Traditional Chinese Medicine has been used for centuries in the treatment of chronic illness and it continues to help patients create health as part of an integrated approach. Kristi works with patients on a case by case basis to ensure their health is addressed in a holistic way that is specific to them. Kristi is certified through Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for Oncology Acupuncture.  She is experienced at safely and effectively treating cancer-related disorders. Kristi is also adept at treating a variety of other chronic illnesses including Diabetes, thyroid imbalances, and adrenal insufficiency. In milder cases, TCM can be helpful in reducing or eliminating the need for medications under the guidance of a medical doctor. Kristi is skilled at making a Chinese medical diagnosis via pulse and tongue reading. This provides a very subtle understanding of a patient’s channel make-up and directs the treatment plan. It has been known in Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries that the gut is ground zero for maintaining and restoring health.  For more on this please see Longevity Medicine.  Acupuncture, herbal medicine and diet therapy provide a layer of nourishing support and are very effecting at normalizing endocrine function; and therefore play a valuable role in the treatment of patients with chronic illness.

Diabetes
The Chinese language has two terms for diabetes, the more traditional xiao-ke which means “wasting and thirsting” and the more modern term tang-niao-bing which means “sugar urine illness”. There are three categories of xiao-ke- upper, middle and lower.  These correspond to excessive thirst, hunger and urination and relate to the lung, stomach and kidney respectively.  All patterns of Diabetes are Yin deficiency and therefore can be nourished with acupuncture and Chinese herbs. Acupuncture has also been demonstrated to have a beneficial effect on neuropathic pain.

Thyroid Disease
There are two types of thyroid disease, hyperthyroidism is characterized by an overactive thyroid and hypothyroidism which is characterized by an under-active thyroid. Traditional Chinese Medicine regards both types as Yin/Yang imbalances and utilizes acupuncture, herbal formulas and diet therapy to rebalance the underlying channel disturbances and harmonize endocrine function. The World Health Organization recommends acupuncture for the treatment of thyroid disease. Kristi has had experience bringing patients’ blood work into range in some cases- see testimonial below.

Adrenal Insufficiency
Adrenal glands are overworked during periods of stress and they will then overproduce cortisol in response to the body’s fight or flight response. This interferes with the adrenal glands’ ability to produce other important hormones causing fatigue, food cravings (especially for carbohydrates, sugar and caffeine) and sleep disturbances. Traditional Chinese Medicine utilizes acupuncture, herbal formulas, and lifestyle and dietary changes to nourish and support the yin and yang of the kidney channel. TCM has been working with the energy of the kidney channel for centuries and is particularly well-positioned to restore balance when there is adrenal fatigue.

Testimonial

After bloodwork showed I had an under active thyroid, my doctor suggested that I see an endocrinologist who could prescribe medication for me. The thought of having to take thyroid meds for the rest of my life didn’t sound good to me…and I couldn’t get an appointment to see an endocrinologist for 2 months anyway. A friend recommended that I try acupuncture, I was skeptical but I contacted Kristi Hundt anyway. She treated me for 6 weeks (with acupuncture and Chinese herbs), and then I had my bloodwork done again. Much to my surprise the bloodwork showed my thyroid was working, and well within a normal range. She is a very skilled healer and I highly recommend her.

A.B.