Timothy J. Campbell, LAc.
I have been practicing Oriental Medicine since 1997. My introduction began after chronic back pain forced me to drop out of Graduate School for two years in 1992. After many years of unsuccessful therapies for my back, I finally went to an Acupuncturist. After having my issues resolved with Acupuncture and Acupressure, I returned back to school and finished my Master's of Science in Marketing from North Carolina State University in 1995. I then began my study of Oriental Medicine. Prior to N.C. State, I had graduated undergraduate with degrees in English and Political Science from Rutgers University in 1989.
I first attended the Acupressure Institute in northern California, and started my Acupressure business Ocean Acupressure here in SD in 1997. I have been practicing and studying ever since, and graduated from the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in 2010 with a degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. In addition, I also had been an Ocean Lifeguard in Atlantic City, NJ for 30 summers, and retired as a Lieutenant in 2012.
One of my main specialties is all Muscular Skeletal disorders. This includes Acute and Chronic Pain, Injuries, Sports Injuries, and Trauma. I also specialize in all Stress/Anxiety related issues, and in addition perform Facial Renewal and Rejuvenation treatments to help restore, renew, and rejuvenate the skin of the face and neck. As a Licensed Acupuncturist, I have been trained to treat many disorders and can also help with many different other issues. My objective is very simply to help your body heal itself.
Generally, you the patient should know within 3-4 treatments whether my services will work for you. In some instances, the issue will be resolved by then. With that in mind, I suggest the New Patient 2-Pack to see if I can help. You can also come in and make a decision about either the 5 or 10 pack packages after your first treatment. You can make that decision after you find out what my treatments encompass, see what I am about, and how you feel after your first treatment.
I also only treat one patient at a time, which allows me to vary my different modalities to best suit your needs.
I accept most Health Insurances, and will check your coverage, co-pay, and deductible for you. All I need is a picture of your insurance card and your birthdate, and I can usually have those answers for you within 24-48 hours during regular business hours. Insurance plans managed by American Specialty Health are partial insurance, covering needles only, and do not cover full treatments.
My Specialties
1: SPORTS MEDICINE, MUSCULAR SKELETAL, 5 TOOL TREATMENTS
I have been treating Sports Medicine and Muscular Skeletal issues for more than 20 years. It is my main specialty, and the one where I put all my tools into practice and get the best results. I treat both Acute and Chronic Pain, Trauma, Injuries, and Sports Injuries. If it hurts, my goal is to stop it from hurting. My other objective, which is simple but absolutely essential, is to give you the tools to try and prevent the issue from happening again.
When it comes to pain and injuries one the protocols I employ that sets Ocean Oriental Medicine apart from others is my emphasis on what I call “5 Tool Treatments.” I use this for both acute and chronic injuries and all issues of pain. I approach resolution of issues with a 5-part combination of Acupuncture, Acupressure, Stretching, Strengthening, and Heat therapy. I combine all these modalities together to give you the best chance for a complete recovery. I provide exercises when necessary, both corrective and rehabilitative, and other protocols to not only recover from injuries, but to help maintain your fitness and prevent further injuries. My “homework” is simple, and designed to take as little as your time as possible. My goal is when you come to me for an injury is to leave you better off than you were before you got injured. I don’t believe in injury “maintenance.” Some of the worst necks and backs I have felt and seen in over 20 years of practice are those people who have been going to someone every 1-2 weeks to “maintain” their pain. Some of these modalities are extremely detrimental to the human body, and I for one learned that the hard way. I believe in fixing the issue, teaching you to maintain the fix, and having you move on from the issue.
I have been active my whole life, with many injuries myself such as multiple ACL tears, years of back and hip pain, chronic IT band issues originating from both left knee and right hip, herniated disks in my neck from a tree running into my helmet snowboarding, chronic wrist issues from years of bartending at night and practicing Acupressure during the day, plus a few others. I have been a perfect test case, and fixing these issues like these was what brought me into Oriental Medicine. I have seen just about every type of doctor and therapist recovering from my injuries, and know all the scams. I know what works and what does not. In addition, I will absolutely not give you the run around. Been there and experienced that. I was so distraught with the medical care I was given that I decided after I finished my Master’s degree in Marketing I would do something about it. Twenty-five years later I am still doing something about it.
I stay pretty active now, and during any given day you may find me surfing, lifting, boxing training, biking, rollerblading, gym cardio, yoga, snowboarding, swimming, or just running on the beach. I was lucky enough to be injured many years of my life. I am not now. That knowledge is priceless, and is the basis of my practice, research, and approach in resolving your issues. An active lifestyle is key to my existence, and I will do my best to get you back where you belong.
2: STRESS, ANXIETY, & INSOMNIA
One of my main focuses for my patients no matter what the issue they come in for is to work on what Oriental Medicine refers to as “Anxiety.” It is more commonly referred to as Stress in Western terms. The mind gets overwhelmed, thoughts become cloudy, confusion sets in, and it is hard to see your path. Acupuncture helps part the clouds, clear your mind, and allows you to more calmly asses your situation.
These issues can encompass many presentations, including but not limited to stress, anxiety, insomnia, depression, panic attacks, stomach issues, and insomnia. There are many other issues that come under this category, but the treatment is all based on calming the Central Nervous System, and calming the Mind. Some people come in for just these particular issues, and others I treat these issues along with their other issues.
Sleep is essential, and many humans are unaware that even though they have been lacking in proper sleep for many years, this is an issue that can be resolved. And resolved without medications or hormones. In many instances this can be a relatively simple fix. When sleep is absent, absolutely every system in the body is strained. It affects different people in different ways, but if you are not sleeping properly, which includes sleeping soundly and deeply, your system and your body are vulnerable to imbalance. Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine are highly effective in regulating and enhancing your sleep.
Another way Stress disorders present itself is in Stomach issues, including but not limited to IBS and Crones. I try to describe this in relation the RPMs of a car, whereby it is stuck revving too high, and will not slow down. Oriental Medicine calms the central nervous system down, and therefore also calms the stomach down. The stomach is allowed to relax, recover, and do its job. It is also akin to the fight or flight response, where your body in stuck in the fight mode. Here where the body is stuck in fight mode, it never relaxes and never turns off. Acupuncture helps turn off your fight of flight response, and allows your stomach to relax, recover, and digest. To put it In Western medical terms Acupuncture turns off the Sympathetic nervous system (flight or fight) and turns on the Parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest). I have treated a lot of stomach issues, and have had a lot of success with this treatment protocol. Stomach issues can be complicated, but Acupuncture many times can help tremendously, and also sometimes completely solve the problem.
When I treat issues in the Stress, Anxiety, and Insomnia categories, I will also employ a Japanese style Acupuncture approach. Here I use extra tiny and painless pins. They are specifically designed for you not to feel them. This is a more energetic focused treatment, and is very calming and relaxing. Simply put, the difference between needling techniques between the Chinese and Japanese styles is the Chinese want you to feel it, and the Japanese do not want you to feel it. All I care about is which style gets better results, and I will absolutely use the Japanese style when I can, and if this will get the best results. Different issues respond better to different styles. I have studied many different styles, and can switch Acupuncture styles to best treat your particular issue or issues.
In addition, as with all my treatments, these treatments will be followed with some degree of Acupressure. Here I hold Acupuncture points with pressure from my hands to further calm, relax, and remove tension from the body. Acupressure will also involve Tui Na, Shiatsu, and some other styles of bodywork I have studied and practiced over the last couple decades. There will also usually be some sort of heat therapy involved, such as a heat lamp, steam packs, and some stretching involved when needed. It is an individually tailored protocol, as are all my treatments, depending on your needs and issues.
3: Headaches, Migraines
I have been able to over the last 20 years to consistently cut the frequency, duration, and intensity of Headaches and Migraines. I have also been able to reduce and sometimes eliminate the medications that accompany these issues. When it comes to Migraines, I cannot always completely eliminate their occurrence, but can cut down the frequency, the intensity, and the duration of the episodes. These treatments can also be particularly effective if you can get in for a treatment while one is occurring, right before, or right after. Sometimes you are trapped in a dark room until it subsides, but if you can make it to my office, I can start the process of recovery. While helping you recover, we can also begin the process of preventing future occurrences.
Anyone who suffers from frequent Migraines or Headaches will also have very tight neck and shoulders as a result. This tension builds over time and eventually causes you suffer from regular intense Tension Headaches also. This becomes a pattern that does not subside. The medications help with the pain, but the headaches continue, the frequency increases, and all the time your neck and shoulders are getting tighter and tighter. The medications do not address this issue. You are stuck in an nasty downward spiral. As your neck and shoulders gets tighter, more headaches occur. And as more headaches occur, you get tighter and tighter. It is a vicious cycle, which I can help break. A major part of my Headache and Migraine protocol involves loosening up the tension that has accumulated in your neck and shoulders, and restoring the normal range of motion and flexibility to that area. This will make you feel better overall, and also cut down on the regular tension headaches that accompany tight neck and shoulders.
4: MIND AND BODY BALANCE
Life as we know it can be difficult at times. Many people come in just to de-stress, calm the mind, loosen up knots and tension, and take a mental break from the world. You can come in just to feel better. It is a concept and idea that is not so prevalent in this culture. Sometimes one has to take care of oneself, especially if one is also taking care of others. If you look to many other countries, it is all part of their regular life routine. Not so much in this country.
Many people come to me initially for pain, injuries, or other issues, and then will return for a Mind and Body Balance treatment just to feel better. Treatments such as these are relaxing, calming, preventive, and can catch certain issues such as stress, insomnia, and other issues before they become chronic. These treatments, as with all my treatments, will also include Acupressure and Bodywork. This will release knots and tension throughout your body, especially in your back and neck, that you may not have been aware that were accumulating. Chinese Acupuncture points, Motor Points, and other systems I use can be maps of where tension accumulates. I can find tension you have been carrying around that you did know you had, and that you have become one with. Many times, you do not know how much pain you are in or how much tension has accumulated until someone takes it away.
Reducing stress and tension is one of the goals of a Mind and Body Balance treatment, as is calming the mind and relaxing the body. That and the simple effect of having you walk out feeling better than you walked in.
5: FACIAL RENEWAL & REJUVENATION
Facial Renewal and Rejuvenation is an aspect of Chinese Medicine that has been practiced successfully for thousands of years. It combines the best of Acupuncture, Acupressure, Facial Cupping, and Facial Gua Sha to help tone, tighten, and strengthen facial skin and muscles, while also moisturizing the Face and Neck. It also can eliminate fine lines and reduce large wrinkles. It is safe, non-toxic, effective, and also treats you the patient systematically as a whole with all the natural benefits of Acupuncture. Some of these benefits could be improved sleep, digestion, circulation, stress, headaches, pain, and loosening and removing knots and tension from your neck and jaw. There are also other possible issues that can be addressed along with the facial treatments.
It usually takes about 10-12 sessions to get the best results, and after that tune-ups every month or two depending on age, diet, exercise, and lifestyle. Generally, once a week works fine, while twice a week would be optimal. However, schedules and life these days may prevent the twice a week protocol. One of the reasons the process takes quite a few treatments to see results is that we are rebuilding the skin on a cellular lever. Facial Acupuncture also helps to produce collagen and elastin, for example, and it takes approximately 12 weeks for collagen to form. The thin painless needles also create micro-trauma in the skin, and this process helps repair and rejuvenate the skin. This does not happen overnight. However, some people start to see results before that, and some people can see a slight difference in their skin after one session. One of the simple ways it helps the face is simply by bringing fresh blood to the skin of the face. This is a perfect natural moisturizer, and can deliver a fresh radiance and glow to your skin.
Different people see different results, and lifestyle, age, and diet are a huge determinate on how the skin responds. So it hard to predict exactly how it will work for you. For example, smoking cigarettes and sugar are two of the worse things for your skin, and will absolutely lessen the effects of treatments. There are no guarantees with these treatments for results, but you should see improvement in your skin, and also improvement in your overall state of mind and body.
There are many benefits and possible positive changes for your face when having Facial Acupuncture sessions. Some of these are increased blood and lymph circulation, reducing edema and puffiness, reducing bags under the eyes, reducing sagging, elimination of fine lines, reducing deep wrinkles, treating sun damaged skin and scars, promoting collagen and elastin production, improving muscle tone of the facial muscles and thereby “tightening” the skin, moisturizing the skin, reducing overall stress levels, lessening neck, jaw, and upper back tension, reducing headaches, and treating TMJ. Facial Renewal and Rejuvenation can not only slow down the aging process of your skin, it can also reverse some of these processes.
One major incentive for choosing Oriental Medicine for your skin is you will NOT be injecting one of the most toxic substances known to man into your body. And make no mistake, Botox does go into your body, and Botox has consequences. It is a perfect example of how Western medicine chooses profit over the health of humans. They tell you that it goes into your skin and just stays there. That is cateogorically false. Botox has been found in the cerebral fluid of your brain, has been linked to droopy eyelids, pain, chronic pain, headaches, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, dizziness, double vision, and breathing difficulties. It has also affects the sensory function of the brain because the Botox Toxin paralyzes the skin and the surrounding tissue, and this paralysis alters the way the brain functions and interprets that area and surrounding areas.
Yes Botox does smooth out your wrinkles quickly and effectively. There is no doubt about that. You will not get the quick effects with Oriental Medicine as you do with Botox. However, Botox accomplishes this with potentially devastating consequences. The idea that Botox is safe is ludicrous. In addition, this paralysis of the facial skin does wear off, and then you have to get another round of injections. There is not an end to these injections. One must be careful what is injected into one's body. Especially with multiple injections. And also with a substance that there has been no long term studies on the effects of injections. As with a lot of pharmaceutical products, it is all about profiting first, and then worrying about the consequences for the human later. There is plenty of research out there on the negative effects of Botox. It is worth investigation and researching before you start that process. Oriental Medicine offers you an alternative.
I originally got into Facial Renewal and Rejuvenation basically because I had promised some people that I would eventually start doing this. They had been asking me for years to start, and I finally did keep my promise. Since then I have seen the results, and also enjoyed not only improving the skin, but also improving some of the many other issues Oriental Medicine can address while we work on the skin. Even when I was studying the protocols and processes for Facial Renewal and Rejuvenation I was not sure it was for me, because it was quite different from what I had been doing. But what I did find out is that it is actually not that different from what I had been doing at all, and it works hand in hand with my other protocols. I am glad that I added this to my practice.
Facial Renewal and Rejuvenation is for Healthy people, and is contradicted for those with High Blood pressure, Diabetes, frequent Migraines, Vertigo, Serious Illness, or if you are Pregnant. If you are battling other health issues, it is better that you resolve those issues before you start this process.
6: OTHER ISSUES
With my degree in Oriental Medicine and as a Licensed Acupuncturist I have been trained to treat many issues. If you have any questions or issues not mentioned feel free to give me a call or text and ask. For example, I have helped people with loss of hearing and loss of smell. I have also treated many post stroke patients, and have gotten good results. Post stroke works best if you do not wait in seeking Acupuncture treatments. The sooner you get treatments after a stroke, the better chance I have of helping.
I have made an effort to specialize in certain issues, but by no means am I limited to treating those issues. Feel free to contact me and we can talk about your issue or issues. My approach is very simple, and you will know within 3 or 4 treatments whether this is going to work for you. Acupuncture does not work for all issues and conditions, but it is either going to work, or it is not going to work. You the patient will decide this for us within 3-4 treatments. It is a simple process to see if it will work for you. If you are not seeing results within this time frame, chances are I am not going to be able to help you. With that in mind I do suggest the New Patient 4 Pack to see if this will work for you.
I have listed below some things I have worked on successfully in the past:
Arthritis, Gout, Rotator Cuff, Frozen Shoulder, Supraspinatus, Infraspinatus, Subscapularis, Teres Minor, Shoulder Impingement, Biceps Tendonitis, Carpel tunnel, TOS-Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, Diabetic Nerve Pain, Post Chemotherapy Nerve Pain, Migraines, Cluster Headaches, Headaches, Tension Headaches, Herniated Disks, Disks, Bulging Disks, Nerve Pain, Loss of Hearing, Loss of Smell, Tooth Pain, TMJ, Ankle, Sprained Ankle, Achilles, Achilles Tendonitis, Piriformis Syndrome, Sciatica, Insomnia, Panic Attacks, Depression, Anxiety, Tinderitis, De Quervain’s, Numbness, Tingling, Plantar Fasciitis, IT Band- Iliotibial Band Syndrome, Torn Meniscus, Torn Ligament, Patella, Swelling, Inflammation, Menopause, Night sweats, Hot Flashes, Night Sweats, Vertigo, Dizziness, Tendonitis, Neck Pain, Back Pain, Calf, Repetitive Stress, Lateral Epicondylitis, Medial Epicondylitis, Tennis Elbow, Golfers Elbow, Wrist, Hand, Thumb, Groin Pull/Pain, Quadriceps, Mortens Neuroma, Hip, Stop Smoking , Psoriatic Arthritis,, Surgery Recovery, Heel Pain, Bruises, Scarring, Stroke recovery, Balance, Stenosis, Hamstring, SI Joint, Trigeminal Neuralgia.
Veterans
I specialize in treating Veterans and accept Choice and PC3 and CCR from Tri-West insurance through the VA. While your insurance will cover and will pay for Pain and Injury treatments, I will also add to the same treatment and treat you for other issues such as PTSD, Stress, Anxiety, Insomnia, and any other mental and emotional issues that be troubling you. This is all part of my regular treatment protocol. Oriental Medicine by nature emphasizes treating the whole body. A sound, calm, and relaxed mind is a vital part my treatments, and is all part of my regular pain and injury treatments. It is very easy to add to and enhance the pain and injury protocol to address other issues.
An additional focus and emphasis for Veterans is on reducing and eliminating the various pain and anxiety meds Western Doctors frequently have their patients on. In many instances your doctor will have you on these meds for a very long time. Some instances they will try and have you on them permanently. Especially the opiates for pain and the various anti-anxiety meds they prescribe. It is what they were trained to do, and it is what they know. They are doing their best with the options and training they have received. My objective is to try and resolve the issues, and either reduce or get you off the pharmaceuticals.
I have been very successful in cutting down and eliminating some of the long term medications patients are on for Stress and Pain. This does not work for everyone, but for everyone on pain and anxiety meds I make a maximum effort to reduce or eliminate them from your daily routine. Oriental Medicine is designed to fix issues, not to maintain and keep you on medications. This may not always be possible, but this effort always goes to the top of my objectives. All medications have side effects, and if you can walk comfortably through life without medications, why should you not. I am here to try and make that possible.
If your insurance does not cover Acupuncture, you as a Vet will be offered a discount off my regular rates. All you have to do is ask. I thank you for your service!
Hours & Pricing
Hours
Monday: 12pm - 8pm
Tuesday: 8am - 2pm
Wednesday: 12pm - 8pm
Thursday: 8am - 4pm
Friday - Sunday: Closed*
*For New Patients & emergencies I can occasionally be available off hours and some Fridays.
Pricing
Regular Acupuncture: $100 (60 min) 5 Pack Acupuncture: $450 10 Pack Acupuncture: $850 New Patient Only 2 Pack: $150 (2x60min) *All packages are to be paid up front* Optional Initial Assessment+Treatment: $150 (90+ minutes)
Acupressure/Massage/Cupping: $120 (60 min)
Contact Me
Text via Cell is Quickest Response (Within 2 hours during business hours)
Cell Phone: (619) 822-0177 (Text or Call)
Phone: (858) 272-7125 (Landline, please leave message)
Email: tim@oceanacupressure.com
my Office
4747 Mission Blvd Suite 5B
San Diego, CA 92109