Oakland Acupuncture Project

For the last SIX WEEKS, I’ve had a severe cough that led to asthma (that I haven’t had since I was a very young child), that then led to acute chest/​rib pain from coughing so long and hard.
I went to the doctor 4 times (pretnisone 3 times/​2 ways, antibiotics twice, nebulizer…
My bff suggested I try acupuncture but being a non-​needle-​lover, have avoided it for the last 50 years… I searched online and saw OAP was nearby and had great reviews. Yesterday was my 2^nd time there and for the first time in 6 wks, I felt actually human… being a non-​believer, it’s surely not a placebo effect… running back for more now.
Thank You~Thank You~THANK YOU!!!

If you want to relax & feel better OAP is THE place in Oakland to be. Gentle, kind, welcoming, skillful. Don’t wait. And there’s bodyworkers doing a variety of massage techniques at the Laurel clinic. Alex was fabulous.

My first time at this place — love the hospitable vibe. Molly was very personable and seemed pretty skilled. I came in to treat my asthma. was a very relaxing treatment and I did feel a little better after. LOVE that it’s a clinic for the people, of the people. Payment is self-​determined, sliding scale. LOVE that it’s a communal and respectful space. LOVE that you can be there for as long as you want for treatment. However, the effectiveness of their treatment is debatable… I went there about a handful of times for the same issue –asthma. Though relaxing, didn’t seem to do much for me physically

My second visit with Whitney. I have multiple autoimmune issues and back pain. I love how accessible, affordable and easy they make it to visit often.

I went in today because I had an awful migraine headache. I couldn’t sleep last night, took a pain killer and woke up with the same pain. Molly was amazing. She is caring, attentive and skilled. An hour after my session, my migraine stopped. I had energy and could think! I am so grateful. I wish I would have gone in sooner this week, I could have avoid suffering for two nights in a row.

This place is an oasis of calm, the service is excellent and run by caring practitioners (I’ve had Cait and Molly help me at the Laurel Street location, and I’m sure the others are all stellar), and the rooms are comfortable. I wish I had come here for treatment earlier, having gone to different independently run acupuncturists, whose price points start to pinch when your conditions call for multiple sessions. I’m so appreciative of a place like this and will continue to come here. During the first visit I also had a massage by Ranjot for my stiff neck, and it was wonderful!

I have such an amazing experience from these group.
About a month ago I came in with Radial Nerve Palsy, have been coming three times a week since then. I know thanks to their TLC, I am getting better because my wrist the «PRINCESS» had some movement today.
I will continue coming to these ladies because once again, they are AMAZING!
Glad to have them in my life
Thank you

This place is a really affordable way to get acupuncture. It was really helpful for my insomnia. I see Jeff and find him very helpful.

I used to come here until I left for college 4 years ago and since I’ve moved back to Alameda, the staff have changed but the awesome atmosphere hasn’t. They create such a calming and peaceful atmosphere, I actually look forward to being poked by needles each week.
The needles– really thin, not vaccine type needs at all. It really just feels like you’re being poked, and the needles are inserted very shallowly. Even needle-​phobia people should feel comfortable here. If it is your first time, the acupuncturists will take note on your potential nervousness and go easy on the needles.
The works– a living-​room sized room has a row of ~6 reclining chairs plus two smaller rooms with 2 chairs each. There are pillows and blankets on the wall for you to get comfortable. The acupuncturist will come up to you (I’m currently seeing Cait who is amazing) and ask what they can do for you; you explain your issues and she takes your pulse (not for the reason a western doctor checks it, but she checks to hear the rhythm and depth of it to know your deficiencies). She puts the needles in, and it induces a nice nap :) when you start feeling restless, you’re done and just make eye contact with her so she can take the needles out. I’m usually there about 1 hr.
My treatment– I’ve been having trouble falling asleep and sleeping in since around last winter, and stress from work wasn’t helping the sleep deprivation. I went in for treatment a few weeks ago and Cait helped me out. She’s so friendly and makes you feel right at home. She also recommended me some herbal medication ($ 10 for any herbs, 100 pills per bottle) to help me fall asleep, and I’ve been coming back about once a week, pretty typical frequency.
Pricing: Sliding scale from $ 15-​$ 35; you pay what you can, so it’s super affordable.
I highly recommend OAP for whatever chronic issues you may have, and you can make an appointment on their site. OAP is such a sustainable concept I will continue to support them!

Whoo! I’ve been here about half a dozen times now, from issues ranging from allergies to dental problems/​inflammation. Every single time I’ve noticed quick /​rapid improvement, with some «here and now» (not long term) issues clearing with two sessions plus herbs. I have had awesome experiences so far with Molly on multiple occasions, and today had a good first treatment with Sabrina. Its amazing how much lighter and clearer I feel from «just» a dozen needles.

there are 2 locations for this clinic– absolutely loved my 1^st experience at the grand ave. spot with lori. she seemed genuinely concerned, listened well & communicated well with me about what she was going to do. lori was efficient & i loved the small, cozy room with soft lighting & meditative background music.
i’ve received acupuncture before as well as in a community room setting, so was not surprised by anything. there were 3 people in the treatment room when i got started & more showed up as i relaxed; everyone was respectful & quiet.
the system flows smoothly from waiting room, to foyer to session room.
i’ll be going for repeated treatments which is recommended to relieve any symptoms as well as maintain wellness.
during august they are offering $ 10 (normally sliding scale starts at $ 15) treatments and are waiving the initial $ 15 paperwork fee if you bike/​walk to clinic.

Stepped out of my comfort zone and visited OAP this past Wednesday. Life has me a bit overwhelmed, and I am not satisfied with traditional medicine or treatments. Although I was feeling anxious about the needles, there really was no need to be. Slight pricks, but no real pain. I was relaxed, yet aware of my body reacting to the treatment. It was quite amazing.
The atmosphere is communal and that also put me at ease. The acupuncturist, while not an elder Chinese expert, was kind, friendly, and gentle. I’ve already made another appointment. If you want to see if acupuncture offers benefits for your ails, visit OAP before paying the higher fees at more traditional locations. Oh, and scheduling is easy breezy.

I’ve been going to the space on Grand Ave for the past few weeks and I truly love the communal & peaceful energy of the environment. I am able to relax quickly. The treatments and the acupuncturist are non-​evasive. I’m really thankful for the quality and the positive treatments that I have been receiving. I feel the difference physically, mentally and spiritually.

I might be the world’s worst napper. Can’t sleep on a plane, can’t relax enough to turn the internal volume down before about 9pm. But each time I come here and settle in for a treatment, I have the best trance-​sleep of my life and leave feeling like the reset button’s been pushed. It’s incredible.
As everyone says, this place is fantastic. The acupuncture staff are so kind and gentle and dedicated to their work. It’s a breeze to schedule an appointment, too!
I’m continually impressed with the high level of individual care in a semi-​group setting, and how often do you get to unplug and take a communal nap with your neighborhood?

I don’t feel that I can add anything that hasn’t already been said in the previous reviews. All I know is that every single person there is kind, patient, and smart. I also know that I feel a zillion times better now that I found this place (bye-​bye migraines! adiós weird tension zone where my neck meets my shoulders, hello sweet naps in comfy chairs with Lord of the Rings sounding music playing in the background).

I was diagnosed with bells palsy after having my Son & was advised to take acupuncture treatments. Was told about this place by my Boyfriend and was healed within 2 weeks! Cate is the BOMB :-) She was sooo sweet, informative, sensitive & caring. The prices are very reasonable & negotiable which is unheard of. I HIGHLY recommend this establishment for acupuncture. Its clean, relaxing & effective.

I just want to add my voice to those of the many other satisfied patients! I am so happy I made an appointment here. Before about a month ago, I had never done acupuncture before, and I wasn’t afraid or anything, but the staff person, Cait, explained how it works and made me feel really comfortable and at home!
Since then I’ve done about once a week and I have seen improvement in my various health issues I’m getting treatment for. I’ve had mid-​back pain for years, but it has definitely subsided in recent weeks. The treatment area is so calming and soothing, I basically take a nap every time I go in. I also love the communal treatment. The only minor downside of that is that sometime people overhear things that seem private to me, but that probably has more to do with me than anything else.
The place is also easy to get to via public transit (AC transit lines 54, 57, 58L and NL) which is a plus for me. I sometimes like to stop at World Grounds in the Laurel for a tea before I go in.

I’m so grateful to the friend who told me about the OAP.
I’ve had headaches all my adult life, every day, and consequently have eaten lots of Excedrin every day. I’d tried acupuncture in the past, as well as standard western medicine doctors, but nothing worked. A lifetime of Excedrin left me in the hospital with a bleeding ulcer. The ulcer seems to be healing, but I was desperate to find something to help me with headaches, since I’m off aspirin and its cohorts for the rest of my life.
Not only has the OAP treatment stopped the headaches, the treatments leave me relaxed and peaceful. And the sliding scale payments make it possible for me to go twice a week. I can’t say enough positive things about this place and all the good people who work there.

This is the time of year when the trees are at full bloom and living in Alameda by the water molds seems to be everywhere. I’m susceptible to the worse allergies and I eat ricolas and cough drops like popcorn. In addition I have a morning cocktail of zyrtec, Sudafed 12 hr plus a sinus flush with my trusty neti-​pot. Not my favorite time of the year.
My girlfriend suggested trying acupuncture as a possible remedy. She suggested the Oakland Acupuncture Project because she went there for some tennis elbow from playing badminton. I had a free Saturday morning and looking at some Unilocal reviews I saw a lot of positive reviews. I visited the on-​line site and schedule an appointment. I thought I would see acupuncture doctors such as Mr. Chan, Mr. Wong etc but instead they listed names such as Roselle, Kait and Whitney.
On my first visit I filled out the paperwork-​typical «What kind of health issues do you have»? Fortunately I’m in good health with no strange issues. After that an attractive acupuncture therapist Roselle gave me briefing and then showed me to the room. She said grab some pillows and blankets, relax in the chair, and make your self comfortable. She also requested for me roll my pants up to your knees. It is best to wear sweats or shorts. Acourse you have to remove your socks and shoes. Gentleman make sure you take care of your dogs because the therapist might be placing some needles on them.
After taking my pulse Roselle placed the needles on my arms, legs feet– my dogs were taken care of and ears. I thought it would be uncomfortable but it wasn’t. No bleeding and no weird pain. My girlfriend said if I was not relaxed the therapist would place a needle in my forehead. Wow I received a needle in my forehead and two at the top of my head. I relaxed in the chair for half an hour and I could not believe how relaxed I was. The soothing music, the clean room and the hepa-​filtered air. Ahhhhh! Roselle said I could relax longer then the half hour with the needles in me and she also offered me herbal tea.
Cost are fairly inexpensive– $ 15.00 to $ 35.00 a visit plus extra cost if you want some Chinese herbal treatment. They only take cash or check, unfortunately no Visa or Mastercard.
A very Zen like experience… I will be back for more treatments to help me with my allergies.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE these people and the place really feels like home.
I’ve got all kinds of health problems that mainstream western medicine has essentially shrugged their shoulders at and gave me a big ol’ «we dunno» face on more than one occasion and left it at that. So I started looking for help elsewhere. I had tried acupuncture only once before and had a wonderful experience but I’m no longer employed and couldn’t afford to see a private acupuncturist.
A couple of friends told me about the Oakland Acupuncture Project so I decided to check them out. I was blown away by how affordable, easy, and comfortable the place is! This was back in January of 2011 and I’ve been going at least once a week ever since.
Allow me to list some of my most favorite things (in no particular order):
* INEXPENSIVE: $ 15-​$ 35 per treatment. You pay what you think you can afford. And you can pay as you go, for several sessions at once, and they’re totally cool if you forgot your payment and just ask you to bring it in next time. SAY WHAT?! Btw, quick tip, they accept check or cash only.
* EASY TO SCHEDULE: Their online scheduling system is so frick’n easy and you can usually schedule a session that day if you want to. The booking system will even email you a reminder a couple of days before your appointment to remind you it’s coming up.
* SUPER FRIENDLY: I’ve worked with a few different practioners at OAP and every single one of them has been so friendly, laid back and yet professional and clearly competent. Though I must admit a soft spot in my heart for Whitney Thorniley, one of the co-​owners of the business. She rocks my world.
* SO MUCH FLUFFY: I love building a little cocoon for myself in their super comfortable reclining chairs. They’ve got warm blankets, standard pillows, and round pillows… and lots of them. They’re all regularly laundered too.
* PARKING: Free and easy (at the Laurel location). BAM. Also right next to a bus line it that’s your thing. One of the practioners has also begun offering discounts during her shift if you arrive by bike.
* COMMUNITY STYLE: I love that I can get my treatment with my best friend in the chair next to me. Also, because of the way it’s set-​up, you can stay relaxed in your chair (and even fall asleep) for as long as you’d like. You don’t have to worry about vacating the room to make way for the next patient. They’re always connecting with other people offering alternative medicine and services, often providing discounts for OAP patients. Also, OAP is always out in the community too, providing free treatments, doing food drives, and generally being cool fellow human beings. Way to work it!
* FREE TEA: I’m actually not a fan of tea, but some people are. So that’s cool of OAP to offer that.
* MONTHLY EMAIL NEWSLETTER: Keep’n us fans in the know each month, not just about what’s going on at OAP, but also providing advice with ancient Chinese wisdom. And it only goes out once a month which keeps it out of the annoying frequency zone.
* MAGIC BEANS: They also sell all kinds of amazing Chinese herbal remedies. My particular favorite is the Yin Qiao Jie Du Wan, which I affectionately refer to as the magic beans. If you take this stuff when you first feel like you might be getting sick, you get to escape the evil sickly demons. I’m a skeptic by nature and generally don’t fall for placebos, so when this stuff worked three times in a row, I was sold. It’s now something I always have around at home to ward off any cold that dares try to invade my body. Take THAT stupid germs!
* TWO LOCATIONS: They recently opened up a new location near Lake Merritt. How’s that for convenience? The set-​up there is nice and cozy too. Only downside is you have to pay for parking. Well, unless you’re a gimp like me and have a disability parking placard. Then you’re golden. Also, again near the bus lines and easily bikeable.
Seriously y’all, show them some love. They’ll sure as hell share their love with you.