fruehauf (ongoing) and Dr. Joon Lee 2018-2023
• Fourth-generation disciple of the Jin Jing Gong Qi Gong lineage; Daoist medicine study in China with Dr. Heiner Fruehauf 2019, 2024, 2026
• Myofascial Release & Craniosacral Therapy