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What is Freedom Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine?
Welcome to Freedom Acupuncture, your premier destination for holistic healing and well-being in Watsonville and the greater Monterey Bay area. Our dedicated team of skilled practitioners is committed to providing you with the highest quality care through blending traditional practices with modern techniques to address your unique needs, offering acupuncture, cupping, gua sha, herbal medicine, chiropractic adjustments, trigger point therapy and massage, and personal training.
Whether you're in Watsonville, Freedom, Salinas, Monterey, or anywhere in the region, our mission is to empower you on your journey to optimal health, both physically and mentally. Explore the transformative power of our services and experience the freedom to live your best, healthiest life with Freedom Acupuncture.
Who is Freedom Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine?
About Francesca
Francesca is the founder of Freedom Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine and an acupuncturist (L.Ac.) licensed by the state of California, with a Masters of Traditional Chinese Medicine (MTCM) from Five Branches University in Santa Cruz, CA and a Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM) degree from the Five Branches University campus in San Jose, CA. Francesca specializes in Pain Management and Neuromuscular Medicine, though she is happy to treat any concern. She is also experienced in internal medicine, such as organ disorders, body system disorders, and other acute or chronic illnesses. She enjoys creating customized herbal formulas for patients, as well.
Born and raised in Napa, CA, Francesca has been passionately interested in holistic healing from a very young age. She fell in love with Asian Medicine through her own healing and transformational experience with acupuncture and traditional Chinese herbal formulas. Outside of the office, she loves surfing, rock climbing, fitness, sunshine, learning, exploring and expanding her consciousness.
About Lalita
Lalita is an acupuncturist (L.Ac.) licensed by the state of California, with a Masters of Science in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine from the Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences in Oakland, CA.
Lalita believes that when people go through trauma or significant life stressors, their health starts to decline, and being able to help them heal with the art of Traditional Chinese Medicine is her honor and passion. She prides herself as a Latina woman, bilingual in English and Spanish, and it is her mission statement to make TCM healing accessible to her Latino community of the Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay Area. She has witnessed firsthand the potential of this medicinal art and understands that every patient's needs are different. Therefore getting to know their individual needs is essential to successfully restoring harmony and health back to them.
About Gabriel
Trigger Point Therapy
Gabriel is a Trigger Point Specialist and Personal Trainer. He can help provide relief of pain and increase vitality. This is because our physical functionality is a major component of physical and emotional well-being and longevity.
Trigger Point massage is a form of myofascial release massage that incorporates sports massage and medical massage techniques. It can immediately improve posture and movement and reduce pain. Trigger points are a sensitive or tender areas, sometimes called a "knot" or "Charley horse" which can cause pain. When our muscles suffer from overuse, atrophy, or trauma these painful trigger points can form. This restricts adequate blood supply which allows the muscles to relax. By manipulating the trigger points muscles and fascia can be loosened and normal blood flow can return to the area, releasing tension and reducing pain. Trigger point therapy is useful to help relieve mild to moderate pain and restore mobility.
Gabriel has successfully used trigger point on the following conditions: Arthritis, Muscle strains, Herniated discs, Sciatica, Knee pain, Shoulder Pain, Fibromyalgia, Plantar fasciitis, Headaches, IBS, TMJ, Back Pain, among other pain syndromes.
Personal Training
Gabriel is also passionate about personal training as part of his pursuit in helping clients achieve physical, mental and spiritual being. While passive therapy can be fundamental in helping us feel better, active therapies are the foundation that help us keep bodies functional and moving forward. He specializes in supporting balance and strength in his clients, as well as pain prevention. He utilizes mobility training (including yoga and flexibility training) with resistance training (including use of dumbbells, kettlebells, and resistance bands) to restore the body to pain free activity and optimal functionality.
About Caroline
Caroline is a seasoned acupuncturist licensed by the state of California. She earned a Masters of Traditional Chinese Medicine after completing over 3200 hours of education at Five Branches University in Santa Cruz, CA. In practice since 2013, she specializes in pain management, sports medicine, and women’s health. Her focus is to help people achieve their health goals in order to enhance their quality of life.
Caroline grew up in Gilroy, CA and attended the University of California Santa Cruz where she completed a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology. She then became a National Park Service ranger in Yosemite National Park. After over a decade of dedication to Yosemite, she went on to study the healing arts. During this time she developed a deep appreciation for, and experience in, a holistic approach to health and well being. In her spare time, she maintains a passion for exploring the outdoors with family and friends.