Acupuncture

Monterey Natural Wellness offers personalized acupuncture within an integrative medical practice, supporting women’s health, fertility, mood, stress, pain, and overall wellness.

Acupuncture in Monterey

At Monterey Natural Wellness, acupuncture is delivered inside a private treatment room within a full integrative medical practice — so your care can be coordinated with naturopathic medicine, functional testing, and hormone health when it's helpful. Every treatment plan is built around your health history, current symptoms, and goals.

Personalized Acupuncture for Your Health

Acupuncture is a traditional form of medicine that uses very thin needles placed at specific points on the body. Treatments are intended to support the body's natural regulatory processes, encourage circulation, ease tension, and promote physical and emotional well-being.

At Monterey Natural Wellness, acupuncture is never one-size-fits-all. Your acupuncturist takes the time to understand what you're experiencing, assess your body’s current state and builds an individualized treatment plan using Chinese medicine and gentle Japanese acupuncture techniques.

Because acupuncture is offered within an integrative medical practice, it can complement your existing medical care. When appropriate, our acupuncturists and naturopathic doctors collaborate to provide a more comprehensive approach.

What Can Acupuncture Support?

Patients throughout Monterey, Pacific Grove, Carmel, Pebble Beach, and Seaside seek acupuncture at Monterey Natural Wellness for many different concerns, including:

Acute and chronic pain
Neck, back, and shoulder tension
Headaches and migraines
Stress and anxiety
Sleep difficulties
Digestive concerns
Menstrual pain and irregular cycles
Perimenopause and menopause symptoms
Fertility and preconception support
Pregnancy and postpartum concerns
Fatigue and overall wellness
Emotional and physical trauma support
Cosmetic facial rejuvenation

Acupuncture for Fertility in Monterey

Acupuncture can provide supportive care throughout the fertility journey — whether you're preparing for pregnancy, trying to conceive naturally, or working with a reproductive endocrinologist during IUI or IVF.

Fertility acupuncture treatments are personalized around your cycle, medical history, fertility treatment plan, and overall health. Treatment may focus on:

Menstrual cycle comfort and regularity
Supporting blood flow to the ovaries and uterus
Stress and emotional well-being
Preconception wellness
Support during fertility medications, IUI, or IVF
General well-being throughout the fertility process

Acupuncture During Pregnancy

Acupuncture can be adapted to support patients throughout pregnancy. Our acupuncturists specialize in acupuncture for pregnancy. They carefully select pregnancy-appropriate acupuncture points based on your trimester, symptoms, and medical history.

Patients may seek acupuncture during pregnancy for:

Morning sickness, nausea, and vomiting
Low back, hip, and pelvic discomfort
Headaches
Sleep difficulties
Stress and emotional well-being
Fatigue
General pregnancy support

Moxibustion for Breech Presentation

If a baby remains in a breech position later in pregnancy, acupuncture and moxibustion may be considered in coordination with your obstetrician or midwife to encourage baby to turn head down.

Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that uses the gentle warmth of an herb called moxa near a specific acupuncture point on the outside of the little toe. The goal is to encourage fetal movement and support the possibility of the baby turning into a head-down position.

Cosmetic Acupuncture and Facial Rejuvenation

Dr. Judy also provides cosmetic acupuncture in Monterey for patients seeking a gentle, non-surgical approach to facial rejuvenation.

Cosmetic acupuncture is designed to support:

Healthy facial circulation
Skin tone and texture
The appearance of fine lines
Puffiness and facial tension
Natural skin vitality
A refreshed, rested appearance

Because the effects of cosmetic acupuncture are cumulative, a series of treatments is generally recommended. Dr. Judy will discuss the appropriate frequency based on your skin, goals, and overall health.

An Integrative Acupuncture Team

Acupuncture at Monterey Natural Wellness is led by Dr. Judy Klamecki, DACM, L.Ac., and practice founder Dr. Allison Serrano, ND, L.Ac.

Dr. Judy is a California-licensed and nationally board-certified acupuncturist and herbalist, holding both a Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine and a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. Her advanced training spans Chinese medicine, Japanese Kiiko-style acupuncture, neurology, psychology and trauma, women's health, pregnancy and postpartum care, and cosmetic acupuncture. Her approach is gentle, precise, and highly individualized — she takes the time to understand both the physical symptoms bringing you in and the broader factors affecting your well-being.

Monterey Natural Wellness was founded by Dr. Allison Serrano, ND, L.Ac., a California-licensed Naturopathic Doctor and board-certified acupuncturist. Dr. Serrano's dual training in naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, and Traditional Chinese Medicine shapes the clinic's comprehensive approach — meaning your acupuncturist works inside a practice built for integrative care, not a standalone clinic and can incorporate diagnoses, lab findings, stool analysis and other assessments into your acupuncture treatments.

Together, Dr. Judy and Dr. Serrano give patients access to acupuncture within the same practice as naturopathic medicine, functional testing, hormone care, fertility support, nutrition, and IV therapy — so care can be coordinated and integrated in one place ifor truly comprehensive care.

What to Expect at Your Acupuncture Appointment

Your first appointment begins with a detailed conversation about your health history, symptoms, medications, lifestyle, and treatment goals. Your acupuncturist will then select points and techniques based on your individual needs.

Acupuncture needles are extremely thin, and most patients experience little or no discomfort. You may feel a brief sensation when a needle is placed, followed by heaviness, warmth, tingling, or deep relaxation.

Follow-up sessions typically last approximately one hour. We recommend wearing loose, comfortable clothing whenever possible.

The frequency of treatment depends on your symptoms and goals. Many patients begin with weekly appointments and gradually space treatments farther apart as they improve. Others choose monthly acupuncture for ongoing wellness and maintenance.

Acupuncture FAQ

Monterey Natural Wellness — specializing in acupuncture for internal conditions, mood, trauma, and adrenal support

While acupuncture is well known for pain relief, at Monterey Natural Wellness we specialize in using it to treat internal conditions as well — including digestive issues, hormonal imbalances, sleep disorders, autoimmune symptoms, and adrenal dysfunction. Acupuncture works by regulating the nervous system and supporting the body's internal communication pathways, which is why it's effective for conditions that go far beyond musculoskeletal pain.
Yes. Acupuncture is one of our most requested treatments for anxiety, depression, and general mood support. Treatment helps regulate the autonomic nervous system, shifting the body out of a chronic "fight-or-flight" state and into a calmer, more balanced state. Many patients notice improved emotional regulation, better sleep, and reduced reactivity to stress after a course of treatment.
Yes, Acupuncture is a core part of our approach to nervous system regulation and trauma support. Dr. Judy Klamecki, LAc has expertise in this area. Because trauma is stored not just mentally but physiologically, acupuncture's ability to calm the nervous system makes it a valuable complement in addressing trauma and PTSD. Our providers tailor point selection to support nervous system regulation, helping patients feel safer and more grounded in their bodies over time.
Yes, adrenal fatigue and HPA-axis (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal) support is one of our specialty focus areas. Acupuncture helps regulate cortisol output and supports the body's stress-response system, which can ease symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, poor sleep, and burnout. We often pair acupuncture with naturopathic and functional medicine strategies for a more comprehensive approach to adrenal recovery.
In addition to mood, trauma, and adrenal support, our Monterey acupuncturists commonly use acupuncture to treat digestive disorders (bloating, IBS, reflux), hormonal imbalances, irregular cycles, fertility support, insomnia, migraines, and autoimmune-related symptoms. Every treatment plan is built around your specific health history and goals, and we are often able to treat more than one thing in the acupuncture session!

Our acupuncture treatments are often integrated with naturopathic and functional medicine, meaning your provider looks at the full clinical picture — labs, stool analysis results, hormones, nervous system health, and lifestyle, rather than treating symptoms in isolation. This integrative approach is especially valuable for internal and stress-related conditions, where root-cause context makes treatment more effective.
Acupuncture may be used during pregnancy when provided by a licensed acupuncturist familiar with prenatal care. At Monterey Natural Wellness, our acupuncturists specialize in fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum acupuncture. Always let your acupuncturist know if you are pregnant, could be pregnant, or are undergoing fertility treatment so your treatment can be adjusted appropriately.
The recommended number and frequency of treatments depend on your condition, how long you have experienced it, and how your body responds. Acute concerns may improve with fewer visits, while chronic or more complex conditions such as adrenal fatigue and nervous system regulation, often benefit from a series of treatments. Your acupuncturist will discuss a recommended plan after your initial evaluation.
Your first visit includes an in-depth intake covering your health history, current symptoms, stress, and goals, followed by an Eastern Medicine Health Assessment including tongue and pulse diagnosis, and palpation along acupuncture channels. We will then begin your first treatment. Sessions take place in a calm, private treatment room. Most patients find the experience deeply relaxing, and some fall asleep during treatment.
You can book an appointment online through our website or contact our Monterey office directly. New patients are welcome to reach out with questions about whether acupuncture is a good fit for their specific health goals.

Our licensed acupuncturists provide personalized treatment for patients in Monterey, Carmel, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Seaside, Big Sur, and throughout the Monterey Bay area.

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