General
How do I schedule an appointment?
To make an appointment, please fill out the online form here, contact us at (415) 681-1643 or [email protected]. You will be contacted within 48 hours.
What services do you offer?
Our practice is about mind and body healing through holistic approaches. These include Tibetan Medicine, acupuncture, diet and nutrition, lifestyle moderation, Hor-mey(Hot Oil Poultice) therapy, and Ku-nye(external) therapy.
Please read services for details.
Please read services for details.
How long is the session and what does it include?
The first appointment will be a 60 - 90 minute visit. This will cover consultation with your Tibetan Medicinal Doctor or acupuncturist and diagnosis of the pulse, urine, nails and tongue. In the last half hour, we will either perform a physical treatment or mind and body healing, and recommend Tibetan herbal formulas. Follow-up appointments will last 45 -60 minutes. They include a short consultation and diagnosis, spending most of the time on external therapy.
Where are you located?
Please see locations.
What are your hours of operation?
Do you accept walk-ins?
Not in general. If it is an urgent case, or if we have an opening, we can accommodate; please call in advance to check. You are always welcome to come and meet us before setting up an appointment.
Are you open on the weekends?
Yes, on the first and third Saturday of each month, and most of the Sundays. Please call 415-681-1643 to confirm.
Can I come visit the office before scheduling an appointment?
Yes, you are more than welcome to do so. Make sure to call beforehand so that someone will be expecting you and can help answer questions or address any concerns.
Do you offer online consultation?
Yes, however it is only recommended for very long distance patients and urgent consultations. Please visit wellness consultation page.
Health & Healing Modalities
What conditions can you treat and manage?
I am often asked this question. The answer is I can help you head to toe, inside and outside, mind to body or body to mind. We address similar problems to those you would see a family doctor for, but apply holistic healing approaches that focus on physical, psychological and spiritual health.
Please see specialties, and stories about past patients.
Please see specialties, and stories about past patients.
What ages do you see?
We help people of any age from infants to the elderly, including pregnant women. We are especially suited for difficult pregnancy symptoms like morning sickness, acid reflux and pain in the neck, back, and legs.
Which conditions are most frequently seen in your clinic?
Mental and emotional disturbances, such as anxiety, stress, insomnia, and depression; painful musculoskeletal injuries, sport injuries and accidents;arthritis;digestive and metabolic disorders; internal organ disorders; supportive cancer care; liver and gallbladder conditions, like hepatitis, jaundice, and gallstones; chronic heart disease, angina, stroke, poor circulation; neurological problems, such as nerve compression, spinal stenosis, sciatica, multiple sclerosis; respiratory disorders such as the common cold, flu, asthma, cough, pneumonia, bronchitis, headaches, sinus, and allergies.; gynecological issues such as menstrual disorders, menopause, prenatal care, and infertility; children’s health disorders; prostate health.
Please see specialties, and stories about past patients.
Please see specialties, and stories about past patients.
How long will my treatment course last?
The length of treatment depends on your condition and presentation. For some people, only a couple of session are needed. For others, it takes a months or longer to heal and recover.
How does Tibetan Medicine view dietary and nutritional advice for different Individuals?
Although there are many books and theories about diet, nothing targets your own unique body like Tibetan Medicine. According to traditional Tibetan Medicine, diet and nutrition is one of the most important treatments because it emphasizes on your own individual constitution. There are seven constitutions in Tibetan Medicine and each has a different diet and nutritional protocol. The guidance you receive from a Tibetan Medicinal practitioner is specialized for your unique mind and body.
How often do you prescribe herbs?
This depends on the condition. Some conditions require herbs while others do not.
Insurance & Payment
Do you take insurance and what Insurances do you take?
We accept and bill all PPO insurance plans cover acupuncture, below is the partial list of the insurance companies that we accept:
- Anthem Blue Cross PPO
- Aetna PPO
- Blue Shield of California PPO
- Cigna PPO
- Healthnet PPO
- United Healthcare
- TriWest (VA)
Do you accept Medical?
We cannot accept medical insurance, but do offer discounted services for patients. Please see fee schedule page for more information.
Which payment methods are accepted?
Our office accepts cash, checks, Visa, MasterCard and Discover cards.
How much is the costs if I don't have insurance?
Please visit fee schedule page for more information.
DO YOU OFFER DISCOUNT FOR Seniors (65+), students, and others in need?
How much are the herbs?
Generally, a one week supply of each herbal supplement is $10, however the price may vary depending on the type of the herbal supplement.
Do you accept Flex Spending (FSA) and Health Saving Accounts (HSA)?
Yes, we do. Acupuncture and dry needling are fully covered benefits and we accept all FSA and HSA forms of payment.
Do you treat military personnel or veterans?
Yes, Kunde has a special alternative and holistic healing program for veterans. However, the patient must get acupuncture authorization or approval from their VA MD or pain clinic.
For more information, please visit patients page.
For more information, please visit patients page.
Do you accept Auto/Personal Injury, and workers compensation?
Yes, we do. For auto/personal injury, we accept auto med pay and liens signed by attorneys. For workers compensation, we accept primary treating physician's' prescriptions authorized by insurance carriers
How much do you charge for each session without insurance?
Please refer to this Fee Schedule page.
Tele-health
What is tele-health care appointment?
A tele-health or telemedicine appointment is the term for any health care services you receive while not being physically in the room with your healthcare provider. This can include video chats, phone calls and messaging and getting your medications mailed to you.
How do I get a tele-health appointment?
The first step is making an appointment. You can do this by going to our website www.kundeinstitute.org and clicking on the tele-health link on our front page. You can then click on “book appointment” and choose the date and time you’d like and whether you’d prefer a phone or video appointment. If you choose a video appointment, we will email you the information you will need to set up your appointment with Zoom.
How long is the appointment and what will it cost?
Your appointment will be between 15 and 30 minutes. If you have insurance that normally covers your in-person appointments, the cost will be the same. If you are paying out of pocket, the cost will be $30 for 15 minutes and $75 for 30 minutes. We will send you a bill after your appointment with information on how to pay online or mail us a check.
Will my insurance pay for the appointment?
Yes, because of the current COVID 19 pandemic, insurance companies are now providing reimbursement for tele-health appointments for existing patients only and waiving the co-pays and deductibles. New patients will need to pay out of pocket.
If I don’t have computer access or a smartphone, can I still have a tele-health appointment?
As we are not in our office right now and not accessing our phone, you will need to book your appointment via our online page. However, if you prefer to use your landline phone for the appointment, we will call you at the number you provide for us.
How can Dr. Kalzang assess me if I’m not there in person?
Dr. Kalzang will ask a series of questions and if you have a video appointment, will do a tongue and face assessment. Naturally, this is not as thorough as an in person assessment but is still very useful for diagnosis and treatment.
What happens after my tele-health appointment?
Based on Dr. Kalzang’s analysis, she will make recommendations you can put into practice at home. If herbal medicine is needed, we will then mail you the herbs she has prescribed for you. Dr. Kalzang will also inform you as to when you should schedule your next appointment with her.