Kristen Swegles
MTCM, LAc., CMP
Kristen began an exploration of healing arts in high school while training for sate championships in track and field and water polo. She began a strict diet regime with juicing for optimal health and performance. After graduation with athletic and academic honors, Kristen followed her heart where the redwoods meet the ocean at UC Santa Cruz to study women’s health and psychology. She apprenticed with Mayan midwives in Guatemala forming a thesis on childbearing practices in the US and abroad. Her love affair with nature and herbs grew while on a 3 month long backpacking trip in the Northern California wilderness. She graduated with a BA in Community Studies and went on to attend the Ashland school of traditional midwifery, which eventually led her to the studies of Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture. She has a Masters of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Doctorate of Oriental Medicine with specialization in Women’s health and Pain management. With over 900 clinical hours, she was Licensed by the CA Acupuncture Board in 2012 and started her own practice at Santa Cruz CORE Fitness and Rehab and Summit Estate addiction recovery. Kristen has been in private practice for over 7 years in her hometown of Santa Barbara and is the owner of Santa Barbara Chinese Medicine.