Kwai Fah Acupuncture Clinic

I would recommend Kwai Fah Accupuncture and Kristl Yuen to anybody. Kristen is not only a knowledgable practitioner, but a powerful healer. The most recent session I had with Kristl was exceptionally relaxing and relieved a quite a bit of stress. I have been able to sleep well ever since then (something I had not been doing prior). Kristl also helped me to release a lot of the grief and anxiety I had been experiencing lately.
In addition to acupuncture, Kristl is well versed in multiple other traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) modalities and energy medicine techniques.
Kristl is not the first acupuncturist I have visited but she is the best.
I can’t wait for my next session.

I highly recommend Kristl and Kwai Fah Acupuncture Clinic! I have had acupuncture many times over the years and so I have much to compare. When you choose a health care provider there are many things that go into the decision. When I met Kristl I immediately felt comfortable and that I was in good hands. She has a deep understanding of acupuncture, nutrition, supplements, essential oils and the nuances of how our bodies and minds work. I appreciated the time she took to hear my concerns and to ask caring and insightful questions. I wasn’t sure how much of my history I felt comfortable sharing for our first appointment but Kristl made me feels so at ease and safe that I laid it all out.
The acupuncture session was great and she also used other techniques to help me with my neck and shoulder pain.
I felt relaxed and energized and that continued for 2 days.
Kristl’s clinic is lovely; clean, peaceful and very comfortable. Parking is not a problem.
I will continue to see Kristl to maintain my health and to address issues as they arise. I am looking forward to having her see my son to help him with his soccer player aches and pains and my daughter for her digestive issues.
Kristl is a gem! She is kind, empathetic and non judgmental. She came into my life through a business connection and what a gift I have received.

I was relatively new to acupuncture when I started seeing Kristl in March of 2013. I immediately got the sense from her that she has a deep understanding of her art and knowledge of the human body. I have been seeing Kristl regularly since then, and am loving the results!
I always leave feeling more relaxed and connected, and like there is definitely some «magic» still happening in my body for the rest of the day (if not longer). I love the feeling that my body has been re-​programmed for better health and less pain. Kristl is great at working with specific issues as they arise, such as shoulder pain, trouble sleeping, colds and infections, etc. But she is also amazing at simply using acupuncture to strengthen your wellness. In fact, I think some of my favorite appointments with Kristl have been the ones where I haven’t had a specific issue to work on, and was already feeling good overall. I love knowing, in my body, that things can constantly get better and better! Ready to have your best day ever? Call Kristl!

I’ve been going to acupuncturists for 15 years. I have been thrown out of many doctors office due to my distrust of them, and my intolerance of American medicine and the side effects it causes in my body. I absolutely cannot take any kind of medicine except Chinese medicine and vitamins. But there are different ways to perform acupuncture, and I do not respond to Dr. Tan’s methods, which was administered to me by another acupuncturist. But I totally respond to they way Kristl administers acupuncture. I have gone twice, and I’m better now. I love the pain patches she gives me, as they work wonders. She gave me Chinese herbs for another problem, and that problem cleared up in 2 days. She is so calm, and very informative, and I really like her a lot. I will continue going to her on an as-​needed basis. I’m so glad I found her.

I had my wisdom teeth out (all four) in August. I was having trouble with swelling in one area. It was painful, but when I checked it out with the surgeon, he didn’t see any problem with it. I knew I needed help outside of what Western medicine could give me.
I scheduled an appointment with Kristl (Saturday morning, wooo), and she needled all sorts of things to drain the remaining swelling out of my jaw and face. She also did some energy work with my jaw to release negative energy and tensions I was holding there.
I had to pee like 4 times in the hour or so after seeing her (I had really been retaining some water.) Also, within 48 hours, the pain was gone and my jaw felt mostly normal, like it had before surgery. I owe this to Kristl’s medical expertise, her strong intuition when it comes to healing, and the power of alternative medicine in general. Kristl uses Traditional Chinese Medicine to enact healing that you would never get from the symptom-​treating focus Western Medicine doctors.
If you want lasting results and help with anything from acne to anxiety to fertility, Kristl can help you achieve your true health.
Full Disclosure here: Kristl is my girlfriend. She doesn’t treat me regularly, because it’s a «conflict of interest». She treats me when I can’t get into my own acupuncturist and she is very professional. She makes me tell her what’s wrong, like she hasn’t heard me whining about it for days. Hopefully, sharing my experience with her as a practitioner can be helpful to those of you looking for an acupuncturist or a skilled healer in general.

Kristl is a thoughtful, gentle, and effective healer. I have been to her twice and plan to go back. She has been addressing my shoulder/​neck pain with great success. We did a thorough health history before my first treatment, and during the acupuncture treatment I felt calm and relaxed. After she removed the needles, she did something called scraping, which released the toxins and scar tissue in my muscles. I confess that I did not drink enough water and the day after my treatment I felt woozy and feverish. BUT, the pain in my shoulder was greatly reduced and stayed that way. The second treatment yielded the same great results but without the discomfort the next day, Kristl really knows what she is doing!

I first went to Kristl when I was having back problems and knew if I went to my doctor I’d be put on bed rest and given muscle relaxers. While that sounds like a fun Saturday night for me, I was taking classes and didn’t have the time to stay in bed. Within one session Kristl had me back up to speed and in great shape.
Fast forward two years, and I started to have some fertility and lady garden issues. When it became apparent that western medicine wasn’t going to help me, I turned to Kristl who was able to regulate things and help make me as healthy as possible.
During this process, my husband and I were told by a specialist that we had a 1% chance of conceiving naturally and needed to RUSH into IVF. Two weeks later we proved him wrong and are now expecting our first child. I completely attribute Kristl’s work to obtaining my pregnancy (that and a really lovely bottle of pinot noir, hubba hubba!).
As you may know, dealing with infertility is an absolute roller coaster of emotions. Kristl’s gentle nature, compassion, and expertise guided me through a very difficult time. I completely trust her work and will continue to see her after our bambino arrives!

After numerous treatments from Kristl, I am: 1. convinced that acupuncture is a cure-​all and 2. Kristl is beyond gifted at administering these ancient techniques.
Kristl is empathetic, professional, and extremely knowledgeable. She has successfully used acupuncture to treat my seasonal allergies, stress, and to help me regulate my lady cycle. She has also recommended natural and herbal supplements that have genuinely enhanced my life.
I can’t say enough positive things about the work that Kristl does and I highly recommend her to anyone interested in acupuncture treatment.

I can’t say enough good things about Kristl. She is such a kind & gentle practitioner. I went to her wanting to have a baby, but a rare genetic condition made that very difficult to attain. Kristl researched the condition and gave me practical, thoughtful, balancing treatments. While she couldn’t change the genetic aspect of things, she gave me positive energy, a sense of balance, and hope — Which is huge when dealing with fertility treatments.
My husband & i can’t thank her enough for that. Neither can our 2 kids.

I’m new to acupuncture and holistic medicine, but started working with Kristl in January of this year. I highly recommend the Kwai Fah practice. Kristl is kind, gentle, and so knowledgeable. After a session, I feel wonderful. I sleep better. My body is in better balance. Honestly, I never thought I could feel so great.

Kristl was my acupuncturist while I was attending acupuncture school, and of all the various treatments and experiences that I have had with other practitioners, I would say that Kristl is absolutely the best. She posseses a very fluid combination of professionalism, skill, compassion and friendliness. I admire her still even as I have graduated and gone on in my own practice.
I would recommend her to anyone that is young or old, and new or not to acupuncture. I trust her completely. Go see Kristl for a joyful, positive, effective experience! I really can’t say enough wonderful things about her!

I had been looking for Oriental Medicine in my area. I came across this new office located on Lincoln at Montrose Ave. I had never had acupuncture or tried alternative medicine. I spoke with Kristl Kwai Fah who answered some questions for me. On my first visit for acupuncture, I was really nervous. Kristl was very nice and understood my fear, she quickly put me at ease. The session was very pleasant, the office very nice and modern and very peaceful. I am very excited to continue to see Kristl for more sessions. Kristl is also a certified herbologist who put me on herbs for my issues. I highly recommend this wonderful new office to anyone who is looking for oriental medicine.

My life as an acupuncture needle…
I guess I’ll start with a little history. I and my kind are over 2,500 years old. We originated in China but have since crossed the globe. In the beginning, the Chinese used to make us out of sharp pieces of bone or flint called Bian Stones. Then they moved on to iron, copper, bronze, and even silver or gold. During the Iron and Bronze Ages, metal began to surface. Now and days we are made from stainless steel and our heads or handles (though most of us don’t like the use of the word «handle», I don’t mind. I like my head to be «handled» but that’s a different story). We vary in size and shape but basically you’re 1 out of 9, but only 6 of us are commonly used (jeez, how do you like those odds). Even though we my poke, irritate, and pinch a little, we are a peaceful bunch. Our sole purpose is to heal, stick us in you and watch our magic. Tap my head for a tingling sensation!
As for my birth… well, it was as violent as my death. They say that most of us aren’t «aware» until we are removed from this bonding like material. The air is funny in there, I heard someone use this word sterile but I didn’t understand what he meant. I consider those needles lucky! Others like me are «aware» from the moment we are cut and formed. Imagine waking up all alone, deafening sounds all around (you think you cries for help but you can’t tell, something about «hold the line» and «meeting your quota»). You’re moving quickly to gods knows where. In a moments flash, my head is stuck in some sort of cylinder. I can only see out below me now. That is, until I’m covered again. The air gets thin and then nothing… darkness!
Oddly, what happens next was not only the most jubilant magical experience I’ve ever had, it was also my last experience. I can only describe the next moments with sounds, textures, and a feeling of purpose. There was more noise, then fresh air, brightness, a feeling of being handled, and a tapping of my head into this rubber like material. I feel these joyful vibrating sensations throughout my body! Oh what a rush, sweet, sweet life! I could do this forev… I’m being handled again; I lose feeling of the rubber material. Nooooo ooo! I’m floating through the air towards a dark cave like opening, it has a strange symbol, recycling it says, though I don’t know the meaning. I lay there surrounded by my brothers and sister, all screaming and crying as I was. Again darkness…
I now sit in a strange land filled with other strange discarded creatures, being shifted around by giants holding some sort of wooden poll with a flat metal head. Although I’m not actually dead, this is what death must be like. I guess this is my life now, as sad as it is but I do get to tell my story a lot. My story… a life of bliss that I once had…
The End
I’ve gotten acupuncture done before but Kristi is by far the friendliest and gentle acupuncturists I’ve ever had. I swear I had some strange dreams as the needles relaxed me.

I am newer patient to acupuncture (had it done twice before) but a big fan of alternative medicine. Kristl of Kwai Fah is fantastic! I purchased her Groupon and so happy I did, I just wish I didn’t wait so long. She is very thorough and spent time with me going over my issues and asked a lot of questions. If you can get over the idea of having needles in you, it’s a very relaxing and helpful process. She definitely made me feel comfortable and relaxed. Kristl’s follow up is good too… she has been staying in contact with me and making sure I am doing well. Bonus Points!
I would highly recommend Kwai Fah!

The reviewer before me certainly covered a lot of the detail in what a visit to Kwai Fah is like. I too am brand spanking new to acupuncture but have heard reviews for its use for a variety of issues and they have always been favorable. I found Kristl on the
site for specials on the weekend of June 26. She listed a deal for $ 40 introductory acupuncture and I emailed her to explain my symptoms and interest and to see about scheduling. I heard back from her shortly after and we set an appointment for me to visit. She emailed me a packet of papers to fill out before I came that covered both the phyical and emotional states of well being. When I arrived for my appointment she took the time to review the papers and to spend a good bit of time talking to me about what was going on with me, what my history was, and what I wanted in the future. She explained to me about the idea of your body needing balance and working in harmony and it makes a lot of sense. When you go to a doctor, he’s treating symptoms and often looks to medicate to solve your problem. But there may be many other factors that affect how your treatment will turn out. With acupuncture, Kristl understood my health, my emotions, my goals, and my issues in general and could therefore treat me accordingly. I had no issue with the needles and afterwards she helped relieve the tension in my back with a scraping. I too was given the option of herbal medicine and said yes. I saw her this past Saturday. Immediately I felt relief in my tension — my head was clear. Shortly thereafter, one of the issues I had been experiencing was relieved as well. The very next day. I am more than excited to return in a week and I would recommend Kristl to anyone — from my parents to friends to strangers.

My experience at Kwai Fah Acupuncture Clinic was my first ever experience with acupuncture, so I can’t necessarily compare it to other clinics, but for my first time, my experience with Kristl was fantastic! I’m going to give a really detailed review below for people who may not be familiar with acupuncture at all, but the quick summary is that Kristl at Kwai Fah was experienced, comfortable, friendly, nice, accommodating and really good at what she does!
Despite having been recommended to try acupuncture by several people, I had been reluctant to try because of an irrational fear of needles. This experience completely eliminated that fear. The clinic is small and cozy near public transit (Western or Irving Park buses). I was emailed my paperwork ahead of time, so I did not have to spend any time in the waiting room. From the beginning, Kristl was friendly and welcoming, aware of the anxieties a first-​timer might have. The paperwork you have to fill in beforehand asks for extensive medical (physical and mental) history, so she knows what areas you want to focus your treatment on. She started out by going through the paperwork and asking for more detailed information on some of the ailments I had listed. Along with the medical background, she took my pulse and checked my tongue, all to get a more comprehensive look at my concerns, what caused them, and how they are connected.
Once I was on the table, I started to get really nervous about the needles, but Kristl talked through the entire process, explaining how it might feel, where she was putting them, how tiny (and not hollow) the needles are. Once she started putting them in and they didn’t hurt at all, I started to relax. None of the needles hurt, though some, especially ones on my right side, had a stronger sensation (not pain or anything, just a feeling that you knew they were there). After she put them all in, she turned out the lights, lit some candles, turned on some soothing nature sounds and left me to relax. The tenseness I felt at the beginning quickly went away and I was left to daydream and relax for what I’m guessing was 20 – 30 minutes, but I wasn’t really keeping track of time. She came in to check on me, gave me a space blanket since it was a little cold in the room, and the left me for another 15 minutes. When she came back for the last time, I felt really relaxed and comfortable. She took out all the needles (except for the ones in the ears because those take longer) and then did a scrapping technique with a tool made of buffalo horn (I think?) on my neck and shoulders, where I had been having aches and tension. It felt like an intense and focused massage right in the places where it hurts. She warned that it would leave bruise-​like or red marks for a few days, but nothing lasting and two days later, all the marks are gone, though I am still a little sore in those spots, but just like you’d feel after a good massage. The tension/​knots themselves were definitely worked out. Afterward, she took out the last needles and asked me if I was interested in herbs. She left for bit when I said yes.
When she returned, we talked about the experience and how I felt. She recommended an herb mix that would help with stress (which was at the core of all the other medical problems I was having). We handled payment at that point (the herbs are a little extra on top of the appointment). I don’t really have other clinics to compare the cost to, but the price seemed really reasonable. She told me that for patients with specific ailments they’re trying to treat, she likes to see them weekly or every other week, but also said that she understood especially in this economy or for people like me with just sort of general ailments to be treated, weekly might not be feasible and suggested every 3 – 4 weeks. I will definitely be back and suggest everyone, including first-​timers, should try acupuncture out with Kristl at Kwai Fah!