by Lindy Williams
Burns Times-Herald

Hiroki Ide is the new acupuncturist at Kiger West Acupuncture on 229 N. Egan in Burns.

Ide was born and raised in Osaka, Japan, and learned acupuncture from his grandfather, who is blind. Ide explained that, traditionally, acupuncture and body work were considered “blind professions” because sight is not a necessity to work with the human body. Today, about 30 percent of acupuncturists in Japan are blind.

He was inspired to turn to acupuncture around his 30th birthday, when he felt the need to help those around him.

“I got into it, not as a first profession, [but] when I turned 30. In my 20s, I felt like, when I look back, it was all about myself. So when I turned 30, or right about 28 or 29, there were a lot of shifts going on, and I really wanted to find something I could do, not just for myself, but to help other people. I just wanted to give back more,” Ide said.

For the last 13 years, he has accomplished that with acupuncture.

“It has been a great profession for me,” he said.

Ide, who is nationally board certified and licensed in both Colorado and Oregon, currently resides in Bend, where he owns and operates Shizendo Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine. He commutes to Burns for appointments, and said he’s already enjoying working with the residents of Harney County.

“The people here are real; they’re working people. And the community is very nice. The people are very friendly. I can see how this place would be very attractive for people looking for quieter living and lifestyle,” Ide said.

Ide originally came to the United States during a year-long exchange program in Georgia. He went on to graduate high school in Missouri. Ide continued his education by attending undergraduate school in the United States.

“After [college], work and everything kind of just led to staying here. It’s been a long time now, but I’ve really enjoyed living in the states,” Ide said.

Ide is used to small-town communities. Before Bend, he lived and practiced acupuncture in Colorado where he frequently worked with ranchers and miners. At first, he remembers feeling concerned about whether or not the residents would be open to acupuncture, but he was pleased when they were very receptive to his work. As for Harney County, he is sure there are some who are skeptical of acupuncture, but he is encouraged by the number of people who have already set up appointments with him. He said he is excited to help the people of Harney County.

Acupuncture is commonly used for: pain management, physical injuries, anxiety/depression, digestive issues, menstrual issues, infertility, headaches, cold/flu, and sports medicines. It can also help alleviate the symptoms of many other conditions, such as:

• gastrointestinal disorders: food allergies, indigestion, diarrhea, constipation, peptic ulcer, gastritis, colitis, and IBS;

• urogenital disorders: urinary tract infections, incontinence, prostatitis, sexual dysfunction, infertility;

• muscle and joint pain: arthritis, tendonitis, bursitis, low back pain, neck and shoulder pain, whiplash, sciatica, TMJ problems;

• respiratory problems: asthma, emphysema, allergies, chronic bronchitis, sinusitis;

• circulatory disorders: high blood pressure, angina, muscle cramps, anemia, palpitations, atherosclerosis;

• immune system disorders: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, AIDS, rheumatoid arthritis, candidiasis, lupus, fibromyalgia;

• endocrine disorders: diabetes, hyper/hypothyroidism;

• neurological disorders: stroke, multiple sclerosis, trigeminal neuralgia, numbness, tingling, dizziness;

• headache: migraine, tension, sinus, cluster headaches;

• emotional problems: stress, insomnia, depression, anxiety, phobias, bipolar personality disorder, compulsive behavior, poor self-esteem, eating disorders;

• addictions: alcoholism, drug and nicotine addiction.

To book an appointment with Ide, call Kiger West Acupuncture at 541-589-1972.