After looking high and low for an acupuncture clinic location in Patagonia, Dr. Lilane Papin has found a space that delights her. In the blink of an eye, Bob Ollerton refurbished one of the spaces at the McKeown Avenue Plaza for the Ecobody Acupuncture Community Clinic, putting down chemical-free flooring and painting the walls with non-toxic paint. At the opening on Monday, January 20, a steady stream of patients with a variety of ailments came through the door.
Papin’s new assistant is Leticia Novais, a young woman from Brazil who is working at the Tree of Life. In Sao Paulo, a close family friend is an acupuncturist, and Leticia has worked with her for years. She has each patient fill out a brief medical form and seats him or her in one of the six comfortable reclining chairs.
Papin takes time to talk to each one, applies the needles she prescribes for a particular situation, and leaves the patient to lie quietly for a period of time—usually a half hour to 45 minutes—and then returns to remove the needles. Meanwhile, there is relaxing music to listen to. If you want a blanket or an eye mask, just ask.
The space is furnished sparsely but elegantly. It doesn’t feel like what most of us think of as a doctor’s office. There’s no private room. Everyone lies down together (as it were), but there is a sense of space and privacy despite the open room. Consultations are done quietly and professionally.
Diane Tucker, a local woman who suffers from chemical allergies, was there on opening day. She thinks that in such a small town, a clinic of this quality is a blessing.
Payment is on a sliding scale starting at $25. Patients can simply leave their payment in a box in the waiting room. It’s a trusting, caring, and beautiful space that Papin says was well worth waiting for.
Clinic hours are Monday and Friday, 10a.m.-1p.m., Wednesday, 10 – 1p.m. and 2 – 4 p.m.