This year we celebrate 20 years of community wellness and helping our family and friends.

When we opened our doors in 1997, Zheng Gong and Lei Liu had an important mission: use their knowledge of natural medicine to help as many people as possible. The tiny Beaverton clinic they were in at the time was literally wedged between a nail salon and a cigarette shop. It barely had the basics: two treatment rooms and a shelf of herbs. At first, Zheng was the only acupuncturist. She doubled as the manager, receptionist, accountant, and everything else that was needed. Lei Liu, her husband, joined a year later and together they started building the clinic into what we have today.

Lobby area and a view of the only two treatment rooms we had

Tiny receptionist area

Bulk and patent herbs on display in the lobby

Lei presenting at the Japanese Garden almost 20 years ago

Lei receiving a round of applausing at the Japanese Garden

Zheng doing a needle demonstration at the Japanese Garden

Zheng and Lei at an event at Lake Oswego High School

Zheng and Lei almost 20 years ago

In those early days, America had yet to accept acupuncture as a valid form of medicine to the extent it is today. Health insurance companies did not cover treatment and many people were afraid of needles because it was new and unknown. There were tough days when no patients called or walked in, but Zheng and Lei knew what acupuncture could do and were determined to help the people who needed it. Eventually, through patience and determination, the clinic slowly grew.

Many of those first patients still come to the clinic. They took a chance on the clinic and the modality and have stayed all these years because Zheng and Lei were able to help them when no one else could. The patients knew how deeply Zheng and Lei cared about them and their health. They experienced firsthand the healing power of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine and trust G&L because of it – so much so that some patients come to our clinic first, before consulting their doctors!

Reflecting back through the years, many inspiring patients and stories come to mind. Year after year, we receive numerous holiday cards from families that had trouble conceiving until they visited us. Their happy, beautiful families bring us great joy and pride in the work we do. Some of those couples have children in their teens now!

More recently, there was a young woman whose chronic asthma was impeding her acceptance into the US Air Force Academy. After completing a course of acupuncture treatments her asthma improved and she was able to pass her physical exam and enroll into the academy. In 2016, Zheng and Lei were honored to be invited to her academy and attend her graduation. She is now a Second Lieutenant in the USAF.

Now, 20 years later our Beaverton clinic has moved down the street and expanded to 14 treatment rooms, and we also opened a second clinic in West Linn in 2004. We are proud to employ acupuncturists, massage therapists, and support staff who share our caring philosophy and commitment to helping others.

Every positive thing that has happened since the clinic's first day is due to our commitment to helping people and our patients' trust in our care. We are driven by our desire to improve the health and lives of others through the use of natural medicine, especially those who have not found help through traditional methods.

All of us at G&L Acupuncture and Wellness Center are delighted to be celebrating this momentous milestone with you, our treasured patients and friends. Our success is due to your trust and loyalty in us. Zheng, Lei, and everyone at the clinic are humbled by the opportunity to serve the community and make a difference in the lives of so many people. We look forward to many more years of helping you, your family, and your friends feel better and stay healthy.