Many Disciplines. One Patient.

In the spirit of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a primary goal of Essential Health Acupuncture is to provide our patients with a broader understanding of health and more lasting sense of well-being. Instead of a disease-centered focus, Traditional Chinese Medicine applies a patient-centered approach that addresses the whole person rather than simply his/her symptoms.

Essential Health Acupuncture combines the disciplines of modern science with the wisdom of ancient healing and takes advantage of the knowledge of several disciplines including, acupunture, tui na (Chinese body work), cupping therapy, diet/nutrition education, physical, mental and emotional health, and Chinese herbology. Other medical modalities that are being utilized are also taken into account to provide the utmost care for the individual. This allows patient and provider to work together to develop an integrated diagnostic and therapeutic plan that will best address the whole patient.

Our acupuncture clinic treats a wide variety of conditions and symptoms. Migraines, pain, injury, and low energy to name a few. We also perform acupuncture for anxiety, and acupuncture for weight loss.

Dr. Dale Dugas AP DOM MAOM Dipl. OM , is a board-certified Florida state licensed Acupuncture Physician/Doctor of Oriental Medicine(AP/DOM) as well as a board- certified Chinese Herbalist. He is licensed from the Florida Department of Health.
Dr. Dugas attended the New England School of Acupuncture, the oldest school of Chinese Medicine in the USA.
He earned a Master’s degree in Acupuncture and Oriental medicine(MAOM). Following graduation, he passed his national board exams for Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine. He was subsequently granted Diplomat of Oriental Medicine (Dipl. OM) status from The National Certification Commission of Acupuncture Medicine (NCCAOM), and recently was granted licensure in Florida as a Doctor of Oriental Medicine/Acupuncture Physician.
Dr. Dugas’ interest in Asian medicinal practices arose in the late 1980s, while he was living in Northern Japan. He lived in Northern Japan through the 1990s. During this time, he earned a Bachelor’s of Arts degree from Earlham College, his focus on Japanese Studies.
Dr. Dugas has over 36 years of continuous training in Chinese, Chinese/Okinawan, and Japanese martial arts systems.
He achieved a Shodan(1st degree Black Belt) in Okinawan Uechi-Ryu Karate-do at the age 16. He is well versed in Southern Short Hand systems such as South Mantis, and Bak Mei Pai Kung Fu as well as being a licensed instructor of Baguazhang. He was first introduced to the complexities of the Chinese internal arts( Hsing-Yi Chuan, Baguazhang, Taijiquan), and various Qi Gong methods under Shifu Kwan Sai Hung, best known as the protagonist in the book, The Wandering Taoist.
He is currently working in Florida as a licensed Acupuncture Physician/Chinese Herbalist at Jade Tree Wellness Center in St. Petersburg, Florida.
He looks forward to furthering research on Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine, Chinese Martial Arts(Jook Lun Gee Tong Long Pai, Baguazhang, Taijiquan), Tieh Sha Zhang Gong (Iron Palm) and Tieh Bu Shan Gong (Iron Vest) training, Shuai Jiao(Chinese Wrestling) and Kam Na/Chin-Na (Throwing and Grappling) and Dit Da Ke (Chinese trauma medicine).

Sports acupuncture, Injury rehabilitation, Sports performance enhancement, Musculo-skeletal treatment, Smoking cessation,

Here at our Rockville, MD acupuncture center, we specialize in a different style of acupuncture therapy, not widely available. This method is more than 2000 years old and comes from the I Ching, one of the oldest books in the world. This method has several names such as: I Ching Acupuncture, The Balance Method, or Distal Point Acupuncture. No matter what you call it, the effects often seem miraculous to patients.

We commonly use points that are distant from the site of the symptom. Pain relief frequently occurs in seconds and long lasting relief over a series of treatments is usually at least 80%.

We have successfully treated patients with a wide variety of health conditions over the last twenty years, and we can help you too!