About Richard
Dr. Richard Gold, Ph.D., L.Ac is a licensed acupuncturist and holds a Doctorate in Psychology. He graduated from Oberlin College in 1972 with a degree in World Religions and a minor in pre-medicine. He graduated from the New England School of Acupuncture in 1978 and since then has devoted his professional career to the study, practice, researching, teaching and publishing in the field of East Asian Medicine. Dr. Gold has pursued advanced studies in China (1981), Japan (1986) and Thailand (1988, 1989, 1992). He is one of the earliest pioneers of Thai Massage therapy in the United States, Brazil, Israel and Europe. Dr. Gold wrote the first English language book on Thai massage in 1988 and is considered an authority in the field. This book has also been published in Portuguese and Japanese. Dr. Gold also published the book “Seitai (Lymphatic) Shiatsu, Cupping and Gua Sha” in 2019. There is also a version of this book in the Czech language.
Dr. Gold was one of four founders of the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, now known as the Pacific College of Health and Science, a regionally and nationally accredited college of traditional Chinese Medicine with campuses in San Diego, Chicago, and New York City. He served on the Board of the college for many years and continues to teach there. In addition, Dr. Gold served for over 20 years as the President and Chairman of the Board of the International Professional School of Bodywork (IPSB) and was also a senior faculty member at IPSB.
​
In recent years, Dr. Gold has been working in the field of applied neuroscience and sound. Currently, he is the President and Executive Producer of Metta Mindfulness Music, a music production company devoted to creating original music to facilitate meditation, health, and mindfulness.
​
​In his private practice, Dr. Gold is a General Practitioner, successfully treating a wide variety of health complaints. He specializes in treatment of pain, digestive problems, and stress-related disorders among other conditions. Dr. Gold has a reputation for excellence in alternative health care and is a highly sought after practitioner. His unique approach to healing pairs both his Psychology background with Chinese Medicine and has made him a very successful practitioner with a very satisfied and dedicated patient base for over 40 years.
Client Testimonials
"I highly recommend Pacific Center for Health and Dr. Rick Gold. I suffered from infertility and was told by some of the best IVF doctors that it was unlikely I'd be able to get pregnant even if I did IVF. They told me my best bet was to use an egg donor. Dr. Gold started treating me and within three months I was pregnant without using any drugs or doing IVF. I continued to see Dr. Gold throughout the pregnancy and our little miracle baby arrived just last month."
J. B.
"I have seen Rick for many years. He always takes time to talk to me and understand my condition. He has seen me through several ailments such as IBS and sinus infections without the strong drugs I was taking before.
Rick is always available to answer my questions by phone and has even called me on occasion to see how I was doing, without waiting for me to call first. He is very knowledgeable and sensitive to his patients' needs. I have referred him to others who have been equally pleased.
I always recommend Pacific Center of Health to anyone considering acupuncture. I have occasionally seen other practitioners in the same clinic. While their methods differ slightly, the ones I have seen were equally professional."
Simonetta C.
"Dr. Rick Gold is a wizard! He's entirely involved with a patient, and brings a wealth of acupuncture and massage medicine to his practice. Rick is a major contributor to programs at Esalen in Big Sur, and highly recommended!"
Charles C.
"I have been going to the Pacific Center of Health for over 12 years for acupuncture, chiropractic, massage therapy, nutrition counseling, etc. The quality of service is excellent, from the health care providers to the assistants/massage experts and the reception staff. Everyone is very thoughtful and caring.
I was referred to Dr. Rick Gold by a friend who thought acupuncture would be helpful for my tennis elbow. I was hesitant at first, but when I heard that many professional athletes use acupuncture to help heal from injuries and to maintain their top performance, I thought I would give it a try (in addition it is recognized by many health insurance companies and the World Health Organization as an effective treatment for many health problems). I have never been disappointed!
The actual treatments are almost pain free, you barely even feel the needles as they are inserted and the process of relaxing while the needles awaken the body's natural healing energy is truly amazing. It is an extremely relaxing experience that literally allows you to rest in bliss (you have a choice of soft music in the background if you wish) for 20 to 40 minutes (this varies) and then at the end of the session, there is usually a wonderful brief massage of the affected area, or perhaps just the neck and shoulders! Acupuncture allows the body to heal itself and is extremely effective for a number of ailments.
Presently, I see Dr. Gold at least once a month as a maintenance process. And, if I have a virus or some other health issue, the acupuncture works wonders (they also have an ample selection of herbal remedies if needed). For some ailments (like my tennis elbow) acupuncture requires a series of sessions to have results, for something like a sore or tight lower back, it can bring immediate relief.
I highly recommend the Pacific Center of Health. Your body, mind and soul deserve the best in health care!"
Tim T.