TriFusion Acupuncture brings holistic care to downtown Prior Lake

Prior Lake American

Walking into TriFusion Acupuncture on Main Avenue in downtown Prior Lake is like walking into a different world.

Instead of the harsh Minnesota winter and biting wind, you’re greeted by Himalayan salt lamps and the strong scent of candles. Occasionally, there might even be a French bulldog named Francis.

Owner Lauren Drilling brought TriFusion to her hometown of Prior Lake after recognizing a need for holistic health care in the community.

“I feel very strongly about having spaces in Prior Lake that you would have in larger cities,” Drilling said. “When I started teaching yoga, I had that same feeling — that people shouldn’t have to leave where they are to have a certain type of experience.”

Holistic medicine focuses not only on physical aspects of the body but emotional, spiritual and mental aspects as well. Some people use it as a complete replacement to western medicine or as an additive.

“The best situation for someone is to have a good combination,” Drilling said. “There’s a lot of chronic conditions that western medicine ... (patients) have some options but the people get to a certain point and it’s like, ‘well, OK’ and that gray area, I don’t think western medicine is great at treating.”

Drilling does acupuncture, cupping, massages, nutrition counseling, yoga and more. On top of making holistic care more readily available, she’s hoping to make it accessible. Drilling hosts a free clinic every month at TriFusion Acupuncture.

“The goal with this is ‘no questions asked,’” Drilling said. “All of the services that I offer are included. Here, on those days, it’s full, 100 percent treatment.”

The next clinic will be Feb. 24 from noon to 3 p.m. Drilling also runs a similar clinic in northern Iowa, which she said has been successful.

“The cost prohibits (people) from accessing holistic care — that shouldn’t be the case and there should be a place for people to go,” Drilling said.

Drilling spent about eight years in school for acupuncture including undergraduate and graduate school and clinical rotations. She’s also licensed with the medical boards in Minnesota and Iowa.

“I have 100 percent training in acupuncture,” Drilling said. “It’s a little bit deeper treatment than you would get in other settings.”

Acupuncture can treat a number of ailments including pain, sleeping issues, stress, anxiety, digestive issues, headaches and more.

“I think the mode people need to get into is holistic care is a really good preventative,” Drilling said. “It’s a good way to keep people from getting sick. There are some people that are not interested in utilizing western medicine and from that capacity, I can manage a lot of different components of people’s health.”

Drilling said holistic care can also be a way to address an opioid epidemic in America.

“I always would try to first utilize holistic care when possible, especially with the pain management crisis,” Drilling said. “There is a lot of overprescribing happening. Hopefully people would try other things as well.”