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Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine

“Qi,” or energy, moves through the body and the internal organs along channels or pathways called “meridians.” Meridians are similar to arteries, veins, and nerves throughout the body. When there is stagnation of blockages along the pathways, imbalance, dysfunction, disease, or pain can occur. Acupuncture restores health by removing imbalances and blockages through the insertion of small, st... Read More

“Qi,” or energy, moves through the body and the internal organs along channels or pathways called “meridians.” Meridians are similar to arteries, veins, and nerves throughout the body. When there is stagnation of blockages along the pathways, imbalance, dysfunction, disease, or pain can occur.

Acupuncture restores health by removing imbalances and blockages through the insertion of small, sterile needles into specific points of the body. The points of insertion are specifically chosen based on a patient’s needs and the goals of treatment, with the overall goal of allowing energy to flow freely through the body.

Acupuncture treatments are not painful; in fact, many patients feel nothing at all during the procedure, while others experience a prickling or aching sensation and still others feel a warmth of heaviness during treatment.

Chiropractic

Chiropractic services are organized around the fact that the human body, under the control of the brain and central nervous system, is self-healing and self-regulating. Under normal circumstances, your body is constantly repairing and building itself. However, with stress, injury, illness, or other life factors, you may experience problems. Regular chiropractic care can remedy that and keep you... Read More

Chiropractic services are organized around the fact that the human body, under the control of the brain and central nervous system, is self-healing and self-regulating. Under normal circumstances, your body is constantly repairing and building itself. However, with stress, injury, illness, or other life factors, you may experience problems. Regular chiropractic care can remedy that and keep you feeling your best.

There’s no way around it: Everyday living presents stressors we have to deal with. For example, you may experience physical stress from exercise or your job, mental stress from schoolwork or parenting, or environmental stress due to pollutants in the air.

When your body’s overall ability to adapt to stress is exceeded, this interferes with your ability to function at an optimal level. In chiropractic care, we refer to this nerve interference as a “subluxation.” Left untreated, subluxations adversely affect your health and can lead to musculoskeletal, neurological, vascular, metabolic, and mental/emotional issues.

Chiropractic care is a safe and effective therapy for improving and balancing neurological function and maintaining optimal health. Regular chiropractic adjustments reduce or eliminate subluxations and reset your nervous system function, effectively restoring your body’s ability to care for itself.

Clinical Massage Therapy

Clinical massage therapy refers to the use of touch through kneading and manipulating the soft tissue of the body to aid with circulation, relaxing the muscles, and addressing problem areas. Massage is one of the oldest and most accessible forms of therapy. The goal of clinical massage therapy is to increase your overall health and wellbeing through addressing the root causes that may be cr... Read More

Clinical massage therapy refers to the use of touch through kneading and manipulating the soft tissue of the body to aid with circulation, relaxing the muscles, and addressing problem areas. Massage is one of the oldest and most accessible forms of therapy.

The goal of clinical massage therapy is to increase your overall health and wellbeing through addressing the root causes that may be creating physical, mental, or emotional distress.

Additionally, touch is an essential part of wellness. As humans, being touched helps us feel connected and loved by others and positively impacts our mental and emotional health.

In our clinical massage sessions, we work with you to outline goals for your treatment plan and then provide hands-on therapy for 50-80 minutes, depending on your needs and long-term goals.

At Community Wellness Collaborative, receiving regular massage is a primary pillar of your integrated wellness plan.

Functional Nutritional Assessments

Part of holistic wellness is acknowledging that what we put into our bodies matters. Nutrition, and the way we choose to nourish our bodies, is a critical component of health. According to the USDA, half of the adult population in America has at least one chronic preventable disease process. That means many of us are suffering from conditions that could be prevented, at least in part, by ea... Read More

Part of holistic wellness is acknowledging that what we put into our bodies matters. Nutrition, and the way we choose to nourish our bodies, is a critical component of health.

According to the USDA, half of the adult population in America has at least one chronic preventable disease process. That means many of us are suffering from conditions that could be prevented, at least in part, by eating better. The “standard” American diet is far from nutritious, and many people suffer from vitamin deficiencies they aren’t even aware of.

If you’re wondering how to improve your eating habits, whether your nutrition is affecting you systemically, or have questions related to your food and supplement intake, our functional nutrition assessments can help.

Naturopathic Medicine

Naturopathic medicine is a patient-centered approach to healthcare using natural therapies. Naturopathic doctors offer holistic treatment plans with an emphasis on patient education, disease prevention, and whole-person wellness. Naturopathic doctors use evidence-based medicine along with ancient healing modalities to customize treatment. Treatment approaches may include clinical nutrition, lif... Read More

Naturopathic medicine is a patient-centered approach to healthcare using natural therapies. Naturopathic doctors offer holistic treatment plans with an emphasis on patient education, disease prevention, and whole-person wellness. Naturopathic doctors use evidence-based medicine along with ancient healing modalities to customize treatment. Treatment approaches may include clinical nutrition, lifestyle counseling, mineral and vitamin supplements, herbal remedies, homeopathic remedies, and bio-identical hormones.

Dr. Ryan Altman L.Ac.

Dr. Ryan is the Founder and CEO of Community Wellness Collaborative. Originally from New York, he was transplanted to San Diego for High School. After college in San Francisco, he returned in 2001 for Grad School at Pacific College of Health Science. Dr Ryan created the Healing Arts Festival, Integrative Health Nights clinical rotation, as well as the Adams Avenue Integrative Health facility. He was part of the inaugural cohort of practitioners invited to participate in PCHS’s Doctoral program and has assisted in program evaluation and clinical supervisor roles for the college. In his free time he enjoys live music, travel, and traveling for live music. For more on Dr Ryan, see the History of our organization here: https://communitywellness.org/history/

Dr. Ryan is the Founder and CEO of Community Wellness Collaborative. Originally from New York, he... Read More

Michelle Coltart
(She/Her/They) L.Ac.

Michelle Coltart, L.Ac. discovered the Chinese healing art of Acupuncture in the early 1990’s while working in the computer industry. After a co-worker suggested she get a treatment, she realized her true calling. She fell in love with this healing modality, instantly impressed by the effect it had on the health and wellbeing of herself and those she cares for. She began her studies by attending seminars and reading every book she could find; a few years later she left the world of computing and returned to school to explore the wonders of this medicine in-depth. Along the way, she has studied nutrition, herbology, postural analysis, and medical qi gong. Michelle’s passion for this medicine shows in her commitment to her patients. Her compassion, humor and gentle needle technique set people at ease. She delights that those she treats are as amazed by the effect as she first was.

Michelle Coltart, L.Ac. discovered the Chinese healing art of Acupuncture in the early 1990’s whi... Read More

Dr. Leda DeRose L.Ac.

Dr. Leda DeRose, DACM, L.Ac. began her career in Massage Therapy in 2011. She received her education at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine where she earned an Associates of Science degree in Massage Therapy and Asian Body Work, and graduated with a Masters in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Now a Licensed Acupuncturist, Leda integrates Traditional Acupuncture, Herbology, and Asian Body Work to fit individual needs. She is passionate about health, wellness, and practicing Traditional Chinese Medicine with compassion and a genuine connection. Leda is dedicated to lifelong learning, professional development, and personal growth. She believes in the principle of facilitating good health by promoting and restoring balance and integration of the body’s natural systems.

Dr. Leda DeRose, DACM, L.Ac. began her career in Massage Therapy in 2011. She received her educat... Read More

Kristi Emanuel

Kristi Emanuel, CMT is a graduate of Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in San Diego. She specializes in deep tissue, trigger point therapy, sports massage, cupping, and Swedish massage. She enjoys customizing sessions by blending different modalities, including Tui-Na, to address each patient’s specific needs.

Kristi has a background in competitive swimming, coaching, lifeguarding, and water aerobics. As a reflection of her well-rounded and fitness-based lifestyle, she holds a certificate to teach group exercise classes and is currently enrolled in a personal training course. She is also a qualified CPR instructor. In her free time, you can typically find Kristi outdoors doing open water swims, lifting weights, stand up paddle boarding, hiking, and learning how to surf.

Kristi Emanuel, CMT is a graduate of Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in San Diego. She speci... Read More

Dr. Maile Helgeson LAc.
(She/Her They/Them)

Dr. Maile grew up in Coronado, Ca just across the bay from San Diego. In 1999, she pursued a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology from University of California in Berkeley, and then in 2003, she attended the Santa Barbara City College Marine Diving Technology Program and returned to San Diego in 2004. After having both knees rehabilitated with consistent acupuncture treatments, she eventually found her way to the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. Specializing in orthopedic and sports medicine, she worked as an assistant for three years under the mentorship of Mark Kastner L.Ac and interned at USCD with the young athletes. In addition, and in spite of her more orthopedic oriented career, she has also helped many people struggling with infertility. Dr. Maile enjoys mountain climbing, relentless reading, eating delicious and nutritious food, and practicing Chinese medicine. She is honored to be an assistant in your healing experience.

Dr. Maile grew up in Coronado, Ca just across the bay from San Diego. In 1999, she pursued a Bach... Read More

Dr. CJ Jarvis DC

Dr. CJ Jarvis, DC believes in an integrated approach—blending soft tissue work, functional movement screening, and chiropractic adjustments to provide the most efficient treatment possible to obtain patient goals of care. She utilizes Diversified adjusting techniques, drop table, activator, and extremity adjusting. She is also trained in Active Release Technique (ART), as well as Rocktape FMT Basic.

As a San Francisco Bay Area native, Cj acquired her doctor of chiropractic degree from Life Chiropractic College West where she graduated magna cum laude. She did so after she received a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis in sports and exercise science from Temple University in Philadelphia.

As a lifelong athlete—whether it’s soccer, Muay Thai, lifting, or even Scottish Highland Heavy Athletics—she has always been passionate about optimizing functionality of the human body, and is committed to taking into account all aspects of health to best serve her patients.

Dr. CJ Jarvis, DC believes in an integrated approach—blending soft tissue work, functional moveme... Read More

Dr. Dr. Dave McCann
(He/Him/His) DC

Dr. Dave McCann, D.C. (Clinical Director) was born and raised in Alton, Illinois. The youngest of three boys, he was the first in his family to graduate from college. While working in the Clinical Engineering department of Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, his pursuit to find his passion came to a somewhat comical crossroads: go to Barnum and Bailey’s Clown College or attend Logan College of Chiropractic! He chose the latter and graduated with honors from Logan College in 1997.

Dr. Dave has a love for community theatre and recently received an award for Best Supporting Actor in a Minor Role for his role as Gonzalo in Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” at the Coronado Playhouse. His interests also include science fiction, metaphysics, and music. However, his greatest joy is spending time with his wife, Colleen, who is an amazing healer in her own right.

Clinically, Dr. Dave’s background in engineering has prepared him well with a systematic, yet highly creative, approach to working with the human body. In addition to being an extraordinary chiropractor, Dr. Dave has a passion for nutrition, epigenetics, and functional lab assessment. His extensive study of Applied Kinesiology (AK) gives him an excellent knowledge of the muscular system and how it relates to not only the skeleton but also the organs and energy meridians of the body. By coupling lab results and Functional Genetic Testing with AK, often referred to as “muscle testing”, he discovers the hidden causes of dis-ease in his patients.

Dr. Dave’s humor and compassion go far to creating a healing atmosphere for anyone fortunate enough to be on his table.

Dr. Dave McCann, D.C. (Clinical Director) was born and raised in Alton, Illinois. The youngest of... Read More

Dr. Aisha Nouh
(She/Her/Hers) ND

Aisha Nouh, ND, RH(AHG), is a licensed naturopathic doctor and registered herbalist specializing in integrative women’s health and pediatrics. She finds and addresses the root cause of preconception and fertility issues, autoimmune disorders, thyroid issues, digestive complaints, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and hormonal imbalances including PMS, PCOS, and symptoms of menopause. She also treats ADHD, autism, eczema, and other childhood illnesses.

Dr. Nouh utilizes standard and functional lab testing and treatments including botanicals, supplements, bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, targeted lifestyle and nutrition counseling to provide her patients with the highest-quality natural care to address their unique needs. Her practice includes a blend of evidence-based scientific research, time-tested traditional therapies, clinical experience, and patient preference to pursue the best course for your care.

Dr. Nouh received her doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine at Bastyr University. When she’s not practicing naturopathic medicine, Dr. Nouh enjoys spending time in nature, gardening, hiking, and pursues the creative arts including writing and music.

Aisha Nouh, ND, RH(AHG), is a licensed naturopathic doctor and registered herbalist specializing ... Read More

Ben Plotkin

Ben Plotkin, CMT discovered the benefits of therapeutic massage about a decade ago, while in deep chronic pain and discomfort due to a regular office job. He loved everything about the job, but quickly discovered the physical and the emotional toll of it. Hearing a lot of positive feedback about massage, he decided to give it a try. To his surprise, it was not just a relaxing feel-good ritual, but with the skillful trigger point therapy of his practitioner, he feels that she saved him from having to get spinal surgery at the age of 23. Since then he decided to become that therapist himself. Having been educated and having gained experience in Upstate NY, he is glad to introduce himself to the San Diego community and grateful for the opportunity to continue realizing his vision here, with you.

Ben Plotkin, CMT discovered the benefits of therapeutic massage about a decade ago, while in deep... Read More

AmandaJoy Spitzfaden

Amanda Joy Spitzfaden, CMT is a graduate of Healing Hands School of Holistic Health in San Diego. She focuses on Circulatory, Deep Tissue, Myofascial Release, Tui Na, Manual Lymph Drainage, Reflexology and Reiki. She integrates these different modalities together to create a custom massage that caters to the needs of the patient. You can find Amanda Joy either out with her son on adventures in nature. When she is not doing that she is in the. community continuing her studies, practicing and teaching.

Amanda Joy Spitzfaden, CMT is a graduate of Healing Hands School of Holistic Health in San Diego.... Read More

Dr. Crystal Rose Tank LAc, CMT

Dr. Crystal Rose Tank, DAOM, is a licensed acupuncturist and massage therapist with over a decade of experience in integrative healthcare. She is certified in Neuro-Acupuncture and specializes in pain management, facial rejuvenation, and holistic wellness. Dr. Tank earned her Doctorate of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM) with a focus on pain management from Bastyr University, where she also completed internships at prestigious facilities such as Harborview Medical Center and Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of TCM in China.

With a deep understanding of both acupuncture and massage therapy, Dr. Tank brings a unique perspective to her practice. Her hands-on massage expertise informs her acupuncture sessions, allowing her to assess and address musculoskeletal imbalances with precision. Conversely, her acupuncture training enhances her massage techniques, providing patients with a deeply restorative experience.

Dr. Tank’s approach to care is rooted in the belief that every individual’s path to wellness is unique. She combines minimally invasive, gentle acupuncture techniques with tailored lifestyle guidance to help her patients achieve sustainable health improvements. Whether working with patients recovering from chronic pain, navigating addiction, or seeking holistic skincare solutions, she designs treatments that empower the body’s natural healing potential.

Based in San Diego, California, Dr. Tank is certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and holds additional certifications in Battlefield Acupuncture and NADA protocols. She has practiced in Washington and California, building a reputation for compassionate, personalized care.

Dr. Crystal Rose Tank, DAOM, is a licensed acupuncturist and massage therapist with over a decade... Read More

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Located at: 3239 Adams Ave, San Diego
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Need Help? 619-546-4806 info@communitywellness.org