Heavenly Stems Acupuncture

i’ve been seeing melissa at heavenly stems for a couple months now and i just couldn’t be happier. i’m the kind of person who looks very healthy so when i go to the doctor’s office, i find them to be rather dismissive. i’ve had very good luck using acupuncture to deal with my non-​emergency health problems. that being said, melissa is one of the best practitioners i’ve ever seen. with in the time i’ve been going to her, she’s spotted some things that others have failed to recognize. she figured out why i’ve been running so ragged even though i’ve been taking really good care of myself. not only is this a relief mentally, it’s a relief to my body.
melissa listens to what i have to say and has really gotten to know me in addition to monitoring my pulses and other indicators that are used in acupuncture. she’s prescribed herbs that have helped me immeasurably and has given me treatments that have made a huge difference.
melissa has wasted no time in getting me on the fast track to feeling better. her assessments have been right on the mark and her prognoses have been effective. she’s an excellent choice if you’re serious about feeling better.

I was having sinus problems that were causing blocked ears (super uncomfortable!) and my doctors had told me I just needed to wait it out. I tried acupuncture for the first time to see if I could get some relief, and it exceeded my expectations. I felt relief in sinus pressure right away and was 100% better within a few days. My symptoms had been improving on their own, but acupuncture absolutely helped to speed the healing process up. Thank you so much, Melissa!

Melissa is the BEST in her field!
I have received so much pain relief from her with regards to my back pain.
Melissa listens to everything that is concerning you and causing you discomfort and or pain and she does everything in her power to give you the relief you need to get you through the pain WITHOUT pain medication.
In my opinion there is no one better then Melissa Margolis! make an appointment and see for yourself the wonderful results!
I am so happy to have found her!
Thank you Melissa. See you soon.

Before Melissa I had never experienced acupuncture that helped me with my symptoms as effectively as her treatments were able to do. After having tried several other acupuncturists I went to her originally to help me with my sinus problems. After setting her needles and adjusting them for optimum effect I immediately felt the healing energy flow not only through my head but through my whole body, unblocking meridians along my problem areas. With just a few treatments and advice about dietary and lifestyle choices I have been able to keep sinus related issues under control.
I was impressed that she unlike more traditional acupuncturists was giving helpful advice, as well as, explaining the reasons for my ailment (s) from a Chinese Medicine perspective. She was patient, clear and always knowledgeable.
Since then I have seen her for a variety of other problems like general fatigue, digestive problems and physical aches and pains. She is simply a wizard with any kind of inflammation be it muscle, joint or nerve. With just a few sessions she helped my scalenes (neck muscles) gluteus medius (buttock muscle) and thumb joint. I feel confident that she will get me out of any future problem, which frees me to be more adventurous in my work and life in general.
I can’t imagine anyone not greatly benefiting from the expertise she brings to each client as well as her incredible intuitive healing ability.

Melissa is incredibly responsible on email, text, and phone, and has treated me for a number of conditions. She also understands my budget and is understanding with working with me on how to come less often than I’d like. I asked about herbs for one condition and on her own time she explained, in detail, the different brands and what makes each of them safer/​more effective/​cheaper etc. She always seems glad to see me no matter what weird ailment i’ve come in with. Just a wonderful experience all around.

Melissa has a patient and kind heart. She listens to my complaints and uses her needles to ward them away. I see Melissa monthly but my last session was exquisite. My energy felt collapsed upon itself. She used her needles to stir up my chi and give me back my energy. I laid there unfolding layer by layer. Thank you, Melissa your my magician!

Under Melissa’s care, I have experienced nearly complete relief from indigestion. It was severe enough that it would keep me awake at night. There are «effective» western medications available, but they also cause serious side-​effects, such as calcium deficiency. Not an acceptable trade-​off in my opinion. The herbs she prescribed me are more effective and actually feel nutritive. I guess that’s the meaning of holistic!
I’ve also had significant help with my migraines. I suffer from a somewhat rare and extremely debilitating form called «ocular migraines». Melissa was able to find a set of acupuncture points which usually makes my migraines disappear completely. When I can’t have an appointment, she has provided herbs which are effective I would say 95% of the time. Again I’d have to compare the herbs to Western medications which are either ineffective or addictive.
Melissa shows an attentiveness and engagement which you are unlikely to find with most practitioners. Even in an area saturated with practitioners, I think we’re very lucky to have Melissa in the Bay Area.

I went to see Melissa at Heavenly Stems for some recent pain I’d been experiencing. The acupuncture treatments really helped alleviate my pain, and Melissa was a pleasure to work with. She is extremely flexible with scheduling appointments, and even willing to work evenings to accommodate my busy schedule. She is very conscientious to my body’s responses to the acupuncture and knowledgeable with her approach. I would highly recommend Melissa and Heavenly Stems for anyone looking for acupuncture treatments!

I have been seeing Melissa for the past 6 months and am hooked! Melissa is such a compassionate, empathetic, thoughtful, caring, knowledgeable, and genuine person and I look forward to seeing her for my sessions. I had never had acupuncture or used chinese herbs before and she made me feel comfortable and took the time to really explain things to me, which I have really appreciated. I also appreciate the individual care, interest, and attention I receive every session from her. She has really changed my life and health for the better and I am very grateful to her and would (and have) recommended her to everyone!

Melissa has changed my life! No more insomnia, more energy, better quality of life! I haven’t felt this physically and emotionally good in years. She is knowledgeable, informative, and really takes the time to understand and treat your ailments. I feel so lucky to have found her, and for me, her treatments will be life long!

Melissa has been wonderful to work with. She has BOTH brains AND the sensitivity to manage her patient’s needs — no diva attitude! She truly cares and has such a positive spirit — despite my mood, at times, when pain is rearing its ugly head. A great communicator, translating health issues at hand and how to help ourselves, along with acupuncture (I’m anti pain meds). She’s not afraid of tough questions and if she doesn’t know, she’ll say so and will research if she can; instead of getting defensive or patronizing like some health care practitioners, Western and Eastern practices. Icing on the cake… she’s a whiz at navigating through all the cryptic health insurance hoops we are required to jump through in order to use the expensive insurance we pay dearly for!!!
THANK YOU, Melissa!

I have been to other chinese medicine practitioners in Alameda and was not satisfied with their bedside manner. I want my practitioner to see me as a person, not just another body. Melissa is so warm and engaging. She really cares about her clients. I feel like I can tell her anything and she truly listens. As a physical therapist, I value that she also provides adjunct things that I can do at home to help myself (which is not what I experienced at the other acupuncturists). While there is great value in her treatments, it’s nice to feel empowered too. There are many options in Alameda, but Melissa is my choice and she is the one that I recommend to my patients.

Four years later, and I’m still turning to Melissa for the extraordinary quality of care and results that I’ve never found elsewhere. Now that Alameda is the happening place to be, I want you all to know that she’s ready to help you feel as well as can be.

I have no words to describe how Melissa has changed my life! She is not only knowledgable about Acupuncture and women’s health, but a great listener, empathetic and compassionate person. She patiently listens to my concerns and is always honest about what Acupuncture can and cannot help with.
I originally started seeing her because of fertility issues I was experiencing last year, but she also addressed my migraine and low energy issues, including occasional injuries in my arm and leg. Whatever pain I have before the sessions, it goes away right after it!
I’ve seen her for eight months now (I’m actually in my first trimester of pregnancy!) and I could not be happier. I look forward to the sessions every week as they help me get relaxed and end the day with good energy.

I can’t recommend Melissa and Heavenly Stems enough. I live in Alameda and recently I severely hurt my lower back doing almost nothing at all. Could just barely drag myself off the floor and into bed with excruciating pain. Couldn’t get out of bed for two days due to incredibly intense lower back spasms, despite immediately starting a regimen of anti-​inflammatories and oxycodone. Super fortunate that my wife was willing to empty my bedpan, or I’d have had to go to the hospital; anyway …
A friend recommended acupuncture and I called around Alameda to see if anyone would come to my house. I was advised by one acupuncturist who whouldn’t make a house call to call Melissa and she answered the phone. She was super friendly, and was willing to make a house call within 90 minutes. Her work and demeanor was amazing, and when she finished an hour later I was able to get out of bed. Seriously, she was that effective. I followed up with Melissa for a second treatment the next day at her office, because not only was I able to get out of bed, I was able to drive. Truly miraculous. I’m giving her five stars because I can’t give her six ! Thanks, Melissa.

I was about to give up on accupuntucure in Alameda. I had some pretty not so healing experiences with some of the practices on the island.
Finally, by chance, I met Melissa at a networking event. She had a really positive perspective, was well versed in Chinese medicine as well as Western medicine, and, most importantly, she listened.
I’ve been going to her for about three years now and she has been able to support me through many of different phases life has taken me with herbs and accupuntcure. She really does take the one on one time to meet your needs and involves you in your treatment.
Thanks Melissa!

Melissa posses an excellent knowledge of the science of of Chinese Acupuncture and Medicinal Herbs. She has a strong back ground in academia to further her understanding of the body systems. I find that Melissa’s knowledge, empathy, compassion and the sanitary conditions of her practice puts her at the top of my list!
I have been seeing Melissa off and on when I am in the Bay area for over 10 years.
Melissa’s work on my body has helped me immensely from menstrual irregularities, allergies, stomach flu, respiratory, to the healing of spinal injury. I can not recommend her highly enough. If this is your first time visiting an acupuncturist, or if you have many years of experience as a patient I believe you would be very pleased with Melissa.

I have had bowel problems for several decades that had finally turned into ulcerative colitis about seven years ago, meaning that I had bloody stools. What I read about how Western medicine treats that condition wasn’t encouraging and I decided not to go that route if I could avoid it. However, I had tried various holistic treatments like diets, herbs, and homeopathy, as well as acupuncture with other practitioners, with no results. It kept getting worse.
In addition, I had a gallbladder problem that started about three years earlier.
I started seeing Melissa five months ago and really enjoyed meeting her as she is great at both listening and at explaining anything you want to know about acupuncture and the Chinese medicine perspective on health problems. She was very accommodating when I explained that my bowels couldn’t tolerate Chinese herbs, and she said we would just use the needles (other acupuncturists had insisted that I try the herbs, which always gave me diarrhea). When she puts in the needles, I can really feel the energy moving. I hadn’t experienced that before with other acupuncturists, so I was hopeful from the beginning.
Results: My gallbladder symptoms cleared up after about three and a half months of weekly visits (a problem I’d had for three years!) Even more thrilling, now, at five months, my bowels are well on their way to a complete healing. I see very little blood now compared to what I’d been seeing (I’ve had one or another form of bowel problems for forty years!) I’m amazed and very grateful, as you can imagine, and I recommend Melissa very highly!

Melissa Margolis is a true talent.
When you go to visit Melissa, you’ll get a doctor who listens — really listens — to what is going on with you, and prescribes both acupuncture and herbs. She has helped me with several ongoing ailments — the most annoying one being insomnia. I instantly feel 10 times better during Melissa’s treatments! I’ve even come close to falling asleep several times with the needles in — and that usually does not happen for me.
I’m so happy she’s practicing in the East Bay!

I think the world of alternative medicine. In general, it has really changed my way of thinking, as well as my health, in very, very positive ways.
Heavenly Stems/​Melissa Margolis is no exception. I was having female issues, and my visits with Melissa have helped tremendously. Melissa herself is very caring, very knowledgable, and an overall doll.
I highly recommend Heavenly Stems Acupuncture by far.