Meet Dr. Kristensen
Dr. Tiffany Kristensen, owner of VIBE Acupuncture & Holistic Healing Center, received her doctorate from Pacific College of Health and Science and a masters from American College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM). In addition to VIBE, she works one day a week at Houston Methodist Hospital in the Texas Medical Center as lead acupuncturist and is part of the school staff at ACAOM. She has extensive training on the mind-body connection and understands the psychosomatic cause of many illnesses, not only treating them through with natural means, but also teaching patients how to understand the psychological aspect that led to the disease and how to re-navigate to a healthier body and mind.
The How and Why of Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is thousands of years old and focuses on the root causes of an issue. “Acupuncture and herbs are highly researched and becoming more and more evidence-based,” says Kristensen. “A TCM practitioner can be viewed as someone who can often treat anything that a general practitioner would treat, but using acupuncture and herbs, or other natural means.” Allergies, chronic sinus infections, fertility issues, hormonal issues, COVID “long-hauler” symptoms, neuropathy, high blood pressure, migraines, auto-immune issues, digestive problems, and back/neck pain are examples.
How Acupuncture Works
Does acupuncture hurt? “Usually, no,” says Kristensen. “It’s actually a very relaxing experience. If you walk in feeling nervous and anxious, you will walk out feeling refreshed, renewed and lighter.” She says acupuncture can work in many ways. Some points stimulate nerves, while others are known to have high concentrations of mast cells, stimulating healthy immune response. Acupuncture activates your body’s natural opioid system, says Kristensen, releasing endorphins. It can create trauma in specific areas and speed the healing process. It affects the autonomic nervous system, helping to naturally regulate hormones. It can also release muscle tissue, providing needed relief.
Treating Anxiety and Depression
Although patients don’t usually walk in for anxiety or depression, Kristensen says most tend to check those boxes. “Treating these illnesses is a passion of mine. We can become addicted to stress hormones in the same way we get addicted to opioids. When a person is constantly in fight-or-flight mode, it can elevate blood sugar, blood pressure, and cause inflammation throughout the body. Chronic stress can lead to diseases such as fibromyalgia, infertility, IBS, osteoporosis, and more. Along with acupuncture treatment, I teach my patients how to reverse the addiction to cortisol and adrenaline through meditation and visualization, essentially teaching them to be their own best doctor over time!”