Dr. Garcia
Gavin Garcia, DACM, L.Ac. is a board-certified Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine with a private practice in Solana Beach, California. He is also a licensed herbalist and a senior student (NMS3) in the Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine program at Bastyr University, San Diego. With a strong foundation in evidence-informed holistic medicine, Dr. Garcia uses integrative medicine to apply modern clinical insight with the wisdom of traditional healing systems to support long-term wellness.
Approach to care is personalized and root-cause-oriented, helping patients restore structural balance and physiological function throughout both mind and body. Dr. Garcia’s primary modalities include: acupuncture and moxibustion, craniosacral therapy (CST), neural manipulation (NM), visceral manipulation (VM), myofascial release (MFR), and cupping therapy. His expertise includes Japanese Meridian Therapy, a refined and gentle style of acupuncture, and Kampo, the traditional system of Japanese herbal medicine. These therapies are complemented by Chinese herbal formulas, nutritional counseling, and functional movement therapy, empowering patients to play an active role in their healing.
Dr. Garcia specializes in treating chronic pain, stress and anxiety, digestive issues, hormonal imbalances, fatigue, and nervous system dysregulation. He works with individuals navigating both common health challenges and complex conditions, providing mindful, results-driven care. Patients throughout Solana Beach, Encinitas, Del Mar, and the greater North County San Diego area turn to Dr. Garcia for his integrative, hands-on approach to holistic health and natural medicine.
Born and raised in San Diego, Dr. Garcia has spent much of his life immersed in health and physical training. With a father in sports medicine and coaching, and a mother in behavioral science, he developed an early fascination with the intersection of psychology and the body. This curiosity evolved into a passion for practicing medicine in a way that honors the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—whether the goal is to improve performance, restore health, or heal from injury.
Outside the clinic, Dr. Garcia is passionate about surfing, playing music, and practicing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. His own journey through injuries and recovery—shaped by an active lifestyle—has given him a personal and empathetic understanding of the healing process, from the initial stages of acute injury to the long-term care that supports resilience, mobility, and overall well-being.
Experience & Training
Dr. Garcia’s clinical foundation is grounded in extensive education, hands-on training, and global health experience:
• Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (DACM)
• Master of Science in Traditional Oriental Medicine (MSTOM)
He has received advanced manual therapy training through the Barral Institute, including:
• Visceral Manipulation (VM): abdominal and pelvic organs
• Neural Manipulation (NM): cranial nerves, upper body nerves, and lower body nerves
Additional experience includes:
• Medical mission with The Global Clinic in the Dominican Republic
• Clinical study and herbal immersion in Costa Rica
• Worked with WSL professional surfers on O‘ahu during winter surf seasons
• Certified yoga instructor with an emphasis on breath-centered, therapeutic movement
• Volunteer with the Mauli Ola Foundation for children with cystic fibrosis
• Demonstrated techniques for Setai (Lymphatic) Shiatsu by Dr. Richard Gold
Dr. Garcia continues to pursue ongoing education in manual therapy, functional movement, Japanese medicine, and integrative healthcare to provide the most informed and effective treatments possible.
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