If you’d like to schedule an appointment with Jessica Carvajal, LAc, book online anytime at nsevhealing.com.
1. What is your origin story, and how did you land in Miami Beach?
My mother migrated from Cuba to Miami Beach in the late 1970s, and my father was brought from New York to Miami Beach to recover from some health challenges he had as a child. Years later, my parents met on Pinetree Drive and 41st Street. I was born just a few blocks away, on that very same street.
I’m a beach baby to my core. My birthplace, elementary school, middle school, and high school are all within a one-mile radius of the NSEV Healing & Acupuncture clinic where I now work. Being able to serve the community and give back to the place that shaped me, with the medicine that healed me, is one of life’s full-circle gifts.
2. How did you get involved in acupuncture and TCM?
I struggled with cystic acne starting in the 6th grade. For over nine years, the breakouts were painful and deeply impacted my self-esteem. I tried everything -- countless topical treatments, visits to dermatologists, and eventually even a round of Accutane. Deep down, I knew there had to be another way. My mother told me about a friend whose son had found relief through acupuncture. At the time, I was skeptical. I remember thinking, there’s no way that stuff actually works. But after nine years of frustration, I was desperate. I decided to try it anyway. Three months later, for the first time, my skin transformed.
That experience changed my life. Acupuncture didn’t just clear my skin, it opened a door to healing that Western medicine hadn’t offered me. Coming from a Cuban household where natural remedies and community care were always part of our culture, discovering Chinese medicine felt both new and familiar. After undergrad, I realized I wanted to dedicate my life to helping others find the kind of healing I had experienced with acupuncture.
3. What's it like working in an acupuncture team at NSEV? What are your favorite parts about your practice here?
Becoming part of the NSEV office was one of life’s beautiful coincidences.
I visited Orion Herbs for the first time in 2017 after a friend told me about it. Years later, during the height of COVID, I was in my second year of acupuncture school and looking for a job. I remembered Orion Herbs and decided to reach out. To my surprise, I was hired and began working there while the clinic was still shut down. A few months into working at the shop, I started meeting Jeffrey, then Shiva, and finally Dan. Slowly, the puzzle pieces began to fall into place. Unbeknownst to me, I had stepped into the heart of the NSEV clinic. I had studied Dan’s teachings in school and was familiar with the NSEV lineage. I knew him as a respected figure in the field, someone whose contributions had helped shape how acupuncture is practiced and taught in the U.S. And now, he had become my mentor.
I’m incredibly grateful to have found myself in this space. I’m surrounded by experience, wisdom, and heart. Everyone in this office has supported me, taught me, and genuinely rooted for me. It’s a truly special place, a hidden gem in Miami Beach.
4. Whats your favorite herbal formula from Orion Herbs?
This is a tough one because there are so many great formulas to choose from. “Free and Easy Wanderer” is one I come back to often. It’s a foundational formula in many of the custom blends I create in the clinic. Known for nourishing the Liver and Blood, it also has the flexibility to both supplement and move Qi. Because of this, it can be used to support a wide range of conditions, including gynecological disorders, digestive issues, pain, dizziness, night sweats, allergies, skin conditions, and more.
5. Where do you go to connect with nature?
I love taking a weekday sunset cruise through Biscayne Bay. Weekdays are the best time to be out there, because it's so much quieter and more peaceful. I grew up on the water, so it always brings a sense of nostalgia. It takes me back to a time when Miami moved a little slower and life felt more laid-back.
6. Where do you go for a healthy meal on Miami Beach?
I don’t eat out often, so I usually bring meals from home. One of my favorites to bring to the office is avocado toast. It’s a quick and easy way to get a balanced mix of healthy fats, protein, and carbohydrates. I start with sourdough bread, then add smashed avocado, and top it with spring mix or arugula, a hard-boiled egg or sliced turkey, and cherry tomatoes or thinly sliced carrots. Lately, I’ve been drizzling it with high-quality olive oil and a sprinkle of Tajín which is my go-to combo. Garlic powder or even just a bit of salt and pepper also make great finishing touches.
7. What are your personal pursuits and interests?
I recently started playing tennis! Learning to play at a high level is especially challenging when you’re someone like me, picking up a racket for the first time in your 30s.
8. What are you passionate about treating?
I enjoy holding space for women at all stages of life. Whether we are navigating high school or college, motherhood, careers, home life, women take on a lot, and we often forget to take care of ourselves throughout the process. I focus on treating mental health, fertility, PMS, menstrual disorders, PCOS, stress, anxiety, and more. Acupuncture was life-changing for me when I was in my early 20’s, so I find it especially fulfilling to work with younger women.
If you’d like to schedule an appointment with Jessica Carvajal, LAc, book online anytime at nsevhealing.com.