Mr. Dr. John Rybak, DAc
Acupuncturist
3705 SE Cesar Estrada Chavez Blvd, Portland OR, 97202About
John Rybak is an acupuncturist practicing in Portland, OR. Dr. Rybak evaluates and treats patients with a holistic functional medical approach. His background is as a research biologist and found acupuncture in 1997 after struggling with chronic pain himself. Since then he has been passionate about communicating acupuncture in modern terms that we can all understand.
Most patients find John for conditions relating to pain like chronic pain, sports injuries, accidents, nerve pain, and arthritis.
He is the Medical Director at The WellBridge Clinic in Portland Oregon and leads a team of talented acupuncturists and a full admin team for scheduling, support, and insurance billing. The clinic is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism, caring, and comfort.
John recently gave a TEDx talk at the University of California at Davis titled: "Unlocking Mind-Body Wellness: The Science of Acupuncture." He also teaches CME courses for medical doctors and is a faculty member of the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine.
John welcomes Doctors and other medical professionals to contact him anytime with questions about Evidence Informed Acupuncture and he can always "nerd out" on acupuncture mechanisms of action.
Education and Training
Oregon College Of O. Medicine MSAOM 2012
Pacific Col. of Health Science Doctor of Acupuncture 2024
Board Certification
National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
Provider Details
Mr. Dr. John Rybak, DAc's Expert Contributions
How does acupuncture for knee pain work?
Knee pain is a widespread problem across the globe. Our knees are responsible for much of our activity, and they can take a beating over time. Acupuncture for knee pain can help addressboth acute and chronic knee pain, helping to keep the body in balance and preventing inflammation that leads to...
Why is acupuncture for back pain so important?
Back pain is the world’s leading cause of disability, affecting people from every background across the globe. Consider these statistics:• An estimated 80% of people in the U.S. will suffer from back pain at some point in their lives• Back pain costs the U.S. between 100 and 200 billion...
Can acupuncture help for headaches?
The burden that headache treatments place on primary care physicians is extraordinary. Many offer prescriptions in an effort to help their patients. Unfortunately, medications may not be effective for symptoms and don’t fix the underlying biochemical or mechanical issues leading to headaches in...
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome & Acupuncture
Carpal tunnel syndrome develops when there’s pressure anywhere along on the nerve pathways from your neck to your hand. The biggest myth about carpal tunnel is that “there is something wrong with my wrist.” More times than not, the source of the pain isn’t actually in your wrist. In...
Shoulder pain and Acupuncture
Our shoulders are a work of art. But you know if you have had ‘Frozen Shoulder” or a shoulder injury they can be a beast to heal. There are actually four distinct joints that make up your shoulder girdle. The largest one is a ball-and-socket joint that connects the upper arm bones to the...
Sports Medicine Acupuncture
Acupuncture for sports injuries offers pain relief from acute injury as well as chronic conditions. Research has shown that acupuncture increases the level of endorphins and anti-inflammatory compounds in your cerebrospinal fluid. Inflammation is very common after sports injuries, so...
How can I get rid of ankle arthritis pain?
Acupuncture has been shown to be effective for osteoarthritis in many joints including the ankles. The National Institutes of Health have recommended acupuncture for osteoarthritis and many other conditions since the 1990’s. We can further explore how and why acupuncture works if you are interested. I always recommend finding an acupuncturist that has experience with orthopedic acupuncture and takes a holistic approach. READ MORE
When can I fly after acupuncture treatment?
Absolutely. You can fly after acupuncture. I have heard of acupuncturists even giving treatments in emergency situations while in flight. The only limitations I recommend for patients seeking help from pain conditions is moderate exercise. In other words, rather than pushing for an “heavy day” at the gym, or thar extra mile, go ahead and work out but take it easy. Same goes for libations and temperature exposure, avoid extremes for 24 hours following acupuncture. One of the reason for that is that acupuncture is shown to restructure connective tissue and we are trying to create a new and better ‘muscle memory’ away from the primary complaint. Great question! Let me know if you have any other questions. Happy to help! READ MORE
Can acupuncture fix herniated discs?
That’s a great question. Acupuncture can help relieve the pain, neuropathy, and muscle spasms that are common when people have herniated discs. There is not any evidence that acupuncture can “fix” a herniated disc. I have seen patients become asymptomatic with minor disc herniations. And acupuncture has been shown to reduce pain, reduce the need for pain medications, and increase function until patients can get scheduled for surgery. Then after surgery many orthopedic surgeons and patients are happily surprised how quickly they recover with acupuncture. READ MORE
Areas of expertise and specialization
Faculty Titles & Positions
- Clinical Supervisor Oregon College of O. Medicine 2022 - Present
Awards
- TEDx Presentation 2024 University of California, Davis
Professional Memberships
- Society for Acupuncture Research
- American Society of Acupuncturists
- Oregon Acupuncture Association
Treatments
- Acupuncture, Electro-acupuncture, Cupping, Massage (Shiatsu & Tuina Medical massage), Nutritional counseling, Moxabustion, Chinese herbal medicine
Internships
- Addiction Treatment Center- Quest Center
Professional Society Memberships
- Society for Acupuncture ResearchAmerican Society of AcupuncturistsOregon Acupuncturists Association
Articles and Publications
- Acupuncture in Pain Management:A Pathway to Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Oregon. https://www.oregon.gov/omb/Newsletter/Fall%202023.pdf
Teaching and speaking
- Faculty-Clinical Supervisor at Oregon College of Oriental MedicineTEDx talk: The Mind-Body Bridge: How the Science of Acupuncture Can Redefine Pain and Wellness (April 13th, 2024 at University of California, Davis)Oregon Conference on Opioids + Other Drugs, Pain + Addiction Treatment: Acupuncture in Pain Management:A Pathway to Interdisciplinary Collaboration (April 29-May 1, 2024)Corporate Wellness Events: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1NssDgMnX-Szx52sc-J_fQ
Favorite Place to Vacation
- I love traveling to places that have history and natural beauty. My next dream vacation would be to Belize and Guatemala to visit Mayan pyramids, rainforest, and SCUBA dive.
Hobbies / Sports
- Snowboarding, paddleboarding, fishing, gardening, and growing a small collection of exotic orchids
Favorite professional publications
- Medical AcupunctureBritish Medical JournalJAMAJournal of Alternative and Complementary MedicineNeurology
Areas of research
My primary areas of research consist of translating and communicating the 3000-year-old organizational system and linguistic model of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine into modern scientific and practical terms for patients and medical providers.
Mr. Dr. John Rybak, DAc's Practice location
The WellBridge Clinic
3705 SE Cesar Estrada Chavez Blvd, -Portland, OR 97202Get Direction
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Mr. Dr. John Rybak, DAc's reviews
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