Meet Your Practitioner

Dr. Darla Chenin, LAc, DAcHM, Dipl. Ac. (NCBAHM), earned both her Master’s and Doctorate degrees from Five Branches University in Santa Cruz, California. During her graduate studies, she completed advanced training and specialization in Sports Medicine, further enhancing her expertise in treating active individuals and athletes.

In addition to passing the California Acupuncture Licensing Examination, Darla completed additional training to become a nationally board certified acupuncturist through the National Certification Board for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine. Darla successfully passed the national board examinations and holds certification as a Diplomate of Acupuncture (Dipl. Ac.), NCBAHM.

Her academic background also includes a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she graduated with the highest GPA in her department and received a Research Promise Award for her work in the Integrative Subsistence Laboratory under Dr. Amber VanDerwarker. She coauthored a paleoarchaeological comparative seed manual documenting traditional plant uses, the cultures that utilized them, and their geographic origins.

In addition to her doctoral training, Darla completed extensive biomedical science coursework, graduating with highest honors, and maintains her Yoga Alliance yoga teacher certification (RYT) through ongoing continuing education. This interdisciplinary foundation informs her integrative, whole-person approach to care.

Dr. Darla Chenin, LAc, has dedicated her life to the study of natural sciences and human health, with a deep respect for culture and tradition at the heart of her work. Her approach to healthcare honors ancestral wisdom, the rhythms of the seasons, the elements, and the natural world that connects them all.

Begin Your Care

Areas of Focus

  • Traditional Chinese Medicine is rooted in addressing internal imbalances that contribute to disease. Darla takes a preventative approach to care, working with the body as an interconnected whole. She focuses on common yet impactful concerns such as women’s health, digestive disorders, immunity, anxiety, sleep, and fatigue. Women’s health concerns may include hormonal imbalances, menstrual irregularities, fertility, PMS, and related conditions.

    • Women’s Health

    • Digestive Disorders

    • Immunity

    • Fatigue

    • Stress

    • And More!

  • Darla received specialized training in sports medicine and is an athlete herself. Having experienced injuries firsthand, she brings a uniquely empathetic approach to treating pain and sports-related injuries. Orthopedic-focused treatments may include electro-acupuncture, stationary or moving cupping, gua sha, and herbal medicine, all thoughtfully used to support recovery and relief.

    • Injuries

    • Chronic Pain

    • Athletic Performance

    • Surfing Ailments

  • Cosmetic acupuncture is a natural approach to healthy aging and skin health rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Gentle facial needling into the dermis is used to stimulate collagen and elastin and may help soften the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while supporting healthy circulation and the skin’s natural function. Treatments may also be helpful for skin concerns such as acne. Celluma red light therapy and body acupuncture are incorporated into each cosmetic treatment, creating a relaxing, whole-person experience that cares for more than just the face.

    Darla’s cosmetic acupuncture training includes post-graduate training with Dr. Martha Lucas, PhD, LAc and Michelle Gellis, LAc, including the Mei Zen Face Lift protocol. Her approach brings together facial acupuncture with the same thoughtful internal medicine care offered throughout her practice. If digestion, sleep, stress, fatigue, hormones, or other aspects of health are affecting how someone feels or how their skin looks, these can be addressed during the same appointment through acupuncture, herbs, and dietary and lifestyle prescriptions as appropriate. Darla’s goal is to help patients feel as good as they look and truly glow from the inside out.

    • Healthy Aging & Skin Vitality

    • Fine Lines & Wrinkles

    • Collagen & Elastin

    • Skin Clarity & Balance

    • Acne & Blemishes

    • Facial, Jaw & Neck Tension

    • A Healthy Glow From the Inside Out

Darla’s Approach

Dr. Darla Chenin, LAc, practices Traditional Chinese Medicine with a gentle, empathetic approach rooted in careful listening and individualized care. She takes time to understand the full picture of each patient’s health, what’s been going on, what matters most to them, and how they want to feel in their body. Her goal is for every patient to feel heard, supported, and confident that they have a practitioner on their team.

Darla holds a Specialization Certificate in Sports Medicine from her graduate training and is also trained in internal medicine acupuncture. She treats a wide range of conditions, from pain and injuries to complex internal concerns. Based in the Santa Cruz area, she understands the demands of an active, ocean-centered lifestyle, not just clinically, but personally. As a surfer herself, she brings firsthand experience and advanced training to caring for patients who want to stay active, resilient, and feeling their best.