Acupuncture
in Solvang, CA

Treating patients in the Santa Ynez Valley with Traditional Chinese Medicine since 2004. Specializing in the treatment of pain, stress-related disorders and the nervous system, chronic illness, digestive disorders, sports medicine, cancer-related disorders, pre and post surgical care, and women’s health.

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Most people seek out acupuncture in the Santa Ynez Valley for a specific reason. A back that keeps going out. A migraine that medication barely touches. A women’s health concern that has not responded to conventional care.

What they often find is that treatment addresses more than they came in for. Sleep improves. Pain in a secondary area resolves. Anxiety that has been constant for years dissipates.

This is not a side effect of acupuncture. It is the point of it.

Training and Lineage

Kristi trained at the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine in Portland, Oregon. For years, the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine has earned the #1 ranking in the U.S. for acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. The faculty included physicians trained at China’s top medical schools.

Beyond the core curriculum, she completed a Certified Qigong instructor program and advanced Shiatsu coursework. These shape how she understands movement, structural health, and the relationship between breath and fascia.

Kristi has a lifelong love of learning and continues to seek out training that allows her to bring more to her patients. She is certified in Oncology Acupuncture from Memorial Sloan Kettering and has studied the relationship between the gut and the brain extensively. This allows her to recommend amino acids and other supplements that are believed to nourish the brain, regulate the nervous system and treat physiology. Her study of herbal medicine began in the 1990s and is ongoing. She believes herbs, supplements and nutrition are the gas pedal to any treatment plan.

She has been practicing in the Santa Ynez Valley since 2004. Local physicians refer patients to her. That relationship with the broader medical community reflects twenty years of clinical outcomes this community has come to trust.

The Approach

Every appointment begins with medical listening. Not only to the chief complaint, but to the full picture: sleep, digestion, energy patterns, stress, and what is happening in daily life.

The tongue and pulse provide additional clinical data that standard intake forms rarely capture. Together they tell a more comprehensive story of what is actually happening in the body.

Pain and wellbeing are not treated as separate problems in this practice. Grief, anxiety, depression, and trauma produce measurable physical effects and vice versa. Kristi believes that physical, emotional, spiritual, and intellectual concerns can not be separated. Addressing them is not secondary to treating the body.

For some patients, resolving the condition that brought them in does not yield lasting results until the pattern beneath it is treated. That is what over twenty years of practice and genuine dedication to this work produces.

Specialty Areas

Women’s Health

Acupuncture, herbal medicine, and FSM can be used in combination to address menopause and perimenopause symptoms, irregular menstruation and fertility. Many patients find meaningful relief when these three modalities are used together.

Sports Medicine and Athletic Performance

Kristi works with elite athletes in the Santa Ynez Valley on performance optimization, injury prevention, and pre-surgical care and post-surgical recovery. Acupuncture and FSM are frequently combined for faster recovery and return to full performance.

Digestive Disorders

Traditional Chinese Medicine has been treating digestive disorders with acupuncture and herbal medicine for centuries. Through extensive continuing education, Kristi also recommends supplements including amino acids, and she offers nutritional counseling. FSM can be especially helpful in severe cases that do not respond well, and it is a beneficial addition to the treatment of most digestive complaints.

Cancer Support

Acupuncture is used as a supportive therapy for patients managing cancer-related symptoms including pain and neuropathy, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, constipation, fever, depression, anxiety, insomnia and chemo-induced neuropathy. Holistic care supporting side effects from oncology/hematology treatment in conjunction with the patient’s care team.

Using a specialized threading technique,Kristi treats scar tissue from surgery, injury, and medical procedures. Patients have reported significant improvements in the appearance and flexibility of scar tissue, including surgical scars left nearly invisible following treatment, as well as improved healing and pain relief at the site. Frequency Specific Microcurrent can be very beneficial for post-surgical patients through the use of a probes attachment.

Geriatric Care

Treatments are adapted to the needs and comfort of each patient, with emphasis on pain relief, sleep, mobility, and quality of life. The pace is unhurried. The approach is attentive and gentle.

Scar Tissue Treatment

Using a specialized threading technique, Kristi treats scar tissue from surgery, injury, and medical procedures. Patients have reported significant improvements in the appearance and flexibility of scar tissue, including surgical scars left nearly invisible following treatment, as well as improved healing and pain relief at the site.

Conditions Treated

Acupuncture addresses a broad range of concerns. Traditional Chinese Medicine treats channel imbalances and constitutional deficiencies and excesses – not Western diagnoses. In the spirit of communication, below are some of the conditions patients have reported improved under Kristi’s care.

PAIN AND MUSCULOSKELETAL

Neck, shoulder, back, hip, knee, elbow, hand, foot, and ankle pain
Headaches, concussions, and migraines
Nerve pain including sciatica, neuralgia, and numbness
Arthritis, joint pain, and limited range of motion
Acute and chronic injuries: sprains, strains, fractures, contusions, tendon and ligament damage
Myofascial pain and fascia disorders
Pre-surgical care, post-surgical recovery, scar tissue treatment, and joint replacement rehabilitation

WOMEN’S HEALTH

Menopause and perimenopause: hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, mood changes, weight gain.
Irregular menstruation
OB/GYN support
Fertility support

NERVOUS SYSTEM DISORDERS

Anxiety and depression
Grief, overwhelm, and mood disorders
Insomnia and nightmares
Chronic stress and fatigue
Trauma and PTSD
Addiction and recovery support

DIGESTIVE HEALTH

IBS, Crohn’s disease, and diverticulitis
GERD, acid reflux, and heartburn
Nausea, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, low appetite and weight gain
Abdominal cramping, gas, and indigestion
Food sensitivities and fatigue after meals

GENERAL AND SYSTEMIC

Immune support and auto-immune conditions
Inflammation, edema, and circulation
Heart palpitations and irregular heartbeat
Allergies and allergic rhinitis
Asthma and respiratory conditions
Metabolic conditions: diabetes, insulin resistance, and weight management
Targeted detox and metabolic support
Chemo-induced neuropathy and cancer-related symptom support
Chronic illness, long COVID, and fatigue
Palliative and end-of-life care
Longevity and wellness

For the full range of conditions treated in this practice, visit the Specialties page.

Ready to book? New patients are welcome. Most are seen within the week.

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Working With Your Doctor

This practice functions as part of an integrative care team. Local physicians refer patients here, and treatment plans are built to work alongside conventional medical care, not to replace it.

Patients are encouraged to bring existing lab work to their appointments. Kristi reviews labs and offers herbal and supplement suggestions.

If you are currently under a specialist’s care or managing a complex medical condition, bringing a full picture of your current treatment to the first appointment helps build a plan that is comprehensive and effective.

What to Expect

The first appointment is thorough. Beyond your chief complaint, you will be asked about all your medical systems and your history.

Tongue and pulse diagnosis are part of every visit.

Acupuncture needles are hair-thin. Most patients feel little to nothing on insertion. Many patients fall asleep on the table and some report feeling transported. Initial appointments are up to 90 minutes and include an assessment of your health concerns, a review of your medical history, a discussion of your symptoms, and an acupuncture treatment. This is a 90 minute appointment. Follow up appointments are 60 minutes and include a 10 minute intake, herb and supplement recommendations and an acupuncture treatment.

Depending on your condition and goals, Kristi may recommend combining acupuncture with herbal medicine and/or Frequency Specific Microcurrent for faster results.

After treatment, patients commonly report reduced pain, sounder sleep, and a clarity of mind that persists well beyond the session.

Questions Patients Commonly Ask

Does acupuncture hurt?

Some needles are barely felt. Patients often notice a mild ache, warmth, or heaviness at the needle site, which is a normal and positive treatment response. Acupuncture needles are extremely fine, far thinner than a hypodermic needle. Most people find the experience deeply relaxing and many fall asleep.

How many sessions will I need?

Acute conditions often respond in 6 to 8 sessions. Chronic conditions that have been present fora long time generally require a longer course of treatment.

Can I use acupuncture alongside my current medical treatment?

Yes. Acupuncture is designed to work with conventional medical care. Please bring a complete list of your current treatments, medications, and supplements to your first appointment. It helps build a comprehensive and effective treatment plan.

Can I receive acupuncture if I am pregnant?

Acupuncture can be safe during pregnancy when performed by a trained practitioner who understands pregnancy protocols. Certain points are contraindicated during pregnancy and will not be used.

Is acupuncture covered by insurance?

Coverage varies by plan. I do not directly communicate with insurance companies for any service. Superbill for acupuncture only are available after a series of treatment upon request. Please allow 7-10 business days.

Book an Appointment

Whether you are managing a specific condition, navigating a health transition, or simply want to feel better in your body, the first step is a thorough intake and an honest conversation about what treatment can realistically offer you.

Kristi has been treating patients in this valley for over twenty years. The physicians who refer here, and the patients who return year after year, are the measure of that work.

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