Carbon Cowgirl Offering of Auricular Acupuncture (Five Needle Protocol)

The 5 Needle Protocol is a simple, accessible form of auricular (ear) acupuncture that has been used around the world to help people find calm, resilience, and support during times of stress, recovery, transition, and community healing. Rather than treating a specific diagnosis, this protocol supports the body's natural ability to regulate the nervous system and restore balance.

As a certified 5 Needle Protocol practitioner through POCA Tech, and registered through the Oregon Medical Board to provide this service in Oregon, I offer community-style ear acupuncture that can be brought directly to the places where people live, work, gather, and heal.

The 5 Needle Protocol is a standardized auricular acupuncture treatment using five specific points in each ear. It was developed as a simple, effective way to make acupuncture more accessible to communities, especially during times when people needed immediate support.

Originally used as first response medicine and later expanded through community acupuncture programs, the protocol has been offered in disaster relief settings, addiction recovery programs, behavioral health clinics, veteran organizations, schools, correctional facilities, and community wellness initiatives around the world.

Today, it continues to be valued because it is:

• Gentle and minimally invasive
• Affordable and accessible
• Suitable for individuals or groups
• Easy to bring into community spaces
• A supportive complement to other wellness practices

Every person's experience is unique, but many people report feeling:

• Deep relaxation
• Reduced stress and anxiety
• Improved emotional regulation
• Better sleep
• Increased resilience during challenging times
• A greater sense of groundedness and presence
• Support during recovery from physical or emotional stress

Many people describe the experience as creating enough quiet in the nervous system to simply breathe again.

One of the beautiful aspects of this protocol is that it is designed to be received together.

Unlike a private acupuncture treatment, community ear acupuncture allows people to sit quietly in a shared space while receiving the same simple protocol. There is something deeply human about healing alongside others—without needing to explain your story or carry it alone.

This aligns deeply with the vision of Carbon Cowgirl: creating spaces where restoration happens not only within ourselves, but within our relationships, our communities, and the land that supports us.

One of my favorite aspects of this work is that it travels.

Instead of asking people to come to a clinic, I can bring community ear acupuncture directly to farms, ranches, festivals, workplaces, community organizations, events, retreats, and gathering spaces throughout Oregon.

I have a special passion for serving:

• Farmers and ranchers
• Agricultural workers
• Land stewards
• Equine professionals
• Musicians and touring artists
• Festival and event communities
• First responders and helping professionals
• Wellness retreats
• Community organizations
• Anyone seeking a simple space for rest and nervous system support

Whether it's after a demanding harvest, during a stressful season, backstage before a performance, or as part of a retreat focused on restoration, the goal is the same: creating accessible opportunities for people to pause, regulate, and reconnect.

Carbon Cowgirl is rooted in the belief that healthy people and healthy landscapes belong together.

The same principles that guide regenerative agriculture—rest, resilience, diversity, relationship, and renewal—also support human wellbeing. When we care for the nervous systems of the people tending our communities and our land, we strengthen the whole ecosystem.

Community ear acupuncture is one more way of cultivating that resilience.

Simple. Accessible. Grounding. Restorative.

Community ear acupuncture is available throughout Oregon for organizations, farms, ranches, retreats, festivals, workplaces, and private groups.

If you're interested in bringing the 5 Needle Protocol to your community or event, I'd love to connect and explore what would best serve your group.