Awaken Now Acupuncture & Wellness

Awaken Now Acupuncture & Wellness Awaken Now wakes you up to the world around you, to your life style and to your health - it awakens YOU!

Complimentary and alternative medicine will bring your body back into balance, prevent disease and alleviate present illnesses. Dr. Marina Dabcevic earned her master's in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture at Yo San University in Los Angeles, California. After successfully passing the national as well as California licensing exams, Dr. Dabcevic earned her doctorate in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine at Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington. She completed a 1-year internship at Skagit Valley Regional Cancer Care Center, where she worked closely with doctors and patients. She also completed an internship at two prestigious hospitals in China. Prior to her studies in Eastern medicine, Dr. Dabcevic earned a diploma in Reflexology and a bachelor's in Homeopathy at the Nature Care College in Syndey, Australia. As a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist, Dr. Dabcevic specializes in oncology and chronic pain management. Her approach is holistic, taking into account not only each patient's physical state but also his or her mental and emotional states. The body is entirely connected and, we know that the physical state has an impact on the mental and emotional states, just as much as the emotional state influences the body physically. Dr. Dabcevic tailors each treatment specifically to each patient, and strives to achieve the best end result the patient requires. Her goal is not only to help her patients but to educate them so each patient can help themselves.

This right here? One of the most underrated biohacks for your system.We tend to think health looks like green juice and ...
01/29/2026

This right here? One of the most underrated biohacks for your system.
We tend to think health looks like green juice and Pilates but biology tells a different story. Genuine laughter is one of the fastest ways to regulate your nervous system.

When you laugh with someone you feel safe with, your body responds immediately:

✨ Cortisol drops — stress hormones clear
✨ Endorphins rise — your natural painkillers
✨ T-cells activate — immune support in real time

So that lunch date, that belly laugh, that moment of play? That’s not indulgence, it’s physiological maintenance.

Because joy isn’t extra. It’s chemistry

01/28/2026

Feeling stiff lately? You aren’t imagining it. When the temp drops, tissues contract and joints get stiff, it’s actually basic physics, and not drama. In fact, 70% of people with old injuries feel worse in the cold.

You don’t have to just “live with it.” Your mobility is recoverable. Visit us at Awaken Now

Drinking caffeine on an empty stomach is like stepping on the gas pedal while your car is in neutral. You’re revving you...
01/27/2026

Drinking caffeine on an empty stomach is like stepping on the gas pedal while your car is in neutral. You’re revving your engine (cortisol), but you aren’t going anywhere good.

The functional medicine rule:
1️⃣ Food first (Protein + Fat)
2️⃣ Coffee second

It’s not about quitting coffee. It’s about timing. Tag your coffee buddy below.

01/26/2026

Waking up between 1 and 3 AM?

In Chinese medicine, this is the time your liver is most active: processing toxins, hormones, and even emotional stress. If you’re waking up, your system might be dealing with “stagnation” or a blood sugar crash (which causes 40% of wakings).

Chronic stress can disrupt this function and spike nighttime cortisol by 30%, forcing you awake. How to stay asleep? Support detox pathways instead of relying on sleeping pills, stabilize evening glucose and regulate the nervous system before hitting the pillow.

Did you know reading can reduce stress by up to 68%?Research shows it works faster than listening to music or even going...
01/24/2026

Did you know reading can reduce stress by up to 68%?
Research shows it works faster than listening to music or even going for a walk. When you read, your brain has to focus and that focused attention pulls your nervous system out of threat mode. Muscles soften. Heart rate slows. The body exhales.

In a world constantly competing for your attention, opening a book is a quiet act of reclaiming your nervous system.And it doesn’t take long. Just 6 minutes of reading can lower stress and ease tension.

So take the break. Your biology will thank you.

01/23/2026

I wrote Awaken Now to give you a roadmap. It’s the manual I wish I had before my own burnout. No more “you’re fine” when you don’t feel fine. Just the exact frameworks I use in my clinic every single day to help patients transform their energy and health.

Your future self will thank you for reading this. Link in bio to get your copy.

xx

Go ahead. Find a mirror.In Traditional Chinese Medicine, your tongue isn’t just for tasting. It’s a daily status report ...
01/22/2026

Go ahead. Find a mirror.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, your tongue isn’t just for tasting. It’s a daily status report on your internal organs. Your body never lies, you just need to learn how to listen.

Swipe to decode your morning tongue check.

Which one are you today? Tell me in the comments!

01/21/2026

One simple habit that can shift your mood, energy, and sleep this January:
Go outside within 30 minutes of waking.

Even on cloudy days, natural morning light helps reset your circadian rhythm, improves cortisol timing, and supports mood and metabolic health. This one signal tells your brain, “It’s safe to be awake now.”

Pair that with checking your Vitamin D (most people are underdosed).
I generally aim for 50–80 ng/mL, not just “barely normal.”

Small signals. Big biological impact.
This is how you set yourself up to win the winter, without forcing motivation.

Here’s something most people don’t realize:High sugar intake can reduce immune cell efficiency by up to 40%, for hours a...
01/20/2026

Here’s something most people don’t realize:
High sugar intake can reduce immune cell efficiency by up to 40%, for hours after consumption. That’s not indulgence… that’s lowered defense.

Sugar temporarily suppresses white blood cell activity, right when your body is trying to protect and repair. Your system wants to heal but it can’t do its job when it’s constantly being distracted by glucose spikes.

The goal isn’t just to treat the sickness.
It’s to stop the suppression.

Lower the sugar load. Add in targeted nutrients that support immune signaling and mucosal defense. That’s how you get that 40% back.

No self-punishment. No extremes.
Just start supporting your biology instead of working against it.

01/17/2026

Ever wonder why everyone gets sick in January?
It’s not bad luck, it’s biology catching up.

Weeks of high stress, poor sleep, sugar spikes, alcohol, and skipped routines quietly suppress your immune system. By January, your defenses are depleted, especially your mucosal immunity, your body’s first line of protection.

This isn’t the time to “push through.”
It’s the time to reinforce.

That’s exactly why I created the Let It Heal Program, to support your immune barriers, restore balance in your microbiome, and get your biological good guys back on the front lines where they belong.

Stop fighting your body.
Give it the tools it needs to win this winter.

Your body isn’t broken, it’s asking for support.

Click the Wellness Program link in my bio to learn more about Let It Heal program.

Comment Let It Heal and I’ll guide you through it.

Blue skies. Blue jeans. Deep breath.Taking a moment to appreciate this journey we’re on together. There’s so much unfold...
01/17/2026

Blue skies. Blue jeans. Deep breath.
Taking a moment to appreciate this journey we’re on together. There’s so much unfolding this year — new ideas, deeper conversations, meaningful experiences and I’m genuinely excited to share what’s coming with this community.

Wishing you a week filled with light, clarity, and forward momentum.
One intentional step at a time

It is possible to work really hard at your health… and still feel terrible.If you’re checking all the boxes, eating “cle...
01/12/2026

It is possible to work really hard at your health… and still feel terrible.

If you’re checking all the boxes, eating “clean,” exercising, taking supplements, amd you’re still bloated, exhausted, or stuck, I have some good news for you: You’re not failing. You’re just following outdated rules.

We were taught that health requires punishment — starving, over-exercising, restricting, pushing harder. But the data tells a different story. In 2026, over 70% of people who diet regain the weight, and chronic cardio without recovery has been shown to increase cortisol by up to 30%, which blocks fat loss and worsens inflammation.

This is why I teach what I call Health by Design. Real health isn’t about fighting your body, it’s about working with your biology. Supporting hormones. Designing your environment. Listening to physiology instead of trends. It’s time to unlearn the wellness myths that keep people stuck and start doing what actually works.

If you’re checking all the boxes, eating “clean,” exercising, taking supplements, and you’re still bloated, exhausted, or stuck, I have some good news for you: You’re not failing. You’re just following outdated rules.

Address

1410 2nd Street, Suite 302
Santa Monica, CA
90401

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 6pm
Thursday 8am - 6pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

Telephone

+13107458334

Website

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