Umé Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine

Feb 2024

So far I had one appointment with Christine and I have found her very knowledgeable. I enjoyed her views on the possible root of my complication. She is detail oriented and does not put patients into a cookie cutter: each lab value, ache, history is significant to understand the complexity and cause of a problem. I feel that I am in good hands with Christine. Her credentials and experience is one (if not) the best in the Bay Area.

Mar 2020

I recently saw Christine for my first appointment and was amazed at how thorough she was. I’ve done a lot of acupuncture over the years, but no one has ever been so intuitive or taken so much time to understand my body. I left feeling so much better than when I came in.

Sep 2019

I am leaving this detailed review in case it is helpful to anyone who is considering doing acupuncture with Christine to improve their health and reduce their pain or discomfort. Before going to Christine, I never had acupuncture before. My wife was getting treatment from Christine and my wife wanted me to go to acupuncture also because Christine prefers to treat both partners for certain issues. I resisted though, because I think I was scared to try something new (especially if it involved needles). I finally went to Christine because I hurt my neck trying to get in shape and I couldn't get out of bed for a week without agonizing pain. I was desperate for relief and I was willing to try anything. That first appointment with Christine was about 18 months ago. Since then, after seeing Christine once a week and taking all of her advice to heart, my neck does not hurt, my chronic pain and inflammation are gone, I have dropped 30 pounds and I feel really strong and healthy. Christine's treatment for my wife also worked and my wife is healthy and happy also. Before I tried acupuncture, I spent some time thinking about whether it is a placebo. But after trying it and seeing how effective it has been for me, I don't spend time worrying about this any more. Placebo or not, the key is belief and effort. Christine is amazingly knowledgable but it will be up to you to do the work and implement her advice to receive the full benefits of her treatments. For example, Christine gave me advice about my diet when I first started working with her. At the time, I thought I could get acupuncture treatment, exercise my way to better health and I could ignore my diet. However, it was only once I changed my diet based on her recommendations that I saw the biggest improvements in my health and well-being. I did not realize that I was sensitive to gluten, dairy and nightshades before working with Christine. Identifying these sensitivities and adjusting my diet resulted in amazing changes to my health and how I feel. I only wish I had listened to Christine and made changes to my diet earlier. Christine's acupuncture treatment does an amazing job of reducing pain and inflammation but I needed to change my diet to reduce the underlying causes of the pain and inflammation. All this said, I do not want any of this to overshadow the impact of the acupuncture itself. In the past, when I have injured my neck or back, it takes me several painful months to recover. When I see Christine for my injuries or pain, I find that they heal much faster and with a lot less pain. This makes it easier for me to exercise and get stronger since I can recover faster and with less pain. When needed, Christine uses cups, moxa and diodes in addition to needles. Whenever she uses them, I find them helpful for pain relief and recovery. A word about acupuncture: I was anxious about doing acupuncture for the first time. I was worried that it would hurt. I was worried that I would get bored and restless while laying there with needles in me. Looking back at these fears now, I feel silly but I understand how real these might feel to someone else. When the needle goes in, you might feel a slight pinch or poke. In the beginning, if you are hyperaware of sensations, you might be jumpy. Just take deep breaths, focus on the breathing, and it will be fine. Christine does not practice the type of acupuncture you see in China where the needles are thick and they go deep so there is even less to be anxious about. In general, I find that practicing meditation and focusing on the breath while getting acupuncture treatment works really well. I highly recommend it. Ask questions if you are anxious. Christine is really great at answering questions and explaining things. For most of my adult life, I have been in some form of pain or discomfort. After working with Christine for 18 months, I am not in chronic pain or discomfort and I feel more in control of my own health and happiness (because I have a better understanding of what makes me healthy and what makes me sick). It&