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 200-hour Yoga Alliance–approved yoga teacher certification (RYT-200) 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

Darla’s Approach

Nature as Our Teacher 

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.

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 concerns.

    • 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. Her Sports Acupuncture treatments 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