Wellness In Your Own Backyard: Points of Healing

Q&A with Kristine Buckley, L.Ac.

Q: What’s your background?

A: I have a background both in western and eastern medicines. I spent 3 years in a BSRN program, but instead got my BS degree in Nutrition. I also have a Master’s Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for which I’m board certified nationally.

My first job out of college was working in the pharmaceutical industry. I worked in both Regulatory Affairs and Clinical Research with a focus on Phase 3 & 4 drug studies. These studies were for various pharmaceutical medications. I did that work for many years.

I discovered Chinese Medicine through my childhood friend who experienced a life-changing healing of her depression. I then began to study Chinese Medicine and apply the knowledge to my own life. I was always interested in natural remedies that seemed to heal the root cause of internal imbalances rather than the Western approach of treating symptoms. When I found TCM, I knew I wanted to practice it.

I’ve been practicing as a board certified Chinese Medicine practitioner in Pleasanton for since 2007. I have a general practice and treat whoever comes through my door with whatever they need treated. My background enables me to bridge eastern and western medicine very well.

Q: Do you practice a particular area of specialty?

A: I have a general practice which means I treat whatever a patient brings to me. I have never specialized. But what I do in my practice that is different, is that I use Frequency Specific Medicine, which allows me to treat people without using needles. Every tissue, organ, condition

and emotion has a particular frequency. I use a machine that delivers a therapeutic frequency in the millionths of an ampule to re-balance the body. I apply the frequency at acupuncture points. It’s amazingly effective and works very quickly. I use it for all kinds of conditions, like pain or internal medicine issues. It’s also very comfortable for the patient. They really don’t feel anything.

Q: Who can you help?

A: TCM can treat many conditions. However, if it’s structural like a heart valve problem, you want to go to a Western Medicine doctor. I treat people of all ages, including kids. I treat people who are undergoing treatment for cancer, as well as after the cancer treatments. I treat people with all types of pain, gynecological issues, digestive problems, headaches, anxiety, depression, chronic fatigue, insomnia.

Q: Can you tell us about a particular patient you’ve helped?

A: I had a patient once whose wife referred him. He didn’t believe in TCM at all. He had a bad back injury and was being seen at a spinal clinic, but he wasn’t getting better. He was out of work on disability. He could barely walk, and needed the assistance of a cane. He was in incredible pain. I did my best with him that first treatment and told him to come back in two days. On his return for his treatment, he came walking into my office very quickly (because he needed to use the rest room) and didn’t have his cane! I asked him where his cane was and he said he left it in the car because he didn’t need it. Then he said, “Whatever you did the other day, I want you to do it again. I have no idea what you’re doing, but it worked.”

A couple of weeks later his wife got in touch with me. She woke up the previous night to her husband’s snoring. She couldn’t figure out why she was focusing on the snoring when it occurred to her that it had been months since her husband last snored. He was finally sleeping which meant he wasn’t in pain anymore.

I have many stories like that. But all acupuncturists do, because the medicine works! It is incredibly powerful - it heals us from the inside out!

Kristine can be reached at Trinity Acupuncture.

Dan Taylor, ACE, NASM-CPT, is owner and head trainer at Pleasanton-based Tri Valley Trainer. They offer personal training and small group fitness solutions and an innovative, medically endorsed web-based group healthy eating coaching program.