Michelle Gamerl, L.Ac.
Mission Statement
To make the world a better 
place by educating the public about the benefits of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
To make the world a better place by educating my patients about improving their health and maintaining wellness by using the principles of Oriental Medicine, practicing good nutrition, performing effective exercise regularly, and having balanced lifestyle practices
To make the world a better place by helping as many people as divinely possible in a loving, compassionate, and respectful manner
About Michelle (the long story):
Michelle Emiko Gamerl, L.Ac. has been in healthcare since 1992. As an athlete herself, she began in the field of Sports Medicine, working with professional and amateur athletes in surfing, beach volleyball, skateboarding, motocross, and snowboarding. Despite tremendous success using manual therapies for injury care, rehabilitation, and prevention, she realized her limitations and began studying acupuncture and herbal medicine at Samra University of Oriental Medicine, the oldest institution of its kind in California. After completing her Masters of Science degree and becoming licensed in 1998, Michelle continued her education, completing her internship at the Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology in Beijing, China, and received her post-graduate certification in Acupuncture Orthopedics.
Though Michelle pursued her studies in order to better treat sports injuries and musculoskeletal complaints, she recognized the wide scope and extreme value of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and started a Primary Care practice where her patients range from pediatric to geriatric. Nutritional counseling is also a big part of her approach to patient care. For a partial list of conditions which she treats, see [Some of the many conditions for which acupuncture is considered appropriate as listed by the World Health Organization of the United Nations.]
Since becoming a mother, Michelle has become an advocate of the Bradley Method of natural childbirth, Attachment parenting, cloth diapering, and baby sign language. She treats women during all stages of pregnancy, creates pre-natal/postpartum fitness programs, assists with non-drug induction of labor, helps to promote optimal lactation, and cares for other various postpartum ailments.
About Michelle (the short story):
Education: ”Yes, lots of it! More than 22 years total in my life to be exact!”
Licenses: “I’m board certified nationally as a Diplomate in Acupuncture and also have state licenses in California and Hawaii.”
Specialties: “Anything, short of getting hit by a truck. Wait, I take that back. Make it anything, including getting hit by a truck because, after the emergency medical services and western medical care, you’re really going to need acupuncture!”
Most frequently asked question: “ ‘How many treatments will it take?’ You thought it was going to be ‘Does it hurt?’, didn’t you?! No, everyone wants to know when they’ll be better, as if it was going to happen overnight. The example I like to use is going to the gym. You can’t work out only once and expect to be in shape. Acupuncture treatments build upon each other until a therapeutic level is reached. One treatment really can work miracles, but oftentimes, you need a few visits.”
Last word: “Don’t let acupuncture be the last thing you try. Why suffer any longer than you have to? Everyone always waits and goes through the western medical and pharmaceutical route before seeking an acupuncturist, and then after they see me, they say that they should’ve gotten acupuncture a long time ago.”