About
Plamena Gradinarova, MSTOM, L.Ac. is a licensed acupuncturist and Doctor of Oriental Medicine specializing in chronic pain, digestive health, anxiety, and stress — helping patients in Santa Monica find lasting relief by treating the root cause, not just the symptoms.
With over 20 years of experience in bodywork and kinesiology, and a Master of Science in Traditional Oriental Medicine from Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCUHS), Plamena brings both deep training and genuine personal understanding to every patient she sees.
She came to Chinese medicine the same way many of her patients do — after conventional medicine fell short. Living with chronic discomfort that Western treatments only masked, she discovered Traditional Chinese Medicine and experienced firsthand the kind of lasting transformation her patients now describe in her office every day. That journey is why she practices the way she does: with patience, honesty, and a real belief that healing is always possible.
One of her most memorable cases: a patient came to her with a painful burning sensation in her feet that had made walking long distances unbearable — and was keeping her from attending her best friend’s wedding in Europe. After several sessions with Plamena, she not only walked — she danced.
Plamena offers an integrative range of therapies under one roof, including acupuncture, herbal medicine, SCENAR neuro-stimulation therapy, and microneedling — one of the few practitioners in the greater Santa Monica area combining all of these modalities. Every treatment plan is built around each patient’s unique body pattern, with personalized dietary and lifestyle guidance woven throughout.
Her mission is simple: to help more people stop managing their pain and start living without it.
