Ricardo Villalba

Ricardo Villalba LAc, DiplOM UTP, is an NCCAOM Board Certified Diplomate of Oriental Medicine and licensed in the state of Florida. He is a specialist in chronic pain, fatigue, mood disorders, and digestive health using Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, Therapeutic Nutrition, and Unified Therapy. After completing eight years of fast paced and high demand military service in the United States Coast Guard as an Electrical Engineer, he followed his passion to serve and educate his community using Chinese and Holistic Medicine that would provide non surgical solutions.

He graduated from Atlantic Institute of Oriental Medicine with a Bachelor in Health Science and Master’s in Oriental Medicine. He is certified by the National Certification Commission for

Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. During this time he also pursued pain management and emotional release techniques certification at the Evolutionary Healing Institute.

Ricardo was born to two loving and hard working parents. His mother came to the United States

from Italy and his father from Colombia. His family always encouraged him to learn as much as

he could as he had the opportunity to simultaneously experience multiple cultures.

After transitioning from the military and experiencing chronic pain and fatigue along with

sustained injuries and surgeries, Ricardo sought out Holistic Care for help with chronic pain and

fatigue issues to help manage and minimize time away from doing things in life that he loves.

He wanted to pursue a career where he could continue to change lives and empower those

with chronic pain, fatigue, and digestive disorders.

His Introduction to Chinese Medicine and Unified Therapy started immediately after his Coast

Guard career and had a profound impact on his thought process about the human body.

Chinese medicine and Unified Therapy are powerful mind-body systems that truly find the root

of many disorders. Ricardo worked with seasoned acupuncturists and Unified Therapy masters.

The results he witnessed were nothing short of amazing. He learned how to focus attention on

the pain and learn how one can communicate with it to learn a way through times of distress.

The practice of allowing oneself to explore the pain can lead to discovering feelings and

emotions that have been suppressed or distorted.

As he combined the use of Acupuncture, specialized breathing techniques, and meditation,

he was able to identify the physiological processes and diseases that take place during or after

times of stress. One of the key secrets that he combines with a specialized way of listening to

patient and client stories, as well as active diagnosis of energetic patterns, after reviewing complete

medical history. Ricardo’s mission and purpose is to bring relief to his patients with chronic pain, fatigue and

anxiety, depression, and PTSD (which are often linked)

He sees pain in the body as an opportunity not only to learn and listen to what it can teach us to

make adjustments to our daily lives but also to communicate with it, allowing it to guide us back

to optimal health.

Ricardo continually focuses on personal growth and volunteering in his community. He also has

a love for playing music and studying native traditions.

Want to meet with Ricardo to see if he can help you get relief and increase the energy in your

life?

Free Consultation

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Acupuncture and TCM safe?

When you receive acupuncture and TCM from a qualified, trained practitioner, is is generally safe. The same can be said about Western Medicine. However it is generally a gentler method because the focus is on rebalancing the body to enable it to heal itself. It frequently can replace surgeries or prescription medications. Treatments that can avoid these two western medical practices can be much easier for patients to handle.
Is acupuncture covered by insurance?

More and more insurance companies are recognizing the benefits of acupuncture and are adding it to their list of benefits. You will need to check with your provider for those details.
How many treatments before I see results?

Every patient and condition is different and so is your plan. As with any healthcare procedure, the number of treatments depends on the nature and severity of your condition. The number of visits also depends on how long you’ve had the condition and its causes. For example, chronic issues may need 5-15 visits while acute cases may need just a few. In acute cases, our goals may be to resolve a condition or simply relieve pain or symptoms. In certain situations, you may experience results on the first visit. If your condition is degenerative, the recovery process may be lengthy. The bottom line is that several visits are needed in many cases before you see results. Fact: The response to Acupuncture is always an individual one. Some people respond quickly, within 1-3 or 3-5 treatments. Acupuncture’s effects are cumulative, building with each treatment. After your initial consultation, your treatment plan will be discussed. This plan will include the number and types of visits required to treat your condition and achieve your goals.
When should I start Acupuncture and or Traditional Herbal Medicine Treatments?

Injuries, illness, and pain are generally easier to treat in the initial stages and harder to treat when they have become chronic and established. The sooner after the injury or sign of illness that Acupuncture and or Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine is started the better the outcomes, and fewer visits are typically needed to relieve, stabalize and resolve a condition.
What are the methods of diagnosis?

Traditional methods are Patient History (Subjective Objective review)’ Observation, Physical Exam,Palpation, Range of Motion. We combine these diagnostics with conventional lab tests and diagnostic imaging (when Necessary) to provide patients with a complete health profile to make a proper diagnosis.
Can Acupuncture be combined with other forms of treatment?

Acupuncture may serve as a stand alone treatment for either Acute or Chronic conditions and can be safely combined with other treatments. Acupuncture does not generally interfere with other treatment modalities, drugs or surgeries. A safe and often most effective approach to resolving pain injury or illness is to combine potentially beneficial treatments. This is likely to result in a synergistic benefit greater than trying individual treatments one at a time. The reserach-oriented “one at a time” approach works better after the condition is stabalized at a safe and satisfactory level as a way of tapering down or ceasing individual treatment modalities. However, patients are advised not to quit any current regimen of treatment without discussion with the physician or healthcare professional who prescribed that care.
Does Acupuncture have side effects?

Because of its minimal side effects, acupuncture is a low risk, effective treatment for a wide range of conditions. As energy is stimulated from Acupuncture, internal chemicals and hormones are released and healing begins to take place. Occasionally symptoms may worsen for a few days. Other general changes in appetite, sleep, bowel movements, urination patterns or emotional release states may be affected. These should not cause concern as they are simply indications that Acupuncture is starting to work. It is quite common with initial treatments to have a sensation of deep relaxation. Aside from the sensations described above (see “Is acupuncture painful?” above), there is a slight possibility of minor swelling, bleeding, discoloration of the skin, bruising at the needle site, or fainting (for those with a high aversion to needles or needle shock). Acupuncture can be potentially dangerous if a patient has a bleeding disorder or is on blood thinning medication. According to AcuTakeHealth.com, the following side effects can occur in addition to those listed above: ● Worse symptoms-referred to by many as a “healing crisis.” ● Fatigue following a treatment. ● Muscle twitching away form the treatment site during a visit. ● Emotional release- crying, laughing. ● Infection- invariably the result of improper sterilization techniques. ● THis is NOT an issue at Unified Earth Medicine Acupuncture. ● We follow strict sterilization procedures on all our equipment. And we only use disposable, pre-sterilized needles. ● In very rare cases there is a risk of pneumothorax if needle inserted into the chest or upper back punctures a lung. ● Important! You need to tell your acupuncturist about all existing medical conditions because people with implanted electrical devices should not use electroacupuncture. ● Some conditions limit the types of Chinese herbs used.
How to chose an Acupuncturist?

You should take the same care in selecting an acupuncturist as when choosing any healthcare provider. In Florida, acupuncture and TCM are carefully regulated with the best licensing ad monitoring requirements in the US. Here are the qualifications we recommend you look for when selecting your acupuncturist. ● They must be licensed to practice in the State of Florida (as indicated by L.Ac. following their name), be a licensed physician, dentist, or podiatrist, or have a national certification from the National Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). ● How long they been in practice? Every practitioner was brand new at some point, but you need to be comfortable with their length in practice. ● Do they have experience in your specific condition? Make sure that they do. ● Ask for examples of successful outcomes. ● Acknowledges the value of Western medicine in your treatment, and has experience integrating it with their TCM and acupuncture practice. ● Make sure they can work closely with your primary physician or specialist. ● When you meet a practitioner, are you comfortable with their “bedside” manner? ● Maintains malpractice insurance and has a good record.

Are Acupuncture and TCM safe?

When you receive acupuncture and TCM from a qualified, trained practitioner, is is generally safe. The same can be said about Western Medicine. However it is generally a gentler method because the focus is on rebalancing the body to enable it to heal itself. It frequently can replace surgeries or prescription medications. Treatments that can avoid these two western medical practices can be much easier for patients to handle.
Is acupuncture covered by insurance?

More and more insurance companies are recognizing the benefits of acupuncture and are adding it to their list of benefits. You will need to check with your provider for those details.
How many treatments before I see results?

Every patient and condition is different and so is your plan. As with any healthcare procedure, the number of treatments depends on the nature and severity of your condition. The number of visits also depends on how long you’ve had the condition and its causes. For example, chronic issues may need 5-15 visits while acute cases may need just a few. In acute cases, our goals may be to resolve a condition or simply relieve pain or symptoms. In certain situations, you may experience results on the first visit. If your condition is degenerative, the recovery process may be lengthy. The bottom line is that several visits are needed in many cases before you see results. Fact: The response to Acupuncture is always an individual one. Some people respond quickly, within 1-3 or 3-5 treatments. Acupuncture’s effects are cumulative, building with each treatment. After your initial consultation, your treatment plan will be discussed. This plan will include the number and types of visits required to treat your condition and achieve your goals.
When should I start Acupuncture and or Traditional Herbal Medicine Treatments?

Injuries, illness, and pain are generally easier to treat in the initial stages and harder to treat when they have become chronic and established. The sooner after the injury or sign of illness that Acupuncture and or Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine is started the better the outcomes, and fewer visits are typically needed to relieve, stabalize and resolve a condition.
What are the methods of diagnosis?

Traditional methods are Patient History (Subjective Objective review)’ Observation, Physical Exam,Palpation, Range of Motion. We combine these diagnostics with conventional lab tests and diagnostic imaging (when Necessary) to provide patients with a complete health profile to make a proper diagnosis.
Can Acupuncture be combined with other forms of treatment?

Acupuncture may serve as a stand alone treatment for either Acute or Chronic conditions and can be safely combined with other treatments. Acupuncture does not generally interfere with other treatment modalities, drugs or surgeries. A safe and often most effective approach to resolving pain injury or illness is to combine potentially beneficial treatments. This is likely to result in a synergistic benefit greater than trying individual treatments one at a time. The reserach-oriented “one at a time” approach works better after the condition is stabalized at a safe and satisfactory level as a way of tapering down or ceasing individual treatment modalities. However, patients are advised not to quit any current regimen of treatment without discussion with the physician or healthcare professional who prescribed that care.
Does Acupuncture have side effects?

Because of its minimal side effects, acupuncture is a low risk, effective treatment for a wide range of conditions. As energy is stimulated from Acupuncture, internal chemicals and hormones are released and healing begins to take place. Occasionally symptoms may worsen for a few days. Other general changes in appetite, sleep, bowel movements, urination patterns or emotional release states may be affected. These should not cause concern as they are simply indications that Acupuncture is starting to work. It is quite common with initial treatments to have a sensation of deep relaxation. Aside from the sensations described above (see “Is acupuncture painful?” above), there is a slight possibility of minor swelling, bleeding, discoloration of the skin, bruising at the needle site, or fainting (for those with a high aversion to needles or needle shock). Acupuncture can be potentially dangerous if a patient has a bleeding disorder or is on blood thinning medication. According to AcuTakeHealth.com, the following side effects can occur in addition to those listed above: ● Worse symptoms-referred to by many as a “healing crisis.” ● Fatigue following a treatment. ● Muscle twitching away form the treatment site during a visit. ● Emotional release- crying, laughing. ● Infection- invariably the result of improper sterilization techniques. ● THis is NOT an issue at Unified Earth Medicine Acupuncture. ● We follow strict sterilization procedures on all our equipment. And we only use disposable, pre-sterilized needles. ● In very rare cases there is a risk of pneumothorax if needle inserted into the chest or upper back punctures a lung. ● Important! You need to tell your acupuncturist about all existing medical conditions because people with implanted electrical devices should not use electroacupuncture. ● Some conditions limit the types of Chinese herbs used.
How to chose an Acupuncturist?

You should take the same care in selecting an acupuncturist as when choosing any healthcare provider. In Florida, acupuncture and TCM are carefully regulated with the best licensing ad monitoring requirements in the US. Here are the qualifications we recommend you look for when selecting your acupuncturist. ● They must be licensed to practice in the State of Florida (as indicated by L.Ac. following their name), be a licensed physician, dentist, or podiatrist, or have a national certification from the National Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). ● How long they been in practice? Every practitioner was brand new at some point, but you need to be comfortable with their length in practice. ● Do they have experience in your specific condition? Make sure that they do. ● Ask for examples of successful outcomes. ● Acknowledges the value of Western medicine in your treatment, and has experience integrating it with their TCM and acupuncture practice. ● Make sure they can work closely with your primary physician or specialist. ● When you meet a practitioner, are you comfortable with their “bedside” manner? ● Maintains malpractice insurance and has a good record.