Vita-Health Acupuncture & Wellness Center is an acupuncture clinic in Pembroke Pines, FL that was founded in 2005 by David and Yelena Pakula, husband and wife acupuncturists. David and Yelena are both Florida licensed Acupuncture Physicians who are Board Certified by the NCCAOM as Diplomats of Oriental Medicine. They each earned a Master’s Degree in Oriental Medicine from the Atlantic Institute of Oriental Medicine (ATOM) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Together, David and Yelena have completed advanced post-graduate acupuncture training. They successfully completed a 150-hour certification training program in advanced Japanese Acupuncture & Moxibustion techniques in the tradition of Kiiko Matsumoto & Master Nagano. They completed advanced training in Tung style acupuncture and are officers of the World Tung Acupuncture Association, representing the organization in Florida. They also have studied Chinese medicine and philosophy with Daoist master Jeffrey Yuen.
Yelena Pakula was a Medical Doctor in St. Petersburg, Russia, specializing in neurology, osteopathy and acupuncture.

We offer acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine to the Tri-City area including Carlsbad, Oceanside, and Vista since 2004.

Red Tree Wellness is a natural health clinic that uses the time-tested approach of Traditional Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture to improve your quality of life. Our registered professionals will help you relieve pain, reduce stress, strengthen your immunity and balance your health naturally. Our approach also uses a fusion of medical models and complimentary adjunct therapies. Book appointments online 24/7 at www.redtreewellness.ca.

Vivianne Hipol Gantous DACM, RN, is an Integrative Eastern Medicine Practitioner who believes an individualized approach for each patient is the root to healing the whole person. Her practice is a mosaic of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Bio-Energetics, Functional Medicine, and Western allopathic training. Choosing from the best of each of these modalities, a unique plan of care is created for every patient.
Her motivation to practice has always been a love of humans and healing herself from debilitating post-partum depletion after the birth of two out of her three children. She enjoys treating all members of the family unit especially women’s health as a mother’s vitality is the first mirror for her children. She also enjoys finding alternatives for “hard to treat” internal medicine cases.
Coming from a family of physicians, Vivianne sees firsthand the immense contributions of Western medicine and the treasures Eastern and Western Medicine together can best benefit not only a patient’s current condition but a lifetime of health.
For over 18 years, Vivianne is a licensed Acupuncturist, Herbalist and Nutritionist in California and Virginia, a Registered Nurse, a wife, and mother of three. This year she is launching a post-partum program and specific services for new parents as they navigate an understanding of their new body and evolution of their expanded identity.
Today she sees patients in person and via telemedicine at her office, Boundless Well-Being, located in Virginia Beach. When she’s not with her family or seeing patients, she’s on a trek with notebook and pen or abroad with her husband.

I began my study of Chinese medicine in the late 1980's. I was first drawn to the vast richness and depth of Chinese medicine through my practice of classical martial arts. Over the decades, I learned various methods of hands-on therapies for the treatment of injuries that would occur during training. I also learned how herbal medicine has been safely and effectively used for millenia to support athletic training. After completing my undergraduate degree and working for a few years as a translator I realized my true calling was in the study and practice of Chinese Medicine.


I received my Master of Science in Traditional Oriental Medicine from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in 2001 and completed a sports medicine and orthopedics internship treating collegiate athletes at the University of California, San Diego. After obtaining my California State Acupuncture license in 2002, I began to actively study Classical Chinese Medicine under Dr. Jeffrey Yuen, an 88th generation Daoist physician and priest. I continue to study with Dr. Yuen to this day with the belief that it is my responsibility to keep growing as a physician for the sake of my patients. The rich tradition that Dr. Yuen teaches has allowed me to successfully help many patients with difficult neurological complaints, autoimmune disorders and a wide range of functional diseases.

I have personally experienced the shortcomings of the conventional medical system which primarily focuses on the suppression of symptoms and the disempowerment of patients. This motivated me to devote my practice to empowering my patients to take back control of their health and break free from their dependency on medications.

I use a combination of acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutraceuticals, tui na, qi gong, and dietary therapy integrated with functional medicine (customized lab work) to decipher the mystery of each unique patient. Although it is a challenging path, I find it immensely rewarding and cannot imagine doing anything else.


I have practiced and taught classical Chinese martial arts and health practices in the US and internationally for decades. A student at heart, I spend much of my free time reading or thinking about how to be a better physician for my patients. My goal is ultimately to help unlock the miraculous healing capacity that is contained in every individual.


Since beginning my practice in 2002 I've worked closely with many primary care doctors, orthopedic surgeons, neurologists and gasteroenterologists to provide heart-felt care to thousands of patients.