Acupuncture · Encinitas, California
Acupuncture, without the mystery.
Acupuncture is a time-honored healing practice rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine that has been used for thousands of years to support health, restore balance, and promote the body's natural healing processes.
Book your visit
Start with what you’re experiencing
What would you like support with?
People arrive at Lucid for different reasons. Your care starts by understanding yours.
A considered starting point
Pain + inflammation
Acupuncture may be beneficial for a variety of concerns, including acute and chronic pain, headaches and migraines, and neck, back, and joint pain.
The practice
Understanding the whole body.
From an Eastern medicine perspective, acupuncture works by supporting the healthy flow of Qi (vital energy) throughout the body's network of meridians. When this flow becomes disrupted or imbalanced, symptoms may arise. By restoring harmony within these energetic pathways, acupuncture helps the body return to a more balanced and resilient state.
From a modern biomedical perspective, research suggests that acupuncture influences multiple systems within the body. Stimulation of acupuncture points has been shown to affect the nervous system, circulation, connective tissue, immune function, and the release of various neurotransmitters and endogenous chemicals involved in pain modulation, stress regulation, and healing.
Acupuncture may be beneficial for a variety of concerns, including:
- ✦Stress, anxiety, and nervous system dysregulation
- ✦Acute and chronic pain
- ✦Headaches and migraines
- ✦Neck, back, and joint pain
- ✦Women's health and menstrual concerns
- ✦Digestive health and gut function
- ✦Sleep disturbances and fatigue
- ✦Immune system support
- ✦Athletic recovery and performance
- ✦General wellness and preventative care
Acupuncture is also recognized for its ability to support parasympathetic nervous system activity, often referred to as the body's “rest and repair” response.
Science + tradition
Rooted in tradition. Informed by modern care.
While acupuncture has traditionally been understood through the framework of meridians and Qi, modern research is increasingly exploring the fascial system as a possible anatomical pathway through which acupuncture influences the body.
Emerging research is revealing that fascia is far more than a passive layer of connective tissue. Often described as a body-wide communication network, fascia surrounds and interconnects muscles, organs, nerves, and blood vessels while playing an important role in movement, proprioception (body awareness), and nervous system regulation. Recent studies suggest that fascia functions as a highly responsive sensory tissue capable of transmitting mechanical information throughout the body.
Acupuncture needles interact directly with this fascial network, creating subtle mechanical signals that may influence connective tissue, fibroblasts, circulation, and neural pathways. Researchers have proposed that these effects contribute to acupuncture's ability to support pain relief, tissue health, nervous system regulation, and the body's innate healing processes.
At Lucid, acupuncture is viewed as more than a tool for symptom management. It is an opportunity to create meaningful shifts within the body that support both immediate relief and long-term wellness.
Treatments are tailored to the individual and may be used independently or integrated with other modalities such as cupping, gua sha, moxibustion, herbal medicine, and lifestyle guidance.
Clear care, one step at a time
How treatment works.
Every treatment begins with listening. Your care is personalized, responsive, and designed to evolve.
Consult
Your initial appointment includes a comprehensive health assessment, discussion of your concerns and goals, and your first treatment.
Personalize
Traditional Chinese Medicine uses specialized diagnostic methods to understand how the body’s systems are functioning and where balance has been disrupted.
Treat
Each session is designed to meet clients where they are, supporting the body’s natural ability to regulate, restore, and return to a state of wholeness.
Reassess
Treatment recommendations will be discussed during your visit and adjusted as your needs evolve.
Your visit to Lucid
A quiet place to begin.
The mission of Lucid is to create a space where people can slow down, reconnect with themselves, and receive care that honors the whole being.
- 01
Arrive
- 02
Consultation
- 03
Assessment
- 04
Treatment
- 05
Rest
- 06
Aftercare / next steps
Loose, comfortable clothing is recommended. Sheets and draping are always provided to ensure comfort and privacy. Please arrive well hydrated and avoid coming on an empty stomach.
Explore your first visit
Your practitioner
Meet Naila Gamel, DACM, L.Ac.
Naila Gamel DACM, L.Ac., is a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, with a deep-rooted curiosity about the human body and the nature of healing.
Dr. Naila’s approach bridges ancient wisdom with modern understanding, making traditional practices both accessible and relevant. Her work is grounded in evidence-informed care while remaining open to the intuitive aspects of healing.
Meet Dr. NailaCare, with intention.
Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Individualized care
Encinitas, CA 92024
Real experiences
What patients say.
★★★★★“I suffered from debilitating sciatica until I met Naila. After just one acupuncture session, I was able to walk and function pain-free for the first time in months. Her knowledge, skill, and intuitive approach to healing are truly remarkable. Every time I see Dr. Naila, I leave feeling not only physically better, but also with valuable insights into my overall health and wellness... I can't recommend her highly enough!”
Questions, answered clearly
New to acupuncture?
Still have questions? Take a look at the FAQ or reach out anytime.
Contact Dr. NailaAcupuncture is commonly used to support a wide range of health concerns, including pain, stress, anxiety, sleep disturbances, digestive issues, women’s health concerns, headaches, fatigue, and nervous system dysregulation. It is also used as a preventative and wellness-focused therapy to help maintain balance and support overall well-being. Every individual is unique, and treatment recommendations are based on your specific health history, goals, and presentation.
Encinitas, California
Begin where you are.
Begin with a conversation
Ready to begin?
Your first visit begins with a conversation about what you’re experiencing and what you want to feel differently.