Hozho Health and Wellness

Smoking is a nasty habit, and although converting from analog cigarettes to e-​vape has improved my respiratory health to return to all my aerobic activities, I still didn’t like being so dependent on nicotine as a relief of stress and anxiety. After seeing all the good reviews on Unilocal,I decided to see Dr. Robert for the first time about a month for smoking cessation treatment. Honestly, I did not know what to expect, but I was frustrated, after many failed attempts of trying to quit on my own volition. When you first walk into the office, it is probably the coolest waiting room ever. There’s tea, candy, essential oils, a golf putter set, and probably so much more I can’t even recall, but I have never waited more than 5 mins in the waiting room. Dr. Robert is the perfect combination of being a medical professional with a personable attitude. He provides such a warming atmosphere, you forget to realize he is sticking all these needles in you. The big comfy chairs are a huge plus! After the first treatment, I smoked my vape out of habit only to find out that it tasted different, in a bad way. I had my local vape shop check it out, and rebuild it, only to find out that it wasn’t the vape, it was the acupuncture that made it taste weird. After the first week, I went from smoking 1 15ml ejuice bottle at 6mg nicotine a day (so 7 a week) to smoking 1 15ml bottle/​6mg nicotine ejuice a week. Anyone who vapes understand this is a huge deal. Not to mention I went from spending $ 84 dollars a week to only $ 12 a week. After a month, now, I can’t even finish a quick smoking session because I can only notice the negative side effects of vaping. (instant headache, lack of focus, gross taste) Although, my progress has not been exactly linear, due to unexpected life stressors, I have definitely noticed smoking no longer provides me the benefits of stress/​anxiety relief that it once did. Because of this, I have been using exercise as my primary source of stress relief. I exercise religiously, 7 days a week now, whether it be strength training, muscular endurance training, long-​distance runs, sprint-​jog intervals, I have never been so fit in my life and I couldn’t be happier. Dr. Robert’s treatments have been the essential link needed in order to successfully quit smoking. I couldn’t be more pleased with my progress!
oh p. s. Dr. Robert always has a good story to tell and has a great sense of humor to make me laugh my head off, every appointment :)

I have had multiple sessions with Robert over the last 4 months. At the beginning of each session he makes sure he understands what areas need to be treated. He has done an Excellent Job… Increasing my energy levels, releasing my stress and anxiety. His sessions are very refreshing and brought calm and peace into my life. Sleeping very good after his sessions for weeks.
Thanks Robert!

Before meeting Dr. Pontecorvo, I was very skeptical about acupuncture and Eastern Medicine. I’ve received several treatments this year for a number of health issues, including poor sleep and digestive issues. After the very first treatment, I felt immediate relief. Initially, I was afraid that the needles may hurt. If I had to quantify it, only 2 out of 100 needles caused a slight pinch. Then, after a minute or two, it went away. During the sessions themselves, I feel sensations that come over parts of my body differently. I think it depends on what is being treated. Most of the time, it feels like I am falling asleep. Half of the time, I do take a nice nap. Sometimes, I feel waves of chills or of warmth from my head down to my toes or from my toes up towards my head. They could run through one or both arms. Sometimes the cool and warm sensations occur simultaneously. It is a nice feeling. It is a light, tingling, or floating feeling at times. I can’t go into too much detail. I think everyone could feel different sensations. The best part is that I have been feeling better with my sleep, more energy, and having regularity than I have felt in a very long time. I have a high stress lifestyle due to my work life, poor diet, driving a lot, being away from family, and just having a type A or blue personality. A side effect that I appreciated was not needing my allergy medication for four months after my first week of treatments (none of which have been for allergies). I have been taking prescription or OTC allergy meds daily for the past 2 years (seasonally for the past 6 years). My treatments from Dr. P. have helped me reduce overall stress and improve my eating habits. I highly recommend him. Dr. Robert Pontecorvo is a wonderful person with a caring soul. He has a wealth of health knowledge to help you understand the biological processes needing attention, to encourage improving your overall well-​being and nutrition, and, of course, to recommend the best course of treatment personalized for you. I often wish I lived in CA, so that I can be treated more often and more regularly. I live in Tennessee and visit family in CA on occasion. Each visit, I make it point to come to San Diego to see Dr. P for at least one treatment.

A few weeks ago I desperately needed an acupuncture treatment for pain and digestive issues. Robert squeezed me into his schedule, discussed what my goals of treatment were, and gave me an excellent acupuncture treatment that was comfortable, improved my range of motion, and reduced pain. He was very thorough and also did some stretching on my neck. It was a great start to a weekend after a very stressful week. Also, the office was easy to find with plenty of parking and a nice reception area. I am looking forward to going back for my next treatment!

Roberto is an amazing professional. He is knowledgeable, gentle and caring, taking the time to check on which point is more sensitive, your pain scale and your overall feeling besides being very informative regarding what he’ll be doing for you, what the specific needle in that specific point will do. I could not be happier! I started my treatment with Robert on May, I see him once a week. I noticed a huge improvement on my second visit with him, and I was not sore at all after the visit. When I leave I feel very relaxed and sleep like a baby (I was having problems sleeping due to stress). I mentioned to him I was not sure what treatment I wanted because I still needed to relax but at the same time I was very busy, I also needed energy and voila… He had the answer again.
He is definitely «my guy» to go to. It’s my treat, my time to be with me! I have my weekly appointment only because I live in North County, otherwise I’d be seeing him 2X a week.

I am an acupuncturist myself (we need & benefit from acupuncture too!), and Robert is my «go-​to guy» for my aches & pains. He has successfully treated my hip/​sciatic pain, neck /​shoulder pain, low back pain, headaches, foot pain, insomnia, menstrual issues, stress and more. Regular treatments keep my immune system strong and his acupuncture treatments– and guidance– whether dietary, lifestyle or herbal advice, or specific exercises for my condition, keeps me on point. I not only trust Robert as my acupuncturist and wellness specialist, but also a peer. I truly value my sessions with Robert and recommend him to anyone suffering from pain, autoimmune issues, stress, and whatever else (the list goes on!) of that which acupuncture can address. Robert is an excellent acupuncturist and wellness specialist, and I very highly recommend him to you.

I have been seeing Robert for over a year now for my asthma and neck pain. When I went to see my usual doctor they just gave me steroids and pain medication but I wanted something else to relieve my symptoms. Acupuncture has really been such a relief. My neck pain is minimal now and I haven’t had an asthma attack in over six month. I have stopped taking my daily asthma meds and only have my emergency inhaler. I am so appreciative of acupuncture and what it’s done for me.

Robert is a natural born healer. He has been treating me for a few years now and the results have been remarkable. I see him for several ailments, pretty much anything that causes me discomfort: lower and upper back pain, neck pain, menstrual issues, joint pain, stress and nerve issues (numbness). Recently, Robert has been treating me for numbness in both hands and one foot. I no longer have the severe pain and the numbness in my hands is gone! I rarely suffer from migraines and no longer have to rely on pain meds and nueroinhibitors for the pain. Not only has he helped me with my pain, but has been my nutritionist and physical therapist too! Guiding me with healthier food choices and giving me simple exercises to help strengthen my muscles. He is definitely my «go to guy» for all of my health concerns. I strongly recommend Robert to all my friends and family. In fact my mom (70 years young) has been seeing him for almost a year now and she thinks very highly of him too!

I have been treated for neck pain, headaches and a variety of other aches and pains and have always found relief with the treatments. The acupuncturist, Robert is really knowledgeable with both Eastern and Western medicine. I especially love that I almost always fall asleep and get a nice nap during the treatments!

Robert is an amazing acupuncturist. He is a very easy person to talk to and extremely compassionate (which is rare is the acupuncture and western medical world today) I have seen Robert for the last few years for anxiety and stress. Treatments are gentle and painless. When I first started getting treatments from Robert I would immediately feel relaxed after the treatment (like getting a massage). This feeling would last around 3 days and would slowly fade. Over the span of a month, the more I reinforced these treatments the longer this feeling would last. Now I just come in once every month or so for maintenance or when I get injured.