I've been going to Rick for acupuncture for almost a year and highly recommend him. I've seen results in as little as two sessions. If you're thinking about trying acupuncture definitely come here. read more

Knee and neuropathy. He is wonderful. Can't say enough. Highly recommend. Have made a big difference in my walking and comfort. Has also helped my back. Thank you. read more

I have been on a journey to find out what is "wrong" with me for about one year. Every morning I would wake up unable to get out of bed because of numbness in both my arms and both my legs, with a lingering tingly sensation throughout the day. I had already seen 4 different types of specialists (and a trip to the ER) and not one doctor found anything to explain the numbness. I started seeing Rick about a month ago, and even on the first visit I could tell he cared about my healing process and willing to work with me to discover ways to ease my symptoms. He has such a calming presence and is very easy to talk to too which is very comforting! After 4 sessions I can happily say that I have been symptom free for 7 days straight (which has not happened since this numbness started a year ago). Rick has changed my quality of life and I look forward to every session I have with him! I would highly highly recommend him to anyone that will listen! read more

So happy we found Rick Peterson! His knowledge, caring, patient explanation of all he does is so soothing and healing. The two issues Rick is addressing are feeling so much better after only a few treatments. We are convinced that Rick is so effective because of his extensive knowledge but equally due to his caring manner and desire to successfully address any issue he is presented with. We cannot say enough about Rick except we are so very fortunate that he is working with us. If you are considering accupuncture, look nowhere else. Rick Peterson is the answer you are looking for. Thank you so very much Rick for all you do! read more

So happy to find Rick Peterson and his acupuncture skills! I suddenly became deaf in my left ear with hurricane level tinnitus and vertigo. In addition, I was experiencing triggering pain in my shoulder, arm, and hand from two compressed vertebra. Over these past two months, I truly believe Rick's twice a week treatments have helped me deal with my hearing loss by reducing the tinnitus and swirling which aided my other medical interventions. As time goes along, I am sure my compressed vertebra triggering pains will be reduced as well. I respond well to Rick's calm efficiency and caring manner to understand specifically where my aches and pains reside. Thank you so much for your expertise, Rick! read more

I saw Rick for several months in 2015. I went in because I was having terrible chronic TMJ pain - to the point where it was keeping me up at night. I've had chiropractic care in the past - for both TMJ and back issues - but it always only provided temporary relief. One of my friends with TMJ recommended acupuncture, and though I'd never really looked into it, I decided to give it a try. Rick was great at explaining the process to a first-timer and provided a great atmosphere - calming music, low light - the works. I started to really look forward to my sessions because it not only helped the pain, it also gave me an opportunity to leave work for a bit and take a nice, meditative nap (with needles in me). Like magic, after a number of sessions. the pain got a lot better. And here I am, two years later, with no flare ups. If I still lived in the area, I'd make visits with Rick a regular part of my health and wellness routine. Thank you, Rick! read more

He is the best and saved me!! I herniated my disc where it was severely pushing on my S1 nerve. I could not walk for over 2 months and was in intense pain. I was not able to get an epidural shot as it was at the beginning of Covid and considered "non essential". After 2 sessions I felt enormous relief. After 6-8 sessions (with cupping!) I was able to walk again. Eventually I did get an epidural but it was clearly Dr. Petersen's work that got me walking again!! He is awesome and can help in many ways (not just back!). Thank you so much Dr. Petersen!! read more

I cannot say enough about Rick and the immense relief and care I continually receive from my acupuncture sessions with him. I tried many other acupuncture drs before being referred to Rick and never had the results that I obtained even after my 1st visit with him! I was suffering with terrible headaches, brain fogginess and pain throughout my body. I immediately got relief and each time i see him receive pain relief and stress reduction. Rick is extremely talented and caring so don't hesitate to see him... you will be so happy you did! read more

2 months ago I walked into Ricks office for accupuncture! Having never done this type of treatment before, I really didn't know what to expect. With Ricks professionalism and care for his patients we laid out a plan and put it into action! After incorporating cupping into our sessions as well, my body and mind feel refreshed and healthier than they have been in a long time! I was suffering from nerve pain, anxiety, chest discomfort and overall just sluggish feelings. I know I feel better, I'm playing golf pain free and I'm able to sleep much better. Without Rick, I'm not sure where I would be but I know where I am and I thank you for that! Do yourself a favor and invest in your well being! Go see Rick and in no time you'll be feeling amazing!!! Thanks, CS read more

I have been going to Rick for a few years now. He is the best LAc I have been to. He is extremely knowledgeable, professional and very compassionate. He has helped me with immune issues where Western Medicine has failed me and I am an RN working in Western Medicine. I would highly recommend him if you want a more natural approach to healing. read more

I started seeing Rick after months of extreme pain everywhere from my head to toe from Fibromyalgia. I couldn't move very well so could not exercise because of the pain every time I tried. Sleep was also an issue. I chose acupuncture before taking a lot of prescribed medication that only hid the pain. Rick finds the root cause and has provided extreme relief to my pain with acupuncture and Chinese herbs. He has truly been a game changer in my life. I am mobile, flexible, painfree and happy again. The best thing is my insurance covers some of the costs! read more

I have been dealing with sciatica for 9 months now. My sister in law suggested I go see Rick. Let me tell you, after 4 sessions I am finally not in constant pain. Between the acupuncture and cupping,my leg is feeling 90% better. I do have days where I am pain free though, kind of depends on what I have done that day. :/. If you have been thinking about acupuncture, I say give it a try and I highly recommend Rick. He is professional, knowledgeable, and wants you to feel better. read more

Excellent acupuncturist . He's super knowledgeable and friendly. His office really nice and clean. I appreciate that rick is super attentive and professional and yet is very personable read more

I started treating with Rick for multiple car accident injuries which included severe whiplash, a concussion resulting in PCS (post-concussion syndrome), thoracic outlet syndrome which caused numbness down my arm and into my hand, brachial plexus and musculoskeletal injuries/disorders. In addition to the physical pain I was in I was also dealing with my emotions from being in the accidents and the life changing aftermath. As soon as my very first appointment with Rick things started to shift and I just knew I was in the right place and with a knowledgeable- highly skilled acupuncturist. Rick guided me that day with breath work that helped to calm my nervous system and allow the healing process to begin. I've been treating with Rick regularly for over six months now and have made great strides on my path to wellness. What started out as an addition to my treatment team in healing my accident injuries has become so much more. Rick's treatments have conquered many of my headaches, reduced TMJ symptoms(I clench my jaw),and have helped me to deal with lifelong Complex PTSD, anxiety, and depression. He is truly invested in the well being of the whole of a person. I am so very grateful to have found Rick! (...and I love cupping... definitely try it!) read more

Once again, Rick Peterson has come through for me. I had a chronic fall on my kneecap causing me a great deal of pain and swelling. After our first appointment, the swelling was visibly reduced. After a few appointments, my knee was not the focus of my attention anymore and I could get back to moving duties. Kudos to Rick! read more

Rick is freaking amazing! I wish to G-d insurance would pay for acupuncture, because of everything I have tried for my medical condition, acupuncture and TCM in general has FAR exceeded Western medicine. I mean look, you must have Western medicine for surgery and diagnostic testing however TCM and acupuncture is absolutely wonderful and often can help treat the core of an illness better than Western can (my opinion of course). Rick is so warm and friendly. I only had a few visits here on a Groupon (since again it's not covered by my insurance and my medical bills are astronomical this year and last year) but if I could I would see him once a week until my illness was suppressed and then maybe monthly for maintenance. Rick takes the time to thorough explain to his patients TCM observance of a particular disorder and what acupuncture can do for it. Comfort and overall wellness are obviously the main priority for Rick. I was shocked how much he knew about my health by looking at my tongue. What he said based on the pale white shade of my tongue was DEAD ON about a lot of troubles I had been going through. My acupuncture sessions were soothing despite having all these needles poking out of me, there was nice music playing softly in the background and the room was very pleasant. I was also given some wonderful herbs that I would say absolutely helped me when I was on them. What impressed me even further is unlike traditional western medicine doctors, who often (in my experience again) look like they may be not be 100% in good health themselves, Rick's skin glows, his eyes are bright, his body is in great shape and his demeanor is very relaxed and although I cannot claim to know his current state of health I trust him very much so because it is obvious he takes excellent care of himself. Thank you so much Rick and I hope to see you again soon. read more

The most amazing acupuncturist I have ever known. I hate needles, and he makes it so easy. Dealing with an almost year old injury and making huge progress. Cannot say enough good things about this amazing therapist! read more

Rick is a great Doctor of Acupuncture. I say that with great respect and results. I am in the health and wellness field myself and have been to many acupuncturist and Rick is compassionate , knowledgeable, and effective in his work. I highly recommend him . read more

Rick is an amazing acupuncturist. He's worked on my for pain, vertigo and colds. I always come out feeling better. He is very knowledgeable on Chinese medicine. read more

didn't believe in acupuncture. I workout all the time and occasionally have muscle issues that are very painful. My wife suggested Dr. Rick. I was skeptical but in great pain. WOW WAS I SURPRISED!!!! I have seen Dr. Rick a number of times now and he is a savior! ACUPUNCTURE REALLY WORKS and Dr. Rick is awesome at it. Healing, pain elimination, getting me back in the gym, living pain free faster - Dr. Rick does it all. I highly recommend him and anyone questioning acupuncture or needing help should see Dr. Rick. I will refer anyone who asks to Dr. Rick! read more

The truth is; I wouldn't be able to be live a vertical life without Rick! Obviously, I don't fully understand what he's doing with all those needles? But, I know it works! His expertise has really been put to the test with unusual presentation of a herniated disc in my lower back. Lots of pain and annoying phantom muscle spasms in other parts of my body? I'm pretty active at 41 and I want to stay that way for decades to come. Even if it flares up he gets me up and back me on my feet without needing to take dangerous pain meds. And, best of all he's easy going but, professional (medical) not "new age-y"! read more

Dr. Rick Peterson is a great acupuncturist. He is really knowledgeable and is trained in many techniques of healing and relaxation. I have gotten really great results if I follow the advice and also have regular treatments. I am really happy that my insurance is also accepted at La Costa Chiropractic for acupuncture, it is part of my wellness program. read more

Rick is awesome! Some colleagues originally recommended I try acupuncture from Rick for my tension/sinus headaches. With only a couple sessions he had cured them! With pain out of the way, on my last visit I decided to try something new. He actually does "acupuncture face lifts" if you need a little facial rejuvenation or want a little pick-me-up. I could actually see the difference when he was done and so could my skeptical roommate!! read more

I've been to other acupuncturist before and Rick is really top notch! I started seeing him because of residual problems from my Cancer treatments. I was feeling discouraged that I was not ever get to be close to my normal again, it only took a few months and I can't believe how balanced and overall better I feel. I could go on and on but one example was my sleep. I developed insomnia. I told Rick this at one session. he said he really worked on that. That night I had the absolute best sleep I've ever had since I was told I had cancer in 2012. I was so thrilled. While all my other doctors keep focusing on their one system of expertise, Rick was looking at my wholeness, putting it all together. I got my husband seeing him now too for pain and he already is significantly better after just a couple of weeks. Rick is awesome!! read more

I have been seeing Rick for 3 months now and he is amazing. Through herbs and his acupuncture I have achieved the balance I was needing for a health issue. Rick is truly the best acupuncturist I have ever been to. I can't say enough good things about him. Extremely knowledgeable in Chinese medicine. I am an RN and work in western medicine but western Med failed me for this particular issue. Rick has the right ingredients to help and heal. I highly recommend him!! I read more

I would say that the acupuncture that I received from Rick was very well thought out and appeared to improve my symptoms from Tennis Elbow. He's quite thorough in his efforts to assist you. There's an immediate level of comfort when visiting his clinic and frankly, I wish I lived in Carlsbad full time so I could use him year round. read more

I have been to many acpuncturists and Rick is amazing!! He is extremely professional, his clinic is well organized and comfortable. Most importantly he is in tune with what bodies need to heal and looks at healing as a complete picture which has brought me to a place I never thought I would be. In 2005, I was involved in a serious car accident which left me unable to walk for 4 months and a road to recovery full of pain and frustration. My left femur fractured, PCL torn as well as damage to other ligaments, dislocated metatarsals and metatarsal joint with a fractured medial mallelous. Obviously this altered my life and left me unable to do many of the activities that I had done prior to my accident. I suffered from chronic pain and other issues stemming from the severity of my accident including; pain, stress, anxiety, circulatory issues, weakened immune system and just overall decline of the healthy person I was before my accident. So, how has Rick Peterson improved my conditions? Well, he has a very keen sense of how the body functions and and how illnesses and conditions affect the different bodily systems and most importantly are related. He has improved my immune system which has then helped me to feel stronger thus allowing me to start exercising which in turn has helped reduce my stress and anxiety. In conjuction with my immunity improving along with reduced stress and anxiety my reduction in pain is significant. I went to have a surgery to remove hardware by an orthopedic surgeon who has been practicing in San Diego for over 35 years and he said my recovery, range of motion and mobility was remarkable. He said that my foot injury was the worst he had ever seen and I told him that since seeing Rick my life had greatly changed. I cannot express how much Rick Peterson has helped me to return to the active person that I once was and feel empowered to believe in my body's ability to heal. He has supported my recovery mentally, physically and emotionally. Honestly, on many levels, I feel better than before my accident. GO!! Get treated by him today and CHANGE the way you feel and function!! read more

this was my first experience ever having acupuncture. i needed some relief from tennis elbow. i found Rick on yelp . i took a chance and even got a yelp deal on my first visit. $$ well spent. the office was clean and professional. i was greeted with friendliness and not treated any different just because i had purchased a yelp deal. Rick was very proessional . i left the office feeling better. i will be back. read more

I have been seeing Rick twice a week for several months and can attest to his knowledge, professionalism, skill, and all around concern for his patients that he exhibits as an excellent practitioner of Acupuncture. I was seeing him for annoying MS related symptoms like spasms in my hamstrings, tightness in my quads, clenched toes, a twitchy foot, occasional incontinence, and general tension in my neck and shoulders. He succeeded in calming my neurological symptoms so that I could relax more. I always felt like I had his full attention when in treatment and that he cared to make my life more tolerable. While MS is a formidable foe and not easily reckoned with I do feel that Rick did a wonderful job addressing my needs each time I came in for a session. His treatment rooms are well stocked with heaters, soothing music, and anything else one needs to be comfortable while letting the needles do their job. Hats off to Rick and many thanks for all the exquisite care I received this year in 2018! read more

i have gone to see Rick several times for different things. Rick always takes his time with me to and goes into great detail see what the problem is to get the right herbs and treatment. There was one case where I had a headache from a cold. Immediately after the treatment my headache was 50% better and it kept getting better as the day went on. The next morning, my headache was completely gone. Acupuncture definitely works and Rick is the best there is. He is an excellent communicator and gives me "homework" to do so I can get the most out of my treatments. I highly recommend Rick, he is the best acupuncturist there is. read more

I can't say enough good things about Rick. He is a professional through and through. With his help I reduced a great amount of the daily pain I was experiencing and am moving a lot better. It has been money well spent. read more

Rick is competent, efficient and helped me out of daily pain with a neck and rhomboid injury I had been nursing for years. I can resume normal activities now that I am under his care and I feel better than I have in years. He is proficient and uses a combination of acupuncture and cupping ..zeroing in on the root cause of my discomfort with ease. I recommend him, give him two thumbs up and 10 Gold stars. ********** read more

dr rick...finally an approach that really works leery forever and now a believer...you gotta try it if all else has either failed or late getting the results your looking for...top 5 stars for this practitioner. mark read more

This review is long overdue! Earlier this spring I began to see Rick after a diagnosis of Bells Palsy. Prior to that diagnosis, I had been suffering with a terrible sinus infection for many weeks despite many trips to an M.D. and even more medications (antibiotics, inhalers, etc.). Typically, Bells Palsy treatment consists primarily of prescription medications that are not proven to be effective and a whole lot of waiting for it to go away. After a recommendation from a trusted colleague, I started to see Rick to treat the Palsy, not wanting to rely on modern medicine's lame 'wait and see' approach. I should note that I am generally skeptical of alternative medicine, but in this situation I was desperate to do anything to alleviate the palsy symptoms (as anyone who has had it can understand!). Despite Bells Palsy typically lasting many weeks to many months, within one week of seeing Rick I was already seeing significant improvement, and within 3 weeks it was virtually gone! In addition, within days my sinus infection was complete gone as well! Skeptic no more. There is no doubt in my mind that my Bells Palsy was such a short duration due to Rick's acupuncture treatment. He is a true professional and a true healer. Highly recommended for whatever ails you! read more