Dr. Melena Smith, L.Ac., DAIM
Dr. Melena is a Nationally Board Certified, Licensed Acupuncturist and Herbalist in California. She holds a Bachelor of Science, Biomedical Science, Pre-Medicine, a Master of Science in Traditional Asian Medicine (MSTAM), and a Doctorate in Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine (DAIM) from the Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine College, Berkeley.
A particularly powerful acupuncture treatment started a cascade of events that led Melena to become the practitioner she is today. Lying on the acupuncture table, feeling the gentle movement of qi, its relaxing effects, and the ensuing pain relief, she exclaimed, "I need to learn more about this!" Shortly after, she found her way to the Esalen Institute to learn massage and then to Santa Fe, New Mexico, to train with a Daoist teacher in East Asian medical theory, martial arts, and meditation.
She returned to the Bay Area for acupuncture school, where her studies continued through externships with the Jewish Community Free Clinic in Santa Rosa, the Charlotte Maxwell Integrative Cancer Clinic in Oakland, and the Student-Athlete Sports Medicine Clinic at UC Berkeley.
Melena supports her patients in connecting to their own personal paths and potential for healing. She is an advocate for self-expression and finds opportunities for joy and play in daily life. Her favorite things include singing, dancing, improv, riding horses, and caring for a prolific garden. Melena lives with her daughter and wife, Dianna Kane, in San Rafael.
