I'm Dr. Adrianna Gonzalez, DAOM, LAc, a doctor of Chinese medicine, licensed acupuncturist, and herbalist.

For more than 25 years, I've been exploring the many ways our bodies heal. My journey began through qigong and the internal martial arts, eventually leading me to acupuncture and Chinese medicine—and a lifelong fascination with the connection between body, mind, and health.

Today, I bring that same curiosity to my work with patients. My approach is rooted in traditional Chinese medicine while drawing from modern research, movement, nutrition, and an understanding of the nervous system.

With a doctorate in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and more than 17 years of clinical experience, I bring extensive training and a deeply personal approach to patient care.

Most importantly, I believe in treating the person in front of me—not just a diagnosis or collection of symptoms. I want to understand what's happening in your body, what matters to you, and what you want to be able to do in your life.

Together, we work toward helping you feel better, move better, and participate more fully in the life you love.

My Journey Into Chinese Medicine

My relationship with Chinese medicine began long before I became an acupuncturist.

In 2001, I began studying qigong and the internal martial arts of tai chi, xingyi, and bagua. I was fascinated by the way these practices brought together movement, breath, awareness, and health. What began as a personal practice gradually opened the door to a deeper exploration of Chinese medicine.

That curiosity led me to formal study in acupuncture and Chinese medicine. After moving to Santa Cruz in 2004, I began my graduate education at Five Branches University. During those years, I also apprenticed with Dr. Vince Black in Tucson and completed clinical training at Zhejiang Medical University in China.

After earning my master's degree in 2008, I continued with an intensive 1,088+ hour postgraduate apprenticeship and clinical training program with Dr. Miranda Warburton and Dr. Jennifer Minor in Jin Shou Tuina—traditional Chinese orthopedic massage—and craniosacral therapy.

Teaching has also been an important part of my path. I taught Tuina at Five Branches University and have taught qigong, Taijiquan, and Xingyiquan in both private and public classes.

In 2018, I earned my Doctorate in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM) from Five Branches University.

I've been in clinical practice since 2008 and have practiced at Santa Cruz Integrative Medicine since 2009, where I also helped run the clinic for 13 years.

Even after decades of study and clinical practice, I don't think of my education as finished. I continue to study the classical foundations of Chinese medicine alongside emerging research in pain, women's health, neuroscience, and integrative medicine.

That combination—deep respect for tradition alongside curiosity and openness to new understanding—is at the heart of how I practice.

How I Practice Today

No two people come into my office with exactly the same story, and I don't believe in treating them as if they do.

My treatments are grounded in acupuncture and Chinese medicine and may also incorporate Chinese herbal medicine, Tuina, nutrition and lifestyle guidance, movement, qigong, and other hands-on techniques when appropriate. My years of training in craniosacral therapy continue to inform the way I listen to and work with the body, even though it is no longer a primary focus of my practice.

I also draw from modern research and our evolving understanding of pain, the nervous system, hormones, inflammation, and overall health. I don't see Eastern and Western medicine as competing approaches. They can offer different ways of understanding the same person.

Most importantly, I want my patients to be active participants in their own healing. I want to help you better understand your body, explore what may be contributing to how you're feeling, and give you practical tools to support your health outside the treatment room.

Healing is collaborative. We work together toward the things that matter to you—whether that's having less pain, feeling more like yourself, navigating a health transition, getting back to an activity you love, or simply feeling better in your day-to-day life.

Who I Work With

My practice has naturally developed around a few areas I especially enjoy working with, including women's health, pain and injuries, digestive health, and supporting people through the changes that come with aging.

I work with women through many stages of life—from menstrual and fertility concerns to pregnancy and postpartum, and through perimenopause and menopause. I also work with people experiencing acute or chronic pain who want to stay active and continue doing the things that are meaningful to them.

Many of my patients care deeply about their health and want to understand what they can do to feel better. They may be runners, hikers, martial artists, gardeners, parents, or simply people who want to move comfortably, have more energy, and feel at home in their bodies as they age.

I especially enjoy working collaboratively with people who are curious about their health and willing to participate in the process. You don't need to have everything figured out when you walk through the door. We start with where you are and work from there.