Rik's focus is reducing stress. eliminating chronic pain, women's health issues, digestive issues, weight loss and control, allergies, migraines and difficult cases of imbalance from unknown origins. He uses acupuncture, electro acupuncture, tuina, CranioSacral Therapy, moxabustion, Chinese herbs, homeopathy, and Medical Qigong in his quest to restore his patients to a state of balance, harmony and health.

Whether you are interested in relieving pain or eliminating stress, anxiety or emotional issues, Inner Harmony Acupuncture will provide you individualized health care by focusing on treating the root cause of your disease, encouraging the body's inherent healing abilities, and seeking to restore energy and vitality.
Each healing session is tailored to the patient needs, which means that two people who suffer from the same condition will receive different treatment protocols based on their unique expression of symptoms and way they are out of balance.
You will be treated by a practitioner who is a keen listener to your body/mind/spirit and who will work to find the best treatment that best suits your condition. She will use her knowledge and intuition to provide you with support and guidance on your healing journey.

Health is more than just the absence of disease.

At Elaia Integrative Healthcare, we treat everyone as a whole being, not just as a diagnosis' or a symptom. To obtain true health you must address the structural, chemical, and spiritual aspects of a person. Finding the root cause will eliminate the branches of patterns that manifest.

We will closely look at all aspects of your life in order to help you achieve your highest state of health.

I am always astounded by how resilient the human body is, and most of the time we do not appreciate it until there is a barrier that is preventing us from feeling optimal. For those of you that have had a sports related injury or any physical injury, there are times where you will surprise yourself with how quickly you can recover. I have personally used acupuncture to benefit physical endurance, alignment, and rehabilitation in exercise and my maintenance of overall health. Not only do acupuncture and herbs help to keep you looking and feeling good, regular treatments can also help to keep your immune system strong throughout the year!

I grew up drinking the herbal teas my mother used to make for my sister and me. She always told me that this was the way of taking care of the body, as these Chinese herbal remedies were passed down to her from my ancestors. I always doubted her until I decided to go to school to satiate my curiosity of my Chinese heritage and of alternative forms of medicine.

I have always been interested in medicine and finished my bachelors in microbiology and clinical laboratory science with hopes of going to medical school. After doing some research at Miami University about Aloe vera and its medicinal properties, and with some inspiration from my family, I made plans to pursue graduate studies at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. So far my journey to San Diego has opened my eyes to the benefits of both Eastern and Western medicines, which has also blessed me with the rewarding ability to help others. I am truly grateful for all the wonderful people that I have met along the way!

I am a huge supporter of preventative medicine and aging gracefully by living a healthy lifestyle. Some of my favorite hobbies include yoga, running, traveling, cooking with friends, and learning about different cultures around me. I want to support you in what you love to do, especially if you want to live a better quality of life. I will tailor my treatments to your specific needs, and we will use realistic approaches to achieve results. I want to be part of your health and "feel-good" team.

I believe when you treat your body well and with respect, it will reward you a thousand-fold!

I invite you to come in and make an appointment with me. I would love to meet you and help you discover how acupuncture can change your life.

Gwen Thomas has been practicing in the Tampa Bay area for 10 years. She brings her prior career as a surgical nurse to the natural healing approach of traditional Chinese medicine; offering blood and diagnostic review to treat conditions with nutrition, herbs and acupuncture.