Earth and Air Wellness
ACUPUNCTURE AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
Welcome to Earth and Air Wellness Acupuncture of Pleasant Hill and the East Bay. We are pleased to provide compassionate health care using Traditional Chinese Medicinal techniques. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a comprehensive medical system developed over thousands of years. Earth and Air Wellness Acupuncture applies a holistic approach to wellness by looking at every system of the body. We use a variety of modalities to treat not just the symptoms, but the whole person. No two people are alike; therefore two treatments are exactly alike. Based on each patient's unique symptoms, our treatments can include acupuncture, Chinese herbal recommendations, moxibustion, cupping, gua sha, dietary counseling, meditation practices, and exercise suggestions. Lifestyle changes, sometimes big and sometimes small, are a major part of a successful course of treatment. In most cases, patients greatly benefit from becoming aware of and changing habits that have contributed to their current condition.
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Acupuncture is not just for people who have a specific complaint, it is also for those who want to enrich their lives or simply maintain their good health and prevent future illness. The beauty of this system of medicine is that it acknowledges the uniqueness of each individual. Rather than addressing the isolated symptoms of illness, TCM nurtures the whole person, bringing balance to the body-mind-spirit triad so that the patient can achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
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Our Staff
Maria Yung, L.Ac., DTCM
Acupuncturist
Dr. Maria Yung is a third-generation practitioner of Chinese medicine, following a tradition started over 70 years ago by her grandmother, Dr. Bing Yin Lee. Like her grandmother, Maria specializes in women's health including the treatment of hormonal imbalances, menstrual problems, fertility, and gynecological cancers.
Maria started her family at the age of forty and has three young kids. Maria has a special passion in helping women achieve their dreams of motherhood. Over the years, Maria has helped hundreds of women become moms.
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Maria combines a traditional Chinese medicine approach with her strong support of integrative health care. She encourages her patients to take a holistic approach to their health that includes a healthy diet, exercise, healthy habits, and emotional wellness.
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She is a graduate of UCLA and the Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences, and completed post-graduate training at Zhejiang College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Hangzhou, China.
Yingxin (Joy) Zhao, L.Ac., DAOM
Acupuncturist
Dr. Yingxin Zhao (Joy) was born in China to a TCM family. Her grandparents were experienced TCM doctors who inspired her to take an interest in Chinese medicine from childhood. Yingxin earned her bachelor's degree in Chinese Medicine from Hainan Medical University and a Master's and Doctorate Degree of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from ACTCM in San Francisco.
Joy spent many years apprenticing with experienced experts. She combines the precious skills she learned from them with over a decade of her own practical and clinical experience.
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Dr. Joy specializes in infertility in both women and men, hormone imbalances and women's health, insomnia, Bell’s palsy, pain management, and everything in between. Her dedication to her patient care along with her compassion for others makes her an optimal choice for your wellness journey.
Don Chen, L.Ac., MSTCM
Acupuncturist
Don Chen is a highly skilled acupuncturist with a deep commitment to helping patients achieve optimal health and well-being. With five years of clinical experience, Don has a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the field of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
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Prior to earning his Master's degree in TCM from Yo San University, Don completed a rigorous 950-hour practical acupuncture residency at top healthcare centers in Santa Monica and Los Angeles, honing his skills and deepening his understanding of the human body.
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Don has passion for pain management and sports medicine, as well as alleviating symptoms associated with aging, especially senior care. He provides personalized, high-quality care to each of his patients.
Laura Schofield
Office Manager
Laura Schofield is our office and front desk manager. Customer service is her number one job here at Earth and Air Wellness. She came to us with 22 years of front-office experience to share. Feel free to ask her any questions regarding your billing, appointments, and more.
Laura Metzdorff-Rivera, L.Ac., MSTOM
Owner
Laura is a California state licensed acupuncturist. She began her graduate education at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in New York City. After her third year there, Laura moved to California to finish her studies at Pacific's San Diego campus where she obtained a Master's in Traditional Oriental Medicine.
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Laura co-founded Earth and Air Wellness in 2011 in downtown Walnut Creek. As the clinic continued to thrive, it was relocated to Pleasant Hill and in 2017, she became the sole owner of the practice. She is now living back on the East coast but continues to support the clinic and its dedicated practitioners.
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Laura has always made it her mission to help others gain back power over their health. She believes that the first step toward wellness is knowledge and she strives to inspire others to discover what true wellness means to them. She created Cultivate Your Wellness as an invitation for you to embark on your own personal journey, led by mindfullness and balanced living. Her guided meditations can be found on YouTube and Insight Timer.
Services & Info
Acupuncture
Among the oldest healing practices in the world, acupuncture aims to restore and maintain health through the insertion and manipulation of tiny needles into specific points on the body. The tiny needles are about the size of a human hair and acupuncture is virtually pain-free. In fact, many people report a feeling of relaxation and stress reduction.
E-Stim
Electrical stimulation applied directly to the needles. This therapy is a stronger stimulation of the acupuncture points. It is particularly beneficial for musculo-skeletal and nervous system conditions.
Herbal Medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine herbal formulas perfectly designed to restore balance to the body's internal conditions. We recommend the highest quality of products that follow the standards of current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP).
Cupping Therapy
The application of glass or plastic cups to areas of the body to promote good blood and qi flow.
Gua Sha
The use of a smooth surfaced tool to "scrap" areas of the body to increase blood flow and soften muscle tissue.
Initial Acupuncture Consultation and Treatment
Includes an intake about your health concerns, acupuncture treatment, and other appropriate modalities.
Follow-up Acupuncture Treatment
Includes a brief followup consultation, acupuncture treatment and appropriate modalities.
Consultation and Acupuncture Treatment for Fertility and Complex Cases
Includes a more in-depth intake and consultation, history analysis, and acupuncture treatment, and other appropriate modalities
Insurance Info
We do not currently accept insurance. However, if you do have acupuncture coverage as part of your health insurance policy, we’re happy to print a superbill for you to send to your insurance company for reimbursement. We do accept funds from Flex Spending Accounts (FSA) or Health Savings Accounts (HSA).
FAQs
Resources & Partners
Acupuncture Resources:
Guided Meditations
Everyone Belongs
Contact Us
Earth and Air Wellness
(925) 280-6026
140 Gregory Ln Ste. 105
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
Conveniently located just outside of Downtown Pleasant Hill (originally located in Downtown Walnut Creek), our office provides a tranquil and refreshing experience for our patients. Situated just across the street from Pleasant Hill's City Hall building, we offered ample free parking right outside our doors and ADA compliant access.