About Our Founder
Dr. Daron Mathena, DACM, L.Ac.
Neuro-Acupuncturist trained by the Neuro Acupuncture Institute
Dr. Daron Mathena is licensed in California in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. She got her undergraduate at The Sage College of Albany in New York in 2011 and joined the Navy as a Sonar Technician a couple months after. While in the military, she ended up with PTSD and an autoimmune disease that ultimately caused her to leave so she could seek treatment. After being failed by Western Medicine while suffering for 3 years, she fell into Acupuncture while doing volunteer work as a Doula. She was unsure at first, but willing to try anything, and slowly but surely her health took an upturn. Within 6 months of starting acupuncture her panic attacks went from 10 times a day to once every couple months and she was able to move around and work out again and hold her son. The change was so drastic, she had to know how it worked and enrolled in school at the Pacific College of Health and Science where she graduated with a Masters and Doctorate in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. Dr. Daron is a Neuro-Acupuncturist trained by the Neuro Acupuncture Institute. She is also certified in Clean Needle Technique by the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and “o” Medicine (CCAoM) and Medical Microneedling.
Personal
A United States Navy Veteran, Dr. Daron Mathena was introduced to Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine after a debilitating autoimmune disease and PTSD, both of which were not helped by Western Medicine. Within six months of starting Acupuncture, she was in remission with both and able to start her calling to serve other people and lead them to their path to wellness. As a long time resident of Ramona, she serves the community and sees patients out of her own clinic by the Post Office on Main Street.
She moved to Ramona in 2016 with her son in search of a quiet and serene place to raise her children. Ramona has been welcoming and warm ever since she laid down roots. She now has three sons and her family is thriving with friends in this close-knit community. Dr. Daron felt the need during the COVID-19 pandemic to start giving back to her community here in Ramona and bringing this incredible medicine to this town at a time when it is needed most.
Professional
Dr. Daron’s clinical experience includes women’s health, pregnancy and postpartum care, fertility, autoimmune diseases, pain relief, neurological disorders, respiratory disorders, colds and flus, mental and emotional health, sprains and strains, pediatrics, skin disorders, geriatrics, digestive disorders, and much more. She created Gathering Blue Acupuncture & Wellness Center with the intention of providing accessible care in Ramona to teach your body to heal itself. Her services include acupuncture, electrical stimulation acupuncture, holistic microneedling, the prescription of herbal medicine, moxibustion, manual therapies of cupping and gua sha, infrared light therapy, PEMF therapy, and placenta encapsulation.
Dr. Daron’s approach to health is heavily integrative and without judgement and she treats the root of your ailment instead of the branch. Each treatment plan is individualized with Traditional Chinese Medicine for each patient based on the long term health objectives they are trying to achieve. You are not a number at Gathering Blue Acupuncture & Wellness Center in Ramona.
Dr. Daron Mathena’s Approach
Dr. Daron Mathena received her educational and clinical training from Pacific College of Health and Science, which offers the most up-to-date education in both Eastern and Western medicine. Modalities of Eastern medicine, including Chinese medicine theory, the complete system of acupuncture, herbal medicine, and complementary modalities of including cupping therapy and gua sha were included in the 3,532.5 credit hours completed.
The doctorate program at Pacific College of Health and Science also included different branches of Western medicine, including advanced anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, nutrition, orthopedic neurological examination, biochemistry, physics, and other related courses. Dr. Daron has spent many course hours reading and analyzing the most up do date research in her field, as well as creating research study design paradigms for Acupuncture and Chinese medicine. Many research papers she wrote were on the use and efficacy of Acupuncture for fertility and the improvement of Ulcerative Colitis with Chinese Medicine.
This integrative approach is advantageous in order to understand when it is necessary to request and analyze lab results and imaging, understand medications and their side effects/potential herb interactions, and be able to proficiently discuss Western medical health conditions with primary care providers and other specialists. Dr. Daron believes that a strong foundation in Western medicine is important to be able to seamlessly integrate Eastern medicine into today’s healthcare system.