About Kunde Institute
Kunde Institute offers a holistic approach to wellness in the San Francisco Bay Area, combining traditional Tibetan medicine with acupuncture, cupping, massage, and wellness consultations. Their treatments aim to address mind-body healing, dietary needs, and lifestyle guidance. Patients praise the institute for its effective care, friendly staff, and comfortable atmosphere. Many have experienced relief from pain and stress, with some crediting the Tibetan herbal medicine for improved sleep quality. Dr. Yangdron Kalzang is noted for her compassionate care, helping patients with dosha imbalances and injuries through personalized treatment plans that include behavioral and dietary changes, cupping, and acupuncture. Reviews highlight the knowledge and professionalism of the staff, with many recommending Kunde Institute for its acupuncture and massage therapy, which provide relaxation and significant pain relief. Tessa, a massage therapist, is especially mentioned for her soft touch that relaxes the body and boosts energy, contributing to better sleep. Their approach is regarded for effectively addressing a wide range of issues, including sleep, anxiety, grief, digestion, and muscle tension.
Below are my reviews for private sessions with Dr. Yangdron Kalzang since 2024 and community acupuncture I had in 2023: Dr. Kalzang is the only Tibetan and Chinese Medicine doctor I know of in the USA from Tibet! Dr. Kalzang gently and intuitively healed at least one issue per session that wouldn’t budge despite visits to many practitioners several times within months: an osteopath doctor, physical therapist, herbalist, acupuncturists, chiropractors, massage therapists, and energyworkers. And unlike some providers, she's warm with helpful boundaries. Dr. Kalzang generously shared her time, herbs, and techniques. My first session was one of the most holistic sessions I’ve experienced. It used all my five senses: sight, smell, taste, touch, and voice, and was unlike any healing session I had before. It was like healings I read about where the practitioner combines acupuncture, cupping, warm oil, herbs, color, and incense therapy, and Buddhist mantras. I appreciated that she gave me optional Buddhist mantras I could say to bless the herbs before I eat them. I also appreciated that she explained the main difference between Tibetan and Chinese Medicine. She spoke at retreats with a famous author of Tibetan dream yoga. She was also very thoughtful because she put acupressure seeds in my ear because it’s hard for me to trek to her often. Another time, she cupped me exactly where my body showed I needed it and sent me off into the world with a sticker with a little needle in spots where I could feel them working. Here are some other Tibetan medicine modalities I experienced as described on her website: Sang-bom Therapy: Copper cupping releases more tension and stress of emotional and mental imbalances, and the glass cupping works better with acute pain and chronic muscular and skeletal pain as well as the treatment of other cold syndromes. Hor-mey therapy (ཧོར་མེ།): Herbal wraps are soaked in heated oil, then applied to special points on the body. Hor-mey works to balance our wind-element energy, known as “Loong” (རླུང།). It helps boost the immune system, combats insomnia and increases the quality of sleep, including: stress, anxiety, panic attacks, obsessive thoughts, “monkey” mind, floating sensations, depression, PTSD, ADD, ADHD, women’s health issues (menstrual problems, pregnancy, and menopause). ------------------------ My 2023 review: I'm grateful for Brett Ray's new, affordable, community acupuncture ($200/4 sessions a month, I think). Brett was very: 1. Generous with his time. 2. Understanding of my unusual situation. It seemed I really needed acupuncture where he put needles in me because I felt strong sensations after he put needles in certain places. 3. Effective and provided immediate relief that I wasn't able to achieve despite being five weeks into a self help/energy medicine class that left me exhausted and too open to the spiritual realm. So for the first time in five weeks, I slept through the night without fear and woke up early refreshed.
I'm grateful for Brett Ray's affordable, community acupuncture ($200/4 sessions a month, I think). Brett was very: 1. Generous with his time. 2. Understanding of my unusual situation. It seemed I really needed acupuncture where he put needles in me because I felt strong sensations after he put needles in certain places. 3. Provided immediate relief that I wasn't able to achieve despite being five weeks into a self help/energy medicine class that left me exhausted and too open to the spiritual realm. So for the first time in five weeks, I slept through the night without fear and woke up early refreshed.
They are very personable and knowledgeable ad well as compassionate.