Today we’d like to introduce you to Kim Dela Cruz.
Hi Kim, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My childhood dream was to be a doctor. I pursued an undergraduate degree for Pre-Medicine and ended up graduating with a Biochemistry and Philosophy degree. I pursued a Masters in Public Health but realized that wasn’t the way I wanted to help people. I wanted to directly help people with healing their injuries, pain and health concerns. So, I started school in San Diego in 1999 at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. I eventually received my doctorate in Traditional Chinese Medicine. This includes Chinese Herbal Medicine, Acupuncture and other Traditional Chinese Healing Modalities, such as cupping, gua sha, tui na, moxibution, electric stimulation, and external topical liniment preparation and application and qigong. I have practiced Chinese Medicine since 2002, but opened my own clinic in the Scripps Miramar Mira Mesa area of San Diego in 2019. I have treated many conditions from general pain and muscle aches, shoulder and neck pain to hip pain and sciatica, to more complex cases such as neurological pain, seizure disorder, bell’s palsy, women’s health, infertility, perimenopause and menopause symptoms, autoimmune conditions, IBS/IBD, SIBO, thyroid conditions, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, chronic migraines, chronic fatigue syndrome, Covid and post covid conditions, allergies, asthma, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, A-fib, and all types of cancer, mental and emotional conditions and I also treat children. For my infertility patients, I often do outcalls at their fertility clinic and do acupuncture treatments for them before and after their IVF transfers. I work closely with them and their Endocrinologist to increase the possibility of conception. Alongside my love of Chinese Medicine, I became a yoga instructor and was teaching 6-7 classes a week before the pandemic. I still continue to teach yoga 1-2 times a week at Scripps Ranch Swim and Racquet Club. I grew up in San Diego, and after college I worked for 10 years in the biotech industry in San Diego and had 2 children. In 2005, I finally became a Traditional Chinese Medicine Doctor full-time. One thing that I am especially proud of is that I host my own specialty workshops that combine Yoga and Acupuncture 2-3 times a year. I am also a Feng Shui practitioner and do consultations for homes and offices. It is a great way to integrate Chinese Medicine with Home design and decor. It is so important for good health to have good energy in a living or work space. I also am an I-Ching Divination consultant to help patients understand questions regarding emotional and mental health. I love helping my patients heal and feel relief from their symptoms and ailments in these ways that I was taught using Traditional Chinese Philosophy. I love seeing my patients get better without having to have surgery or go on yet another pharmaceutical medication. What sets my clinical practice apart from many of the Acupuncturists in my area is that I incorporate Custom Chinese Medicinal Herbal Formula prescriptions in my treatments. It is a very important part of a complete Chinese Medicine Treatment. I am lucky to have been able to have a clinic so close to where I live and where my children go to school. I love my neighborhood and helping my neigbors. It is an honor and a gift to serve my community!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has been a pretty positive experience working as an Acupuncturist and Traditional Chinese Medicine Doctor in San Diego. I did worry a little during the pandemic about how I would sustain my practice since people had to shelter in place and were limited in their visits to the clinic. But luckily I stayed afloat and started to get busier once the restrictions started to lift.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I am the owner and principal Acupuncturist at KD Acupuncture Therapy in Mira Mesa/Scripps Ranch/Miramar. I have been in private practice since 2002 but opened my own clinic in 2019. At first my speciality was Infertility and Women’s health. I have even taught classes to other acupuncturists on how to treat infertility and women’s health effectively with acupuncture and Chinese Herbs in their own private practice. But I started to notice the patients that were coming in to see me had more complex cases like unrelenting Chronic Pain, Cancer, Autoimmune conditions, Neurological pain and chronic Gastrointestinal conditions. So, I would consider my clinic and my practice specialty as Internal Medicine and Pain. I also do functional medicine- where patients get specific laboratory tests done and we address specific concerns and I recommend specific supplements to help. My strength and expertise is addressing COMPLEX and difficult health conditions. Usually patients come to clinic and say I’ve done everything and nothing has worked so now I will try acupuncture and Chinese Herbs. What sets me apart is my knowledge and expertise with Chinese Herbal Medicine and movement therapy. I prescribe custom formulas for each patient unique to only their specific concerns and body. I find incorporating movement therapy and yoga is so important for healing the body. I sometimes use essential oils on acupuncture points instead of needles for those individuals that ask for non-needle acupuncture. I also do what is called shonishin or teishin for non-needle treatments mainly for children. Also, people are very fearful of needles and at my clinic I practice a painless and pain-free needle technique where I use the smallest and thinnest needles. I jokingly call them “baby needles”. I am most proud of being able to help people the best that I can on their health journeys. I am not the only health professional that they see, but I feel that I am an integral part of a team of health professionals that are needed for their complete care. Many of my patients’ doctors tell my patients to continue acupuncture because it helps so much with natural pain relief, reduced stress and better sleep. I would love people to know that I am a gentle and knowledgeable Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture practitioner. I have 23 years experience doing what I love. Helping people get pain free and feel better is a blessing and an honor.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I’ve learned on this journey is to be humble and to be thankful for every opportunity that I have been given to help and alleviate someone’s pain or discomfort. It is not just because I am actively doing acupuncture, prescribing herbs and recommending stretches and stability exercises but also that the person entrusts their care to me. So I feel a large part of the positive effect of the treatment is trust. It is truly a blessing and it amazes me every single time I get to witness someone improving and their health and start feeling better.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kdacutherapy.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kdacutherapy831/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kdacutherapy/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kdacutherapy/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/kd-acupuncture-therapy-san-diego
