Meet Dr. Michele Arnold
Doctor of Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine • Clinical Herbalist
• Integrative Wellness Specialist
A Practitioner Guided by Curiosity, Compassion, and the Science of Natural Healing
My path to becoming a doctor of acupuncture and Chinese medicine began long before I ever touched a needle. In college, while studying Biology, I took a course in medical botany that opened a door I didn’t know existed. I became fascinated by herbal medicine, nutrition, and the healing properties of plants.
Searching for herbology programs led me to Pacific College of Oriental Medicine — and to the realization that herbal medicine was inseparable from acupuncture. I didn’t know much about acupuncture at the time, but I was intrigued enough to schedule my first treatment.
That appointment changed the course of my life.
The acupuncturist asked thoughtful questions about my stress, digestion, pain, and overall well‑being — things no doctor had ever connected before. She examined my tongue, felt my pulse, and explained my pattern diagnosis: Liver Qi stagnation and Spleen‑Pancreas Qi deficiency.
Then she placed a single needle on the top of my foot.
I felt a surge of energy travel straight to my eye — a sensation so immediate and undeniable that I sat up and said, “What was that?” She smiled and explained that the Liver channel opens to the eyes.
In that moment, something clicked. I knew I had found my calling.
I enrolled in acupuncture school shortly after, completed my Master’s degree in 1999, traveled to China for advanced clinical training, and opened my private practice in 2000. I later earned my Doctorate in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine to deepen my understanding of integrative care.
My Approach to Healing
I believe the body is designed to heal — not perfectly, not instantly, but continuously. My role is to help you understand your patterns, support your physiology, and restore balance so you can move through life with more resilience and less pain.
My work blends:
• Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Classical Five‑Element acupuncture
• Herbal medicine
• Nutritional therapy
• Pelvic floor dry needling
• Motor point acupuncture & Exstore assessment
• Facial rejuvenation acupuncture & microneedling
• AromaTune vibrational therapy
I treat both internal medicine and musculoskeletal conditions, using a dual‑lens approach:
Internal Medicine
I diagnose based on constitutional patterns — not disease labels — to address digestion, hormones, stress, sleep, emotional well‑being, and long‑standing imbalances.
Musculoskeletal & Pain Conditions
I use orthopedic and neurofunctional assessment, including Exstore, to identify inhibited muscles and dysfunctional motor points. By resetting the muscle, releasing trigger points, and regulating the parasympathetic nervous system, we reduce pain, restore movement, and improve function.
Most pain does not require an MRI or surgery. Much of it comes from soft‑tissue dysfunction — something acupuncture treats exceptionally well.
The Radiant Core Method™
A restorative, step‑by‑step approach to digestive balance, pelvic floor health, emotional steadiness, and natural facial rejuvenation.
This method is not a quick fix — it’s a layered, integrative process that:
• resets facial symmetry
• relaxes tension patterns
• restores digestive and hormonal balance
• strengthens the pelvic floor
• supports emotional resilience
• improves vitality from the inside out
Each session builds on the last, creating lasting change rather than temporary relief.
Education & Credentials
• Doctor of Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine (DACM) Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, 2016
• Master of Traditional Oriental Medicine (MTOM) Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, 1999
• Bachelor of Science, Biology San Diego State University, 1993
• California Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac.) Primary care provider within the scope of Chinese medicine
• Diplomate of Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine (Dipl. AHM) National Certification Board for Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine (NCBAHM)
Why I Love This Work
Acupuncture has supported me through stress, pain, illness, and the natural ups and downs of life. It keeps me grounded, energized, and connected to my body. I cannot imagine my life without it — or without offering it to others.
Helping people feel better, move better, and live more fully is deeply meaningful to me. When your health improves, everything in your life improves — your relationships, your work, your confidence, your joy.
Your health matters. And you don’t have to navigate it alone.
