Larissa Vados, PhD, LAc

Larissa (she/her) is a licensed acupuncturist in the state of Minnesota and is board certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). In 2012 she graduated from Northwestern Health Sciences University with a Master of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine degree, and in 2015 completed her PhD in Acupuncture, Tuina and Moxibustion at Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Tianjin, China. Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine specialize in the treatment of neurological diseases. Taking advantage of this expertise, her main focus of study was treatment for stroke rehabilitation. She designed and carried out a randomized control trial in the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine looking at the use of both acupuncture and physical therapy in the treatment of acute and sub-acute ischemic stroke.

Larissa has several years experience working with a hospital-based inpatient interdisciplinary acute care pain management team, and an outpatient based chronic pain center in a large hospital system. Larissa and her colleagues have worked together to treat some of the most difficult pain management cases in the hospital system from both Eastern and Western perspectives. During those years she enjoyed working every day to promote the use of effective and evidence-based integrative treatments such as acupuncture within the allopathic medical system. She is now the co-owner of Minnesota Integrative Health Studio, and continues to help patients fulfill their health goals in this integrative and holistic community-based clinic.

In addition to her acupuncture and Chinese medicine training, Larissa is a STOTT PILATES® Certified Instructor in both Mat and Reformer, having completed over 310 hours of training at Minnesota’s STOTT Certification Center in 2009. Larissa has also taken advanced training in Pilates for neurological conditions. Larissa finds that Pilates is a wonderful form of rehabilitative exercise that can be modified to suit anyone’s situation and circumstances. She loves combining Pilates with her acupuncture patients to address chronic pain, musculoskeletal injuries, neurological and other movement disorders, mental health and more!

Specialties: Stroke sequelae treatment and other neurological disorders, pain (acute and chronic), stress management, insomnia, allergies, auto-immune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia. In her Pilates practice she enjoys working with injured populations looking for rehabilitation, seasoned athletes looking to improve athletic performance and everyone in between!

You can book the following appointments with Larissa: Private acupuncture, private TCM acupuncture, community acupuncture (contact the clinic to book community acupuncture), cupping, Pilates training.

Larissa’s Offerings

What Larissa’s patients are saying:

  • 8 years ago, I experienced a hemorrhagic stroke that left me partially paralyzed, unable to run and with limited use of my hand, even my fingers. After years of trying acupuncture at various places, I was on the brink of losing hope as the treatments seemed futile against what I assumed was permanent brain damage. I was on the verge of giving up entirely until I discovered Minnesota Integrative Health two and a half months ago. Deciding to give it a shot, I underwent acupuncture sessions twice a week. Just last week, something remarkable happened - I noticed a slight twitch in my fingers. Initially, I dismissed it as an optical illusion, but it persisted, occurring more frequently, almost numerous times a day. Though subtle, this twitch signifies progress, a positive impact that has reignited my hope in my recovery journey. I owe a debt of gratitude to the acupuncturists here, particularly Larissa.

    -Y.S

  • I feel like I've found an oasis of support, kindness and non-judgmental wisdom here, where I can enhance both my mind and body in a safe, welcoming space. Larissa is so patient and helpful. Highly recommend!

    -V.S

  • Would highly recommend pilates with Larissa for anyone struggling with joint instability, frozen shoulder, hip pain, you name it - pilates can help! She guided me through a number of exercises on a reformer, and I was surprised at how a tiny adjustment to foot placement activated some totally dormant muscles in my hips. She was very aware of my body mechanics and knew just what to do when something didn't feel right. Who knew pilates could be fun!

    -L.P.