Dr. Vivian Linden, LAc. DACM, AP/NAMA, Diplomate Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM),  Acupuncturist (Oregon), Herbalist, Ayurvedic Practitioner

Professional CV CV Dr Vivian Linden

Education History

Ayurveda: I am a nationally-certified Ayurvedic Practitioner (AP) through the National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA). I received my Ayurvedic certification at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Lenox, MA. In the Summer of 2016, I was blessed to spend 3 weeks with Dr. Vasant Lad at the Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque. I also studied for a year with KP Khalsa.

Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine: In March, 2021, I received my Doctorate in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (DACM) from Pacific College of Health Sciences. In 2015, following 4 years and over 3,000 hours of clinical graduate education, I received my Masters Degree in Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine (MAcOM) from the AOMA Graduate School of Integrative Medicine in Austin, TX. From 2015-2018 I was a co-owner at Rosewood Acupuncture & Ayurveda, LLC in east Austin, Texas. I am currently a licensed acupuncturist in the state of Oregon (AC186781) and I’m a board certified Diplomate in Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM).

Western/Integrative Herbal Medicine, Bachelors of Science: I hold a Bachelors of Science in Herbal Science from Bastyr University. During this program, I studied with Dr. Robyn Dipasquale, Rowan Hamilton, Dr. Eric Yarnell, Dr. Glen Nagel, Dr. Sheila Kingsbury, KP Khalsa, and many visiting teachers such as Dr. Robert Svoboda, Susun Weed, and Rosemary Gladstar.

Yoga: I have been studying yoga for over 20 years and completed the 200 hour Dharma Yoga Training in Austin, TX and received certification as an Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist as part of my training at Kripalu. I have been dabbling in Shadow Yoga for 10 years and have studied with Scott Blossom, Jonny Nobleza, Matt Pesendian, and, most recently, Mandy Kruger and Lita Batho in Portland, OR. I have studied Iyengar Yoga with Gayna Uransky (my first yoga teacher) and Anne Schultz.

Meditation/Buddhism: I have a long running interest in Buddhism and recently took Zen Precepts at Dharma Rain Zen Center in Portland, OR.

Science Education: In my Bachelors,  Masters and Doctoral programs, I have received extensive education, including laboratory experience and research education, in Western Sciences, biomedical theory, and evidence-based medicine. I took many of my science classes alongside nursing, pharmacology and pre-med students. I apply my understanding of Western pathophysiology to help my clients make safe,  practical, and well-informed choices about their healthcare options that are not clouded by Pharmaceutical company narratives and profit motives so frequently dictating many conventional medicine perspectives today.

My Philosophy and Why I Practice:

Helping women find balance -through natural methods whenever possible- is something I care deeply about! Sometimes we just need to make a change or adjustment to our diet or lifestyle, or try a simple supplement or herbal formula before resorting to the Big Guns provided by conventional western medicine. Integrative Medicine models offer treatments that tend to have fewer side effects and greater holistic benefits. Integrative medicine is also great for building a strong foundation for those looking to transition away from or taper off pharmaceutical medications -at the pace they choose, under the guidance of their prescribing physician.

Life is busy and stressful: Even though we have unprecedented access to vast amounts of health and wellness information, we can feel lost about how to move towards a place of equilibrium.  Finding someone who can help us see the big picture and help us forge a path forward can offer more benefit than trying to figure it all out for ourselves. I know this from my own experience!

My approach as a healthcare practitioner is to help clients identify and implement simple, nourishing habits that can be sustained over the long-run in the real world.

Empathy & Compassionate Care: As an embodied human living in the 21st century, I manage my own health challenges: especially anxiety, migraines and, lately, perimenopausal issues. I’ve always addressed my own healthcare process from an Integrative approach, starting with home remedies and lifestyle medicine, and then seeking out Integrative and more conventional care as needed. I always strive to bring a friendly, positive, compassionate attitude to my client interactions and it is my priority and pleasure to give you plenty of time to share your thoughts and ask lots of questions.

Through my own journey, I have come to view healing as a shared experience based on human connection. The client and the practitioner are allies and collaborators, working together to solve problems and enhance well being -which can be a two-way experience! We all learn from and teach each other.

As Ram Dass said “We are all just walking each other home”. 

Why did I become a Natural Medicine practitioner?  I grew up in a one-room cabin -without tv, phone or electricity- on the rural Northern California coast where I spent countless hours outdoors playing with my siblings and, later, hanging out with my friends. Summers were spent in the local creeks and rivers, on the desolate beaches of the famous Lost Coast, and under the quiet, cathedral-like canopy of the ancient Redwood forests.   When I was young, my mom treated us using herbal remedies made from home-grown and wild-crafted plants. In the rare instances when we needed a doctor, we went to our rural community clinic and saw our family physician who was an NUNM-trained Naturopathic & Oriental Medicine doctor.  This early exposure to the healing power of natural medicine instilled in me a life-long trust in its efficacy. For me, it is not a popular trend I learned about from a celebrity “lifestylist”, but a way of life.