Classical Acupuncture for Fibromyalgia & Multiple Sclerosis
HILLCREST | SAN DIEGO
An investigative approach for people dealing with chronic illness who have tried the normal options, but still don’t feel normal.
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CA Licensed • Est. 2017 • Classical Lineage • Private 1-on-1 • 5.0★ (30+ Reviews)
You've Been Through the Medical System
Specialists. Tests. Medications. More specialists. More tests.
You have a chronic illness diagnosis, maybe several. Lupus. Rheumatoid arthritis. Hashimoto's. Crohn's. Fibromyalgia. Lyme disease. MS. Chronic fatigue. Maybe you’ve heard "we don't know what's wrong, but your labs are normal."
The medications barely manage symptoms and often create new problems. You're exhausted from fighting your own body. You've tried elimination diets, supplements, functional medicine protocols. Some things help temporarily, but nothing addresses why your body seemingly turned against you or why you can't heal.
You're not out of options. You just need a different approach.
"I had a number of health issues that my western doctor was unable to resolve. Working with Diego, I am now a happy and healthy human again. Diego is a true healer. He listens. He explores different treatment options to best address health issues."
— G. R.
Why Conventional Medicine Struggles with Chronic Illness
Western medicine excels at acute conditions. Infections, injuries, emergencies. But chronic complex illness? The system wasn't designed for this.
The problems:
Specialists treat organs in isolation. Your rheumatologist treats your joints. Your gastroenterologist treats your gut. Your endocrinologist treats your thyroid. But your body doesn't operate in separate compartments. Everything is connected.
Lab values become the sole measure of disease. If your numbers are "normal," you're told nothing is wrong. But you feel terrible. The labs don't measure harmony in your system.
Suppressing symptoms becomes the goal. Steroids reduce inflammation. Immunosuppressants silence alarms from your immune system. Pain meds mask the ache. But no one is asking why your body is inflamed, hyperactive, or in pain in the first place.
Chronic illness isn't a deficiency of medication. It's a pattern of resource depletion and strategic coping by your body that's taken years or decades to develop.
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I practice Classical Chinese Medicine, which views chronic complex illness through a completely different lens. Most importantly, your body is not punishing or failing you.
For most people, their lifestyles have forced their bodies into an exceedingly difficult choice: slow, chronic disease or imminent death from acute organ failure. In your body's infinite intelligence, it has chosen to sacrifice immediate quality of life to buy you more time to address the resource depletion and mental constraints that led to the disease in the first place.
Through Classical Chinese Medicine, we can work on the body and mind to slow the progression and, in many cases, even shift the course of chronic degenerative disease.
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In Classical Chinese Medicine, the body has five channel systems. Most TCM acupuncturists only work with one: the Primary Channels. But the Divergent Channels exist to manage chronic degenerative disease.
The Divergent Channels are your body's crisis response system. They manage:
Life-threatening disease
Autoimmune conditions
Chronic degenerative illness
Joint degeneration
Resource depletion and fluid regulation
When your body can't resolve an issue through more superficial channels, the Divergent Channels sequester the pathology to protect vital organs. This is why autoimmune disease, chronic inflammation, and degenerative conditions persist despite treatment. The pattern is held in latency in a system that standard TCM doesn't access.
We get symptoms or a disease label when the body, due to depletion, can no longer hold the pathogen latent and it begins to leak out from its place of containment. This leaking engages the immune response and we get inflammation and the common symptoms of chronic inflammatory disease.
Classical Acupuncture can address what's been held in the Divergent Channels for years, but only when the body is strong enough.
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Chronic illness doesn't just deplete you physically. It depletes you at every level.
You're depleted from years of symptoms, poor sleep, pain, medications, stress, and fighting your own body. Many practitioners don't assess how depleted you are before treating. They throw aggressive treatment at a system that has no resources to respond.
I work with what your body can handle. In every chronic illness case, we know the body needs to rebuild hydration and other key resources. For this reason, we incorporate lifestyle guidance and dietary therapy. What happens in the other 23 hours in a day is just as important, if not more, than the 1 hour of healing we achieve together.
Some sessions require building reserves before we can address the deeper pattern. Some conditions require slow, gentle work over months.
Deep healing demands gradual pacing.
Learn More: The Classical Medicine View of Chronic Illness
How I Work Differently
You may have tried acupuncture before without lasting results. This often happens when treatment relies on standardized point protocols without investigating your specific pattern.
Here's how I work:
Complete Pattern Diagnosis
I don't treat your diagnosis label. I treat your whole being including your story.
Two people with lupus will present completely differently. One might have a Divergent Channel issue. Another might have a Luo Channel issue. The variations in patterns are as unique as the individuals seeking care. Same Western label, different treatment needs.
I use Classical pulse and tongue diagnosis to identify:
Which channel system(s) hold the pathology
The nature of the pathology in question
What resources your body has available to spare
What your body can and cannot process in each treatment
This precision allows me to address the actual root pattern, not just the Western symptom label.
One Patient at a Time
I don't treat multiple patients at once or rush between rooms. When you book a session, you get my undivided attention for the entire appointment.
Comprehensive Channel Work
Most acupuncture schools mention Complement Channels briefly but don't teach how to activate them correctly. This is why you might have tried acupuncture before and gotten minimal or temporary results.
I work with:
-Divergent Channels for chronic degenerative disease and autoimmune conditions
-Luo Channels for pain with emotional components
-Sinew Channels for acute musculoskeletal issues
-Eight Extraordinary Channels for constitutional weakness
Standard TCM only treats the Primary Channels. Chronic illness often lives in these deeper systems.
Treating the Whole System
Your chronic condition isn't separate from your digestive issues, sleep problems, anxiety, or hormonal imbalances. They're all expressions of the same underlying pattern.
Classical Acupuncture treats the system, not the symptom list. When we address the root channel imbalance, multiple symptoms improve simultaneously because we're treating what connects them. Quality of life improves as a result.
What I See Often:
A patient came in with MS and chronic back pain. The back pain would improve marginally with standard acupuncture, but would return within days. She originally sought care because the pain wasn't responding to medication.
During my assessment, I found her pulse showed Divergent Channel patterns. MS is a Divergent Channel condition. The back pain was connected to the same underlying pattern, not just a mechanical issue.
What I did first: Treated the Divergent Channels instead of continuing with Sinew treatments. Within 2-3 sessions, the back pain improved more significantly and stayed improved longer. Her depressive symptoms also lifted. Submandibular swelling she'd had for months reduced.
What changed: She realized the back pain, mood issues, and swelling were all connected to the same root pattern. Treating that pattern addressed multiple complications of her MS simultaneously. She stopped chasing individual symptoms.
"I sought care at Gateway after being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. My symptoms were debilitating. Since working with Diego, I have been symptom-free for approximately one year. I no longer worry about my physical health because Diego is a healer of the highest integrity."
— Richard M.
What Changes Look Like
Healing isn't magic. It's physiology. Here's the typical progression my chronic illness patients experience:
Phase 1: Stabilization (Treatments 1-5)
Subtle shifts. Sleep improves slightly. Energy stabilizes. Flare-ups become less severe or less frequent. You stop feeling like you're constantly spiraling.
Phase 2: Improvement (Treatments 6-12)
Multiple symptoms improve together. Digestive issues ease. Pain decreases. Brain fog lifts. You have better days more often than bad days.
Phase 3: Long-Term Management
Many patients return to activities they'd given up. Some reduce medications (with their doctor's guidance). Some maintain with periodic treatments. Some need ongoing support.
Results vary based on how long you've had the condition, how depleted you are, and your body's capacity. Chronic complex illness requires patience. Most patients notice subtle shifts within 4-5 sessions. Meaningful improvement typically emerges over a longer period.
The goal is always improved quality of life and sustainable progress, not just symptom suppression.
"Diego is an extraordinarily gifted practitioner. His generosity of spirit combined with technical expertise and depth of knowledge are a rare combination. He will stand with you all the way."
— Josie J.
Is This Approach Right for You?
This is a good fit if:
✓ You have a chronic or autoimmune diagnosis (or suspected diagnosis)
✓ You've tried conventional approaches without lasting improvement
✓ Your quality of life has declined despite treatment
✓ You're willing to commit to a treatment series (not just 1-2 visits)
✓ You're open to lifestyle and dietary changes
✓ You value investigative medicine over quick fixes
This may not be the right fit if:
✗ You want immediate results in 1-2 sessions
✗ You're currently in an acute medical crisis (seek emergency care first)
✗ You're not willing to try at least 6-8 sessions to assess response
✗ You're not open to looking at lifestyle factors
✗ You're looking for the cheapest option available
I work with people who are ready to address root patterns, not just manage symptoms indefinitely.
What I won't promise: I can't guarantee specific outcomes or timelines. Chronic illness is complex. Every body is different. If you're not seeing progress by session 6-8, I'll tell you directly and we'll either adjust the approach or I'll refer you elsewhere. Some conditions require ongoing treatment as part of long-term wellness maintenance.
Common Conditions Treated
Autoimmune & Inflammatory
Lupus
Rheumatoid arthritis
Hashimoto's thyroiditis
Sjögren's syndrome
Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's, ulcerative colitis)
Psoriasis and eczema
Multiple sclerosis
Chronic Systemic
Chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)
Fibromyalgia
Lyme disease and post-treatment Lyme syndrome
Mast cell activation syndrome
Post-viral syndromes (long COVID, post-EBV)
Interstitial cystitis
Complex regional pain syndrome
Other
Supportive care during cancer treatment (working alongside your oncology team)
Mystery illness (symptoms without clear diagnosis)
If your condition isn't listed, reach out. Classical Acupuncture treats patterns at the channel level, regardless of the Western medicine label.
What Happens on Your First Visit
Before your first treatment : Complimentary fit call
10-15 minutes with me. We'll clarify your goals and whether this approach is right for you. If it's a fit, you'll leave with a recommended starting plan.
Your first session (80 minutes) includes:
✓ Comprehensive health history (we'll discuss your timeline, triggers, what's helped, what hasn't)
✓ Classical pulse and tongue diagnosis
✓ Complete channel assessment
✓ Same-day treatment based on your specific pattern
✓ Clear explanation of your diagnosis from a Classical perspective
✓ Treatment plan and expected timeline
✓ Lifestyle and nutrition guidance
One detail most patients don't expect: I'll ask detailed questions about your health history going back years, sometimes to childhood. Chronic illness patterns often have long timelines. What seems unrelated (a childhood infection, a period of extreme stress, a major life event) can be diagnostically significant. Most practitioners don't dig this deep.
Follow-up sessions (55 minutes):
✓ Continued channel-based treatment
✓ Adjustments based on your body's response between sessions
✓ Ongoing support and guidance
✓ Resource rebuilding as needed
Your Investment in Health
I'm an out-of-network provider dedicated to premium, individualized care. This allows me to treat you based on what you need, not what an insurance adjuster dictates. I provide detailed superbills for insurance reimbursement.
Initial Intake & Treatment: $225 | 80 minutes. Comprehensive history, assessment & diagnosis, lifestyle evaluation, and your first full treatment.
Follow-Up Treatments: $180 | 55 minutes. Continued channel-based treatment, adjustments based on your response, ongoing guidance.
Payment: Cash, credit, HSA, FSA accepted
Insurance: We are an out-of-network provider. Detailed superbills provided for reimbursement.
Frequently Asked Questions
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A: Yes. Chronic illness develops over years or decades, which means there's a pattern we can work with. The body doesn't just "break" randomly. It adapts strategically to circumstances. Classical acupuncture addresses those adaptive patterns at the channel level. Even long-standing conditions can shift when we treat the root pattern and rebuild resources. I've worked with patients who've had their conditions for 10+ years and still see meaningful improvement.
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A: "Incurable" in Western medicine often means "we can't eliminate it with current pharmaceuticals or procedures." Classical Chinese Medicine works with different mechanisms. We're not trying to "cure" in the Western sense. We're addressing the underlying pattern that allows the condition to persist. Many patients experience improved quality of life, reduced symptoms, better function, and sometimes even reduced need for medications (always under their doctor's guidance). The goal is sustainable improvement, not just symptom suppression.
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A: Most acupuncture in the U.S. is TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), which uses standardized point protocols and only treats the Primary Channels. Chronic degenerative disease and autoimmune conditions live in the Divergent Channels, a system that standard TCM doesn't access effectively. Classical acupuncture uses pulse-based diagnosis to identify your specific pattern and works with all five channel systems. This is why you might have tried acupuncture before without lasting results for complex illness.
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A: No. Never stop medications without your doctor's guidance. I work alongside your medical team. Many patients find they need less medication over time as patterns improve, but those decisions are made with their prescribing physician. Some patients stay on medications and use acupuncture to improve quality of life and reduce side effects. Classical acupuncture complements Western treatment, it doesn't replace it.
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A: Classical Chinese Medicine doesn't require a Western diagnosis to treat effectively. I'm diagnosing at the channel level using pulse, tongue, symptoms, and your health timeline. Two people with the same Western label often get different treatments from me. Two people with completely different diagnoses might get similar treatments if they share the same channel pattern. I treat what I find in your body, not the diagnostic label.
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A: Yes. Most of my chronic illness patients have multiple diagnoses (autoimmune condition plus digestive issues plus anxiety plus sleep problems, for example). In Classical medicine, these aren't separate conditions. They're expressions of the same underlying pattern. When we address the root channel imbalance, multiple symptoms often improve simultaneously because we're treating what connects them.
Ready to Address Your Chronic Illness at the Root?
Don't spend another year managing symptoms. Let's investigate what's driving your condition.
Schedule a complimentary fit call:
✓ 10-15 minutes with Diego
✓ Discuss your health timeline and goals
✓ Determine if this approach is right for you
✓ If it's a fit, you'll leave with a recommended starting plan
Gateway Acupuncture & Wellness
Diego García, L.Ac.
3636 5th Ave, Suite 101
San Diego, CA 92103
Hours: Mon-Fri 9-6 PM & Sun 11-3 PM
Call on Mobile: (619) 289-9336
Email: Diego@gatewayacu.com
Serving: Mission Hills, Mission Valley, Hillcrest, North & South Park, Golden Hill, Normal Heights, Kensington, University Heights, Bankers Hill, Downtown San Diego, La Jolla, Del Mar, and nearby communities.
Written By: Diego garcia, L.Ac.