Meet our passionate, caring, and skilled Santa Rosa Acupuncturists & Herbalists
Christina Ness-Hawks
Founder and Clinic Director
LAc (Licensed California Acupuncturist)
Dipl OM (NCCAOM Nationally Certified)
MSTCM (Master of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine)
Christina’s life was transformed in her mid-20’s, when she sought Chinese Medicine to treat her allergies, chronic sinus infections, and struggling immune system. After personally experiencing the healing effects of Chinese Medicine and the freedom that comes with true well-being, Christina was inspired to become an acupuncturist.
Christina knows firsthand what it’s like to be overwhelmed by health challenges. But she’s also seen that our bodies have an innate healing intelligence that’s part of every cell of your body. She’s excited to help reawaken your natural healing system and empower you to make the best decisions for you. She has helped hundreds of patients with a variety of health issues ranging from chronic pain and sports injuries; allergies, frequent colds, and sinusitis; depression and anxiety; PMS and menopause; to all sorts of conditions that patients can’t find a solution for.
Christina is a California Licensed and Nationally Certified acupuncturist and herbalist. She has been studying and practicing Chinese Medicine since 2007. She earned her Master’s degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine at the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in San Francisco and is Board Certified by the California Acupuncture Board as a Licensed Acupuncturist as well as the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine as a Diplomate of Oriental Medicine. She interned abroad at Yue Yang Hospital in Shanghai and has worked in a variety of clinic settings including an inpatient stroke and trauma rehabilitation center and a skilled nursing facility for the aged. She opened Thrive Acupuncture and Wellness in Santa Rosa, California in March 2012.
Christina is super results driven. She draws from a wide variety of styles of acupuncture, but relies on a deep foundation in distal acupuncture such as Richard Tan’s Balance Method and Master Tung Acupuncture that are renowned for patients starting to feel better on the table as soon as a few points are placed. She loves that Chinese Herbal Medicine is one of the best values for your investment of time and money in your wellbeing because you only need to come in for 1 appointment and you go home with herbs that you can take twice a day for a week or more. In order to get the best results, she has studied with herbal masters who are focused on treating modern patients such as Jimmy Wei-Yen Chang and Christopher Volesky to learn Pulsynergy and Harmonize Chinese Herbal Medicine.
Christina brings a unique balance of the scientific and energetic to her practice. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology from UC Santa Cruz with a concentration in comparative physiology and a minor in Psychology. At the same time she was enrolled in the holistic health practitioner program in which she studied Swedish massage, acupressure, and western herbology and nutrition. She had a few careers, including marine mammal training and biotechnology regulatory affairs, before she became an acupuncturist. Christina will help you bridge the gap between western science and Chinese Medicine by educating you on how these two worlds relate and how they can work together.
In her free time you can find her thriving on her mountain bike, in the garden, on the dance floor, and in the kitchen with her husband cooking food from their garden.
Megan Rauch
Acupuncturist & Herbalist
LAc (Licensed California Acupuncturist)
Dipl OM (NCCAOM Nationally Certified)
MSTCM (Master of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine)
Megan believes true healing means not only feeling better, but living with more energy and ease—and that’s the heart of her work with every patient. Her curiosity about the connection between emotional and physical health has fueled her passion for supporting the body’s natural ability to heal for over 24 years. When she experienced the profound effects of acupuncture firsthand, she was inspired to become an acupuncturist and for over 18 years she has helped patients relieve pain, restore balance, and cultivate long-term vitality through the wisdom of Chinese Medicine.
She meets each patient exactly where they are, using gentle yet effective acupuncture and customized herbal formulas to achieve meaningful, lasting results. Her compassionate approach integrates mind, body, and spirit—empowering patients to make small but meaningful lifestyle changes.
Megan has partnered with patients to address a wide variety of conditions—ranging from chronic and acute pain, sports injuries, anxiety, depression, insomnia, fatigue, digestive issues, allergies, sinusitis, frequent colds, and stress-related health issues.
She has a special passion for women’s health, which began over 20 years ago as a birth doula. As an acupuncturist she has supported pregnant and postpartum women, as well as women experiencing hormonal imbalances including PMS, peri-menopause, and menopause. A mother of 3 herself, she brings even more depth, compassion, and experience to helping women through all stages of life.
Megan is a California Licensed and Nationally Certified acupuncturist and herbalist. She has been studying and practicing Chinese Medicine since 2007. She earned her Master’s degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine at the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in San Francisco and is Board Certified by the California Acupuncture Board as a Licensed Acupuncturist as well as the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine as a Diplomate of Oriental Medicine. She interned abroad at Yue Yang Hospital in Shanghai and has worked in a variety of clinic settings including an Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) Specialty Practice, the Haight Ashbury Free Clinic, serving diverse patient needs for underserved and marginalized communities, and an auricular clinic focused on using the ear to treat the whole body.
Megan combines time-honored healing techniques with a modern understanding of mind-body health. Before becoming an acupuncturist, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from New York University and worked as a mental health counselor and brain research assistant at the San Francisco VA Hospital. Her interest in holistic wellness led her to train as a massage therapist and birth doula, experiences that deepened her insight into the body and the profound transitions of life. Today, as an acupuncturist, she draws on this diverse foundation to offer care that is both compassionate and deeply effective—helping patients achieve lasting healing and transformation.
In her free time, Megan enjoys staying active with her husband and three children, gardening, cooking, practicing yoga, and sharing laughter at a good comedy show.
