Karin Liedtke, LAc

Bio

I grew up in the beautiful state of Ohio and lived in the Cleveland area. At the time of my childhood, the water and air quality was poor there due to industry, but there was a marvelous park system that surrounded the Greater Cleveland area. One could bicycle many miles using multipurpose trails or hike through wooded, Riparian areas. I am still enjoying nature as a true place of personal and spiritual nourishment and value maintaining such places for generations to come.

In my life, I have been drawn to service professions, whether in the field of teaching, community work, or health. Meaningful work that helps others has always been my focus. Since my early twenties when first exposed to acupuncture, I have been studying the fascinating and historically rich field of Oriental Medicine. Currently, I am drawn to the more esoteric teachings of Classical Chinese Medicine. I maintain membership with the California State Oriental Medical Association.

I have been employed with Kaiser Permanente since early 2000, though substituted since 1998. Prior to this, I worked in private practice within Sonoma County and San Francisco. Here at Kaiser Permanente, I enjoy working as part of a team, especially with the high quality employees who are found in the Chronic Pain Department. I also appreciate being able to care for such diverse patients, and those trying acupuncture for the first time to help with chronic pain management.

My Medical Specialty

More details about my specialty:

I practice acupuncture and related therapies utilizing styles and techniques from various traditions and countries, including Dr. Tan, Master Tong and Korean Hand Acupuncture, in addition to my original training in Traditional Chinese Medicine. I am strongly interested in the mind-body connection.

Often patients ask me how I got into doing acupuncture. While a young adult, I attended a friend's acupuncture treatment. I thought it quite strange, but considered trying it a year later. Finding acupuncture very helpful, I decided to casually study the philosophy and theories about it. Then, at a time when I was contemplating a career transition, it became clear to me that acupuncture and Oriental Medicine is what I wanted to do.

I would be remiss if I failed to mention the extent to which I was influenced by the Chinese medicine and acupuncture master who treated me as a patient over the course of many years. Michael Broffman is now the director of the Pine Street Foundation, a research organization focusing on innovative, alternative cancer treatments.

My specialty interests and affiliations within my field:

Over the years I have added some of what I have learned in continuing education classes to my practice techniques. I would like to learn more about Classical Chinsese Medicine in the future.

Great health resources that I refer to:

This page has some great resources Learn More About Acupuncture

An interesting story from my training:

I attended Chinese Medicine school while simultaneously working part time toward my Master's degree. The degree in Comparative Healing Systems was really a study of worldwide healing practices, including alternative and complementary medicine.

Photos from My Training Years or of Practicing Medicine in My Field:

Moving the Qi

Interests

My favorite book or author:
I enjoy fantasy/science fiction for relaxing reading.

Hobby Photos & Links:

At the End of 700 Miles

Family & Friends

People in my life:

Because my undergraduate college training involved internships throughout the United States, I developed friendships with people who live in various states. I still maintain some of these. I also have relatives in five states and Europe.

My children and people I care about:

Myadventuresome, adult son is studying Medical Qi Gong. My step-daughter is currently living in Mexico.

An interesting story about my family or friends:

My parents immigrated to the United States from Europe after World War II. They had to abandon their homes and farms and flee to Germany prior to coming to this country.

For large portions of my life I have had birds, especially parakeets. Parakeets are cheery, little birds who love to sing. I also have a singing male cockateil.

Pet Photos:

My Parakeets

Travel

An adventure I've had:

As a young adult and college student I needed to travel back and forth from Ohio to California and tried a number of interesting options. There were great adventures to be had traveling with the Green Tourtoise Bus Company. I was able to see various national parks, hot springs, go white water rafting and hike along perilous paths while also slowly making my way to where I needed to go. Also as a young adult, I backpacked within California and loved being able to get to remote and scenic places. These trips remain memorable. While backpacking is too strenuous for me these days, I hiked backpacking trails in British Columbia in 2005 and had equally meaningful times along turquoise lakes and glaciers.

Favorite place in the world:

Most of my travels have been within the United States (45+ states), though I have visited about eight other countries. I am hoping to travel to Asia, particularly China and Thailand, within a couple of years to see natural wonders, experience the culture and observe medical and spiritual aspects. China is home to Chinese medicine and acupuncture and mindfulness meditation (vipassana) is practiced in Thailand.

One of my recent trips:

I had the good fortune to visit tropical Costa Rica for a wildlife viewing trip in 2009. We saw abundant Capucin and Howler monkeys, a tapir, colorful birds, various lizards and unusual frogs, as well as, remarkable butterflies. Most memorable were the wild, scarlet macaws flying in pairs or groups along the coast, in the hot, jungle region of Corcovado. A day spent bobbing in the warm ocean waves of Manuel Antonio Park was the most relaxing, while the most exciting was the hour spent on the Pacific Coast catching wave after wave while body surfing.

Travel Photos:

Past Backpacking

Trip Photos:

Scarlet Macaws at Corcovado

Caiman at Tortuguero

Butterfly, Monteverde area

Karin at Monteverde

Land Crab: "Halloween Crab"

Coati at Corcovado

Pacific Ocean

Capucin Monkey

Reptile at Manuel Antonio