COURTESY OF PALMGREN ACUPUNCTURE CENTER, INC.
Oak Park, Illinois – Palmgren Acupuncture Center celebrates one year in business in October. Attorney turned acupuncturist Lynn Palmgren opened the practice in downtown Oak Park one month after graduating from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in Chicago. To commemorate this milestone, Palmgren Acupuncture will donate all proceeds from treatments on October 30th to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
Ms. Palmgren, a former Assistant Attorney General in Illinois, was inspired to go back to school after turning to Chinese medicine for help with chronic insomnia in 2007. She received acupuncture which involves very thin, sterile, stainless steel needles being inserted into certain areas of the body. After four treatments, she was able to sleep through the night. Two years later, Ms. Palmgren wanted to change to a more health-oriented career and was drawn to acupuncture due to her experience as a patient. After looking at different schools and interviewing licensed acupuncturists, she took the plunge in 2009, leaving her job at the Attorney General’s Office and enrolling in acupuncture school.
“People are often surprised by the 180 degree turn but I think law and acupuncture have a lot in common. They’re both creative, advocate oriented, and both involve critical thinking,” says Ms. Palmgren. She practiced law while she was completing her four-year Master’s degree in Oriental Medicine. Her solo law practice is based out of Chicago and focuses on businesses law and estate planning. Ms. Palmgren continues to practice law on a part-time basis along with practicing acupuncture. She says, “I help people lead better lives. No matter if it’s estate planning or making better choices with the food they eat. Both are important.”
Over the past year, Palmgren Acupuncture’s growth, much like a new born, has been exponential. The business started as a solo practice with one treatment room. Since then, it has doubled. Nikolas Arestopoulos, LAc. joined Palmgren Acupuncture as a co-owner this year. Its modest treatment room turned into two rooms. The Chinese herbal dispensary first offered only five Chinese herbal formulas and now offers more than twenty.
Ms. Palmgren first became acquainted with Oak Park four years ago, travelling to the suburb to visit friends. “I chose Oak Park to practice in because it’s open-minded and involved,” explains Ms. Palmgren. “The community has been incredibly welcoming and supportive. We look forward to helping the community for many more years to come.”
