about

Falko Kriel holds a Master’s Degree in Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, with extensive training in acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, qi gong (therapeutic exercise), food therapy and dietary consulting, moxibustion (heat therapy), cupping (myofascial decompression), tuina (Chinese medical massage), and guasha (scraping therapy). In his practice, he assesses each patient’s constitution and chief complaint and draws on these modalities to form a comprehensive treatment plan unique to each individual.

He began his journey with the Chinese arts when he was introduced to his Kung Fu and Tai Chi teacher, Master Julian K. Duran, at age 12 while living in South Florida. After two years of undergraduate education studying philosophy at UBC in Vancouver, Falko decided to return to Florida and dedicate himself to the study of Chinese medicine and martial arts. He enrolled in the Atlantic Institute of Oriental Medicine in Fort Lauderdale, one of the youngest to attend a school for TCM in North America.

While living in Florida, Falko intensive period of training with his Kung Fu teacher, living with him for two years of private lessons and mentorship. During this time, he became sick with encephalomyelitis from an unknown origin and was paralyzed from the waist down. His involvement in the Chinese arts played a key role in allowing him to make a full recovery, and to gain more understanding of what people with chronic or severe medical issues go through daily.

After graduating in 2012, he began his practice in Spokane, Washington until deciding to relocate back to British Columbia to be closer to family and back to a landscape that felt like home. He enjoys treating a wide variety of health conditions, as Chinese Medicine focuses on supporting the body and balancing patterns of disharmony. Falko has also done extra training in the field of pain management, sports medicine, and mental health. With over 20 years of experience in martial arts, Falko also has extensive teaching experience in fitness and self-defence. He founded and taught for seven years through Tiger Claw Kung Fu and Tai Chi, and continues to share his knowledge with others. He draws on this experience when assisting patients with physical rehab and exercise.

His clinical experience includes acute and chronic pain, sports injuries, chronic fatigue, insomnia, headaches, migraines, ear nose and throat conditions, immune system support, digestive health, cardiovascular health, autoimmune disease, and neurological illnesses such as stroke recovery. He is a certified acupuncture detox specialist, having trained in substance abuse recovery settings on the Vancouver Downtown Eastside to help those suffering from depression, anxiety, addiction, or other mental health disorders. having worked with a variety of substance abuse recovery or community support programs such as Freedom’s Door, KARIS society, and HOPE Outreach in Kelowna.

Outside of his clinical work, Falko can be found with his wife and four children hiking in the mountains and forests or working in a shared farm co-op. They are an outdoor loving homeschool family and are dedicated to sourcing healthy and local food. He is also a practicing Orthodox Christian and involved in his Church community.