Dr. Elena

About Dr. Elena

I am a California Licensed Acupuncturist and Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. I received my degree from ACTCM at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco. My love of nature and plant medicine, inspired by my upbringing in Tahoe, is at the heart of how and why I practice natural and holistic medicine.

Over the past 10 years, I have studied various lineages of plant medicine including Chinese medicine, Western herbalism, Indigenous plant medicine traditions, and California’s native medicinal plants. My fascination with human development, eclectic spiritual philosophies, and exploring how we meaningfully embody this human experience has also greatly guided my path in medicine.

Alongside my clinical practice, I love to teach herbal medicine, especially orienting folks to the medicinal plants that grow around them to build a deeper relationship to the natural world.

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My specialties

  • I specializes in integrative mental health, offering a variety of tools to support individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, and trauma, or those in major life transitions looking for support.

  • I work to help you uncover what might be in the way of your personal self development. Emotional pain and misinterpretations of the past live in the somatic layers and can unconsciously block us from living from our heart’s guidance. The spiritual traditions of Chinese Medicine offer teachings and tools that can catalyze growth from these experiences, into more embodied and empowered versions of ourselves.

  • I work alongside psychiatric prescribes to support patients to best manage their medications and meet their health & wellness goals.

  • Additionally I specialize as an adjunct provider for those doing psychedelic therapy. My diverse experience and training in psychedelic therapies allows me to shine as an integral component in the integration and benefit maximization of entheogenic work.

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My practice

My practice blends the diagnostic and spiritual lineages of the ancient Daoist physicians, modern scientific research on plant chemistry and physiology, and shamanic perspectives on relating to the natural world. My acupuncture and herbal treatments are selected based on a thorough holistic assessment and are part of a larger treatment plan framework we create together to address your goals. The guidance I offer includes creating an optimal nutrition plan, making changes in daily routine, and cultivating mindfulness-based practices. My intention is to collaborate with my patients and support you to discover their own personal meaning of health. I am dedicated to seeing my patients thrive, not only by supporting you to heal illness but also to cultivate an embodied sense of vitality and purpose in the heart.

Se habla español.

 

Professional Experience & Education

  • Professional Licenses & Certifications

    • California Licensed Acupuncturist, CA 18836

    • NCCAOM Nationally Certified Acupuncturist (candidate)

    • American Herbalist Guild Register Herbalist (candidate)

  • Education

    • Doctorate of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine: ACTCM at the California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, CA

    • University of California, Santa Cruz: Bachelor of Arts in Holistic Health, Santa Cruz, Ca

    • Universidad de Belgrano,​ ​Buenos Aires, Argentina ​- ​Spanish Language

  • Trainings

    • MDMA assisted Psychotherapy for PTSD: Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies

    • Ketamine Assisted Therapy: Sage Integrative Health

    • Clinical Integration in Chinese Medicine: Lonny Jarret, L.Ac

    • Neo-Classical Pulse Diagnosis apprenticeship: William Morris, Ph.D, L.Ac.​

    • Integrative herbal medicine apprenticeship: Ben Zappin, L.Ac, Ingrid Bauer MD

    • Psychedelic Harm Reduction training: Zendo Project, MAPS

    • California medicinal field botany apprenticeship: Christopher Hobbs Ph.D, Brian Wiessbuch L.Ac, Darren Huckle L.Ac,

    • Global Ethnobotany with a Local Focus: Kat Harrison MA, Botanical Dimensions

  • Publications

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“Health is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest gift. Non-being is the greatest joy. ”

~ Lao Tzu, TAO TE CHING