Today we’d like to introduce you to Melida I. Gonzalez.
Melida, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Since a young age, I always knew that I wanted to get into the medical field and help people. I’ve always been interested in health and human physiology. After finishing high school in Ensenada, Mexico (my hometown) I moved to San Diego in 2003 with the intention of getting a Medical Degree. While in College I started to question myself if I really wanted to go towards the path of Western Medicine. Here’s when I realized that there where 2 different worlds in the medical field, there is the Conventional Medicine and Alternative Medicine, I realized that I believed more in the philosophy of Holistic and Alternative medicine. After 2 years in college, I applied right away to Pacific College of Oriental Medicine and fell in love with my career. I realized that being a practitioner of Holistic Medicine isn’t just about treating diseases with prescription drugs, but about treating the body, mind, and spirit and creating a sense of wellness and healing for the patient. I finished my Masters in Science of Traditional Chinese Medicine and started practicing right away in Ensenada in 2010 while studying for the Board Exam. I became Licensed in 2011 and finally found the right place at my current location in Bankers Hill. I am in love with my career and still feel amazed every day that I get to see what Alternative medicine can achieve with my patients.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It was not an easy road. I had my struggles especially in the first couple of years when I first moved to San Diego on my own. Having to adapt to a different country, getting used to a new culture and being away from my family was difficult. It was also a challenge to learn everything I previously knew about Science in a different language (English). All the Medical terms, Human Anatomy, Biology and Chemistry classes I only knew in Spanish. While doing my Masters, I also had to learn the Chinese names (Pin Yin) of all the herbs and formulas. It was hard but I loved it so much that I enjoyed every part of the struggle. I still feel passionate about my career and every day, I get to see positive changes in my patient’s health using Traditional Chinese Medicine. This has kept me motivated to continue to learn and thrive in my career as an Acupuncturist and Herbalist.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go to a Licensed Acupuncturist & Herbalist story. Tell us more about the business.
I’m a Licensed Acupuncturist in San Diego, California. I’ve been in practice since 2010, I specialize in Pain Management, women’s health including: OB/GYN diseases and conditions, Menopause and Infertility, Emotional problems, Autoimmune diseases and Musculoskeletal disorders including low back pain, neck pain, headache, and migraines. I see herbal medicine as an important resource for restoring one’s health, and I utilize herbal prescriptions in conjunction with acupuncture and nutrition to balance the body from within.
Since I started to learn about this medicine in 2006 until today, I’ve seen so much change in society about Acupuncture and Holistic Medicine. Today, more people are familiar with this type of Medicine and come to see me to help them with pain or other conditions that haven’t respond well to Conventional Medicine.
Do you have a lesson or advice you’d like to share with young women just starting out?
Follow your passion and give it a 100%, anything worth doing or having taken time and effort.
Pricing:
- Acupuncture – Initial Visit (90 Minutes): $125
- Acupuncture – Follow Up (60 Minutes): $75
- Cupping (30-45 Minutes): $30-$45
- Herbal Consultation: $25
- Acupuncture + 30 Minutes Massage: $115
- Acupuncture – Facial Rejuvenation: $95
Contact Info:
- Address: 3320 Second Avenue, San Diego, CA 92103
- Website: www.melida-acupuncture.com
- Phone: 619-253-7884
- Email: acu.melida@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acu.melida/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelidaAcu/
- Other: https://www.yelp.com/biz/melida-acupuncture-san-diego
Image Credit:
Tigran Tovmasyan – tigran@tikkostudios.com
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