Licensed Acupuncturist & Herbalist in the state of California

L.Ac., licensed acupuncturist.  The state of California requires a Master's Degree or Doctorate in order to become an L.Ac.  I received my Master's of Traditional Oriental Medicine (M.T.O.M.), Summa Cum Laude, from Emperor's College of Traditional Oriental Medicine.

Diplomate of Oriental Medicine

A Diplomate of Oriental Medicine is a practitioner who is certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM®) and has met the certification requirements for both acupuncture and Chinese herbology. It is a considerable professional achievement to earn the designation Diplomate of Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). NCCAOM certification indicates to employers, patients, and peers that one has met national standards for the safe and competent practice of acupuncture and Chinese herbology as defined by the acupuncture and Oriental medicine (AOM) profession. For additional information, about the Diplomate of Oriental Medicine, please visit the NCCAOM Website.

CDPH-RHB Radiography X-Ray Supervisor and Operator

About Dr. Lea Kelley - The Dragon and Phoenix Healer

Offering Personalized Medicine For Over 28 Years!

At The Dragon and Phoenix Healer, I am dedicated to delivering comprehensive and patient-centered healthcare that seamlessly integrates the transformative benefits of Chiropractic care, Acupuncture, Chinese Medicine, holistic therapies and Functional Medicine.

As a Primary Care Provider, my mission is to empower individuals on their unique paths to optimal well-being by combining the wisdom of these time-honored practices. Through personalized treatment plans, a commitment to education, clinical experience and a compassionate approach, I strive to enhance the quality of life for my patients.

At the intersection of Chiropractic excellence and Chinese Medicine/Acupuncture expertise, I aim to be your trusted partner in the pursuit of whole-body health.

My Certifications

Doctor of Chiropractic

Chiropractic patient management includes manual techniques with particular competency in joint adjustment and/or manipulation, rehabilitation exercises, patient education in lifestyle and nutritional modification, and the use of adjunctive therapeutic modalities, orthotics and other supports. Current accreditation and state licensing standards in the United States give doctors of chiropractic the responsibility as a primary portal of entry provider, with the requirement to establish a diagnosis, determine indications for providing chiropractic care, and to consult with or refer to other health care practitioners when appropriate.

The profession Chiropractic is a health care profession that emphasizes the power of one’s own body to heal itself without the use of drugs or surgery. The practice of chiropractic focuses on the relationship between structure (primarily the spine) and function (as coordinated by the nervous system), and how that relationship affects one’s health.

Master's of Traditional Oriental Medicine (M.T.O.M.)

Four year Master’s Degree. The Master of Traditional Oriental Medicine (MTOM) degree, just like a Western medicine medical degree, is a 4 year program comprised of both didactic and clinical education.

Hello and welcome!

Early on, my athletic abilities naturally lead me to want to study Sports Medicine at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. I graduated from Pepperdine with a Bachelor’s of Science in Sports Medicine with an emphasis in Pre-Med. I also attended the Florence, ITALY program (Pepperdine Firenze)

Immediately after graduation I worked for several years at Centinela Hospital’s Fitness Institute (CHFI) as an Exercise Physiologist. I was able to apply exactly what I had learned in college in a hospital setting, using exercise science, exercise performance testing and fitness training, along with various other medical testing which included but was not limited to:

  • Vision & hearing, including glaucoma testing

  • Phlebotomy (drawing blood from our patients to be sent to the lab for testing)

  • Spirometry (lung volume testing)

  • Resting ECG/treadmill ECG testing (with or without measurement of O2 exchange) with concurrent blood pressure monitoring.

  • Flexibility and strength testing

  • Body-fat analysis; underwater weighing and caliper techniques.

  • Assist the attending physicians with PAP smears or sigmoidoscopy tests.

  • Special performance testing was provided for the PGA, LPGA and amateur golfers including video taping their swing and strength testing using Cybex equipment.

  • I was able to perform various medical and fitness testing with Several professional sports teams including, but not limited to The Lakers, Dodgers and The Kings.

  • Police, Fire and Secret Service Departments also had their testing done at CHFI.

  • Special training/fitness programs were customized to each individual taking all of the above-mentioned tests into careful consideration. Heart rate and blood pressure monitoring was available to all cardiac patients and all fitness club members in the fitness institute’s gym.

I graduated from Los Angeles College of Chiropractic in Whittier, California and subsequently was granted a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree. I was on the Dean’s List all 10 terms and was granted a life-time member ship to the Delta Sigma Honorary Scholastic Society. I was also nominated by L.A.C.C.’s Dean and featured in the National Dean’s List.

Outside of my class studies, I concurrently took hundreds of hours of extra study and “practice” of various chiropractic techniques with chiropractors who are experts in their field. This allowed me to be confident early on in my chiropractic abilities, even before I reached the clinical studies and practice.

Currently, I offer non-force and manual (chiropractic) manipulation therapies including but not limited to:

  • Diversified

  • Applied Kinesiology (A.K.)

  • Neuro-Emotional Technique (N.E.T.) which is combined with 5-element homeopathy.

  • Activator

  • Flexion-Distraction

  • Thompson – Drop

I also hold an X-ray Supervisor and Operator permit from the Radiologic Department of the Department of Health and Human Services which allows me to take x-rays of my patients.

The “eastern medicine” theory is interwoven into at least one of the above-mentioned techniques (A.K.), which led me to further my studies in Chinese Medicine several years after I became a licensed, practicing chiropractor.

I graduated from Emperor’s College of Traditional Oriental Medicine (E.C.T.O.M.) in Santa Monica, California, Summa Cum Laude. I was also granted a Master’s Degree in Traditional Oriental Medicine (M.T.O.M.). Additionally, I received a Diplomate Degree in Acupuncture (Dipl.Ac.) from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (N.C.C.A.O.M.)

Current and Former Memberships
California Chiropractic Association, American Chiropractic Association, Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine, California State Oriental Medicine Association, Who's Who in Executives and Professionals, 2006-2007 list, International Thespian Society - lifetime member, American Track and Field Association, New York Road Runner's Club, Boston Athletic Association

I have completed 48+ full marathons.  My official winnings are:

  • 1st Place Over-all Female, Palos Verdes Marathon 2003

  • 2nd Place Over-all Female, 2000 Russian River Run (marathon)

  • 2nd Place Over-all Female, 1997 Napa Valley Trail Marathon

  • Various 1st, 2nd, 3rd Place winnings in my division.