Dr. Riley Smith

For the ones who've known something was wrong before anyone believed them.

Your body has been
right the whole time.

The pain is real. The exhaustion is real. The feeling that something is being missed — that’s real too.

This is where you and your body finally get heard.

Rated #1 for Acupuncture in San Diego by CityBeat — five times.

16k+

Patient
Visits

20

Years Clinical
Experience

5+

Treatment
Pathways

Board

Certified

Your body is telling the truth. I can show you the proof.

Is there a clinical pattern behind your symptoms?

Most people find themselves
in one or more of these patterns.

Anxiety, Burnout & Stress
Anxiety, Burnout & Stress

01

Nervous system dysregulation, adrenal fatigue, hormonal disruption — and the physical cost of carrying more than your biology can sustain.

Mental Health
Mental Health

02

Depression, mood dysregulation, blood sugar instability — and the biological patterns underneath that most mental health treatment never reaches.

Gut Health
Gut Health

03

Digestive dysfunction, bloating, IBS — and the gut-brain relationship most practitioners split into two separate referrals.

Pain & Musculoskeletal Injury
Pain & Musculoskeletal Injury

04

Chronic pain, inflammation, recurring tension, new and post-injury patterns that haven’t resolved because the root cause was never the target.

Stress and burnout don't stay in their lane. They show up in all four.

Looking for help with a specific symptom?

Some patients come in knowing
something's wrong.

Others know exactly. Either way, helping you figure out where to start is part of my job. My website can map your symptoms to the most likely patterns — and show you which treatment pathway is designed for yours.

How does acupuncture work?
It turns off the alarm your body has been stuck in.

Because it talks directly to your nervous system — not your symptoms. When that system has been running on high alert long enough, it stops being an alarm and starts being your baseline. You forget what settled feels like.

Nothing in the body happens in isolation. The pain, the gut, the anxiety, the sleep — and underneath all of it, the hormones, blood sugar and inflammation quietly running the show. They aren’t separate problems. They’re the same story told in different places. 

The Experience

What happens at an
acupuncture appointment?

Custom treatment plans. Unhurried sessions.

Custom treatment plans. Unhurried sessions. Everything handled before you arrive.

Before your session
How your care plan works

Each session builds on the last. Your body didn’t get here overnight — and your recovery won’t either. Acute concerns typically resolve faster; chronic patterns take longer and eventually move to a maintenance schedule.

Every plan is built around your specific goals, your labs if you have them, and where you actually are — not where a protocol assumes you should be.

Before Your Visit

Arriving with ease

Reception Area

Now, Your Plan Takes Shape

Deep, restorative treatment

Treatment Room
After

Relaxed, energized, supported

After Treatment
Everything You've Been Wondering

Common questions, answered directly.

Does acupuncture hurt?

Most patients feel a mild sensation or light pressure — not pain. Every moment is adjusted to stay comfortable.

Where are the acupuncture points?

Points can be located anywhere on the body — arms, legs, back, abdomen. Every area is explained before we begin.

How long are visits?

Initial visits run 60–75 minutes. Follow-ups are 45–60 minutes. Nothing is rushed.

Do you accept insurance?

Yes. Contracted with select Blue Shield plans. Out-of-network benefits may apply for many other carriers.

What should I wear?

Loose, comfortable clothing you can roll up to the elbows and knees.

How many treatments will I need?

Acute concerns often shift in 3–6 sessions. Chronic patterns take longer — you'll get a realistic timeline at visit one.

Do you offer Chinese Herbal Medicine?

Yes. Often used alongside acupuncture to extend the therapeutic effect between sessions.

Acupuncture vs dry needling?

Dry needling targets muscle trigger points; acupuncture addresses the root pattern. I'm trained in both.

Before Your First Visit

Seven ways to get more out
of your first visit.

Your privacy is protected. This practice is fully HIPAA compliant — everything you share stays here.

Patient Stories. Real People.

When the body gets heard, everything shifts.
Here's proof.

This is what finally being seen feels like.

THE REVEAL
★★★★★

“I had seen four different specialists. Every test came back normal. Riley was the first person who looked at everything together, identified a pattern no one else had caught and gave me an actual diagnosis. Within eight weeks I had a protocol and my energy was finally shifting.”

— M.T., Functional Medicine Patient
Transformation
★★★★★

“I kept thinking I just needed a vacation. What I actually needed was someone who understood what chronic burnout does to your nervous system. Three months into the program I was sleeping through the night and working without that constant underlying dread.”

— S.L., Burnout Recovery Coaching
Permission
★★★★★

“I’d been told my pain was stress-related for two years. Riley found the actual root. Six weeks in, I was sleeping through the night for the first time in three years.”

— J.R., Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine

20 Years of Practice · 16k+ Patient Visits · Rated #1 for Acupuncture in San Diego by CityBeat — five times.

Book a Visit

New patient appointments fill early in the week. Here's how to get started.

Ready to connect to the practice?
Dr. Riley or a member of the practice will contact you once the appointment is confirmed. Both Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are available for those ready to begin.

Dr. Riley Smith, LAc · DACM · DiplOM

Find Your Best First Step

Seven quick questions. I'll match you with the care that actually fits what you're dealing with — no guessing required.

Start

Before we begin

Tell us where to send your results

Question 1

Where are you located?

Acupuncture is available in-person at our San Diego clinic only. All other services are fully virtual.

Question 2

What best describes what you're dealing with?

Pick the option that feels most like your primary concern right now.

Question 3

How long have you been dealing with this?

Question 4

What kind of support resonates most right now?

Go with your gut — there's no wrong answer here.

Question 5

How urgently do you need support?

Question 6

How do you feel about working with a provider virtually?

Coaching and lab services are 100% virtual. Acupuncture is in-person only.

Question 7

What level of investment feels realistic right now?

This helps match you to the right entry point — not a commitment.