Integrative and Functional Healthcare, Acupuncture,
Chinese Medicine, QiGong & Nutrition in Santa Monica, California

serving the Community since 1994 

Lauren Howard, LAc
Dr. Patricia Fitzgerald, DAOM, LAc, CCN

Welcome to Santa Monica Wellness Center! We’ve been assisting our patients on their healing journeys since 1994. It has been an honor that so many patients have allowed us to partner with them as they seek to improve their health and vitality. Some patients come to us in a crisis, such as those in pain, those with a chronic health condition who are seeking a more integrative approach, and those who simply are overwhelmed with the stresses of life and are looking for more balance. Other come to us who are looking to increase their vitality and well being and simply enhance their healthy lifestyles. No matter where you are on your journey, we look forward to supporting you in co-creating a joyful, vibrant, healthy (and fun) life!

At the Santa Monica Wellness Center, our intention is to empower our patients and the community to realize their fullest potential, providing the highest quality Integrative Health Care, delivered with respect, integrity, and compassion. We inspire, educate and provide opportunities to create and sustain abundant health, while enlightening awareness to the infinite healing power of the human body, mind, and spirit. More about us…

4 Tips for an Energizing, Joyful Summer

Published June 17, 2019

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, each season is associated with one of the elements: wood, fire, earth, metal and water. Perhaps unsurprisingly, summertime is associated with the element fire. Fire represents maximum activity. In nature, everything is at its peak growth during the summer, so TCM sees our energy as its most active and exuberant. Summer is the time of

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Healthy Eating from Early to Late Summer

Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM is all about balance. In this ancient system, the key to health is to move through the world in such a way that our bodies can remain in homeostasis, in balance. This idea connects to sleep patterns, what we eat and ultimately the flow of Qi, or energy, throughout the body. For that reason,

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Extraordinary Vessels – Chong Mai

Most acupuncture points are located on the 12 primary channels that flow along the surface of the body. However, there are eight Extraordinary Vessels that flow more deeply in the body, and are perhaps even more powerful that the 12 primary channels. The Extraordinary Vessels regulate the 12 channels, and are deep lakes of energy, which can feed the

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