About Us
Kari Knapstad is a California state licensed acupuncturist, having earned a Masters degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine (MTCM) from the highly regarded Five Branches University with a certificate in Integrative Sports Medicine. Feeling the need to experience how this medicine is practiced in its homeland, Kari completed an externship at the prestigious Zhejiang Chinese Medical University in Hangzhou, China, where the hospitals successfully integrate Chinese medicine with Western medicine.
Kari has successfully treated people with a wide variety of conditions, including back pain, neck pain, migraine headaches and people living with cancer. Chinese medicine is well known for mediating the side effects of surgery, chemo and radiation, including, but not limited to, pain, nausea and constipation. Other conditions successfully treated include PMS, menopausal symptoms, shoulder injuries, sprains and strains, stress, digestive issues and more. If needed, she designs custom formulas with high quality granulated herbs to optimize your healing.
Prior to her studies in Chinese medicine, Kari attended the University of California, Santa Cruz, and earned a BA in Social Sciences from San Jose State University. She also completed massage therapy studies from the UCSC Recreation Department and had a successful therapeutic massage career in Los Gatos, Squaw Valley and Tahoe City, CA. Kari has studied the healing arts since 1983 and in 1994 began a journey of healing from a health condition for which Western medicine had no treatment. Chinese medicine offered alternative perspectives and treatments, playing a key role in Kari’s healing journey.
Kari also earned a MA in Holistic Health Education with a specialty in Art and Healing from John F. Kennedy University. She simultaneously pursued further education in shamanic studies through the Center for Sacred Studies, which lead to becoming ordained as a minister. As a minister, Kari co-founded Morningstar Foundation: Spiritual Care for Living, Dying and Bereavement, and served as the Director of Holistic Health Services. She counseled people through the process of living with a life threatening illness, through dying if this is where it led, and offered their loved ones bereavement support in the years that followed.
Testimonials
I am happy to recommend Kari Knapstad for acupuncture services. She has given wonderful service to my son. He suffered from constant shoulder pain from football injuries. He could not lift his arms above his shoulders without tremendous pain. To top it off, he was involved in a car accident. He was extremely stiff, sore, and in pain. When we took him to traditional doctors, he was offered steroid shots, pain pills, and muscle relaxants. None of them worked. We decided to try acupuncture with Kari. From the beginning, we knew we were in for a treat. Her office is in a beautiful setting--so serene and relaxing. Kari's caring attitude and understanding about the wellness of the entire person is very refreshing. After just a few visits with Kari, my son had increased flexibility and a substantial reduction of pain. With each visit, he notices greater improvement. We would strongly recommend Kari's services to anyone who just wants to feel better.
Sincerely,
Valerie
I would (and have) recommend(ed) Kari Knapstad for acupuncture to anyone who is interested. She is amazing. She tunes into what is going on with you and using traditional methods as well as her incredible intuition, gets to the root of the problem. Kari is sensitive and takes the time to really hear what you are asking/needing help with. She is careful and thorough, and explains what she is doing all along the way. My experience with her was that she carefully asked the right questions to find out what my health issues were and helped me tremendously. I only wish she was closer… because I could REALLY use one of her SUPER TREATMENTS!
~Karen Canto, Reiki Master Teacher~