Berkeley Acupuncture Project

This place has been so amazing for me in so many ways. I have completely overcome my fear of acupuncture and needles and it has given me such incredible time for re-​alignment and relaxation. Napping for adults. The staff is incredible efficient and well-​trained, and the pricing is excellent!

My husband and I like going together. It was his first acupuncture experience and he was skeptical but has experienced definite improvement on his ailments.

Every treatment I’ve ever had has been absolutely wonderful. BAP has helped me overcome so much: from chronic physical pain to anxiety and insomnia. Their professional services are such a gift to our community and I don’t know where I’d be without them.

I have been going to BAP for almost 2.5 years and it has been nothing less than a life saver. Before coming here, I had never done acupuncture before and I was really nervous that it would be painful. It turned out to be amazing for my physical and mental well-​being. I started out attending multiple times a week, now I go once a week or every two weeks for sustaining my health.
I have seen many acupuncturists at BAP but once I found Julia, she is the only person I see now. It’s not that other acupuncturists are bad, but in my experience, Julia’s level of skill is unparalleled. She is so kind, empathetic, and nurturing, I can’t recommend her highly enough. I have sent numerous friends to her and now they also see her regularly for a range of issues. If you go and feel mixed about your experience, try a different acupuncturist until you find a person who works well for you.
I have successfully used BAP for depression, pain (including back pain), anxiety, mood swings, PMS/​PMDD/​menstrual regulation, migraine headaches, carpal tunnel, sleep, and tapering off of medication.
They are sliding scale and extremely affordable because having it in a community setting helps keep the prices down. When I first started coming to BAP, I was on disability and paid $ 15/​session. BAP is one of the services that helped me get healthy enough to get a job again, and now I can pay higher on the sliding scale. When I first came, I was also nervous about the «community» aspect of it — getting treatment in front of other people sounded really terrifying. Now I actually like it much more than the thought of being alone in a room. BAP is very cozy with soothing music playing and warm lighting. You sit in a comfy chair with blankets and pillows and most people are relaxing or sleeping during their treatments. The majority of people fall asleep during their treatments: I usually do not, but when I do fall asleep, I awake with the most peaceful, happy, rested feeling.
You can stay in your chair for as long as you like, I usually stay for 30 – 40 minutes. I have also started using various herbs that Julia has recommended to supplement my treatment — they have them there and I can pick them up after my session. BAP is walkable from Downtown Berkeley BART. They have an easy system to set-​up appointments online.
Although some people experience immediate results, don’t expect them on your first visit. It can take a few sessions to start experiencing help on acute issues.

I cannot recommend this place highly enough! This was my first foray into acupuncture and I have really enjoyed it. The practitioners here are awesome — I’d recommend Vignesh and Michelle especially. I’ve been coming here more or less weekly for about a year, and I always leave feeling great. It’s that same post-​massage feeling, but on a student-​friendly budget.

I started receiving acupuncture at BAP (Berkeley Acupuncture Project) two months ago for stress/​anxiety and fatigue. I receive treatments once a week and have seen a notable improvement in my energy levels and mental health, and plan to address some additional concerns through this modality.
Michelle was recommended to me by a friend that also frequents BAP, and I’m so grateful for the referral. She gets to the heart of what’s really going on– she has a patient, grounded approach with a calm, nurturing quality in her care.
The front desk staff are supportive and welcoming. The treatment room is a warmly lit common room where there’s no rush to leave. Soft music and the slow trickle of a fountain help support a true «floating away» experience.
Incredibly, price for one treatment is sliding scale $ 15-​$ 40. It makes sustained, regular treatments possible, which makes all the difference. Thank you BAP!

For the life of me I don’t understand why this place has 5 stars. I would give negative stars if I could. My aunt and my grandma went to this place for acupuncture and both of them left with needles STILL IN THEM. Luckily my aunt saw two needles in her leg and asked them to take it out for her. But my grandma isn’t as aware. The first time she left with two needles in her HEAD. The second time she left with three needles behind her ear. So it didn’t just happen once, it happened three times to both my relatives. Needless to say, I strongly advised them both to not return. I understand its a slide price but it doesn’t matter if they’re not going to finish what they started! It’s simply unprofessional and unacceptable to not check all the needles are taken out!

Why are 5 stars the limit? BAP deserves 10! This place is simply beyond amazing.
The atmosphere is caring, calm, serene, accessible, warm, clean and comfortable.
The practitioners are HIGHLY skilled and deeply compassionate, offering incredibly effective treatments.
Appointments can be made or you can walk-​in for a treatment. Their rates and philosophy make acupuncture affordable for all.
Whether you are acutely ill or are dealing with a chronic health issue, make BAP part of your healing regimen! You will be so happy that you did!
10 stars! 10 stars!

Thank you BAP for making acupuncture accessible to people like me! I couldn’t afford it otherwise, and the care you guys provide is heartwarming.

Great environment and beyond gentle. Michelle was my administer and she was great.

BAP is staffed with wonderful healers. They are gentle and caring, even when they have to do the extra pinchy meridian points. The environment is very relaxing, with soothing music, ambient light and white noise machines. You’d never know you were right on University Ave. If price is an issue, the sliding scale for fees makes frequent acupuncture treatment affordable.

Reasonable prices, nice place inside, competent treatment. I especially appreciate being told clearly how often to come in :) and how to get people’s attention when ready to go.

Amazing price! Very peaceful atmosphere and extremely kind staff. It’s incredible that this is available to everyone at such an amazing costs.

Amazing spot for deep healing and relaxation.
A sliding scale of $ 15-​$ 40, gives you a personal consultation, a super comfy lazy boy, warm fuzzy blankets, soothing salt lamp lights, and peace.
I go for allergies to mold and it helps open up my lungs so much.
You have to go often to see results. So make a BAP nap a new habit.

Berkeley Acupuncture Project is such a relaxing space– with comfy chairs and great cozy lighting. Mary has such a gentle and understanding approach to treatment. She’s thoughtful, and really listens to my updates before inserting the needles, making each visit truly unique. Though I haven’t seen any of the other practitioners, I’m confident that they’re all great. Looking forward to returning on a weekly basis!

This place is a real treasure! I had a few problems that needed to be treated, so I decided to make an appointment here. There was only one spot open and I took it. I saw Jason and he was very nice and easy to talk to. The needles were painless for the most part, I not only dislike needles. but even the word ‘needles’ makes me a little nervous. LOL! I relaxed in this ridiculously comfortable chair for about 45 minutes and then had the needles removed and went about my day. It was a very positive experience.

I’m very grateful to have this resource available to the community. The practitioners are all very kind and caring, although their skill levels range wildly. I really enjoyed Michelle’s gentle approach to inserting the needle; Mary was also wonderfully gentle and pleasant to work with. Jorge was very kind and compassionate, but his technique felt rough and caused me pain I’ve never experienced in over 15 years of getting treatment. It’s best to leave yourself a lot of time for your session because appointments do not start on time and the patient is typically left to remind the practitioner to remove the needles at or near a set time.
It’s not the same experience as going to an expensive clinic where treatments start at $ 80 and you have a private room, relaxing atmosphere (a massage table vs a lumpy, questionably hygienic armchair), ability to be naked or next to it and a practitioner who is very familiar with your condition AND treatment history. You don’t get any of that in a community clinic. You get caring people who want to provide a resource that is cost prohibitive, but healing when done correctly. I agree that acupuncture should be available to anyone who needs it but, unfortunately, in this society you do get what you for.
This is how I would rank BAP if I could break up the different aspects:
3.5 stars for treatment received (some of the treatments are 5 star quality, some are 2 star, like when I left in pain due to sloppy technique — who hits the top of needles?!)
2 stars for punctuality (I’ve never had an appointment start on time)
5 stars for providing an affording service, staffed by compassionate people.
3 stars for atmosphere and attention to hygiene

BAP has been my saving grace!!! For the past couple of years I have had really bad keen pain. I run and crossfit and both activities really push me, but I love it. Every western doctor I have had advised me to stop being active. For me, that’s not a solution. If I can still walk then I’m going to do something. So, I tried yoga and acupuncture, both have been great. However, both are really expensive.
Because of the sliding scale, BAP allows me to stay on a regular treatment program to rehab my knee. So, I don’t have to start when I have money and stop when I don’t have $ 100. Thus far, I have had two treatments. My knee pain has reduced significantly and I’m still working on my stress. I have had Michelle and Mary and both are fantastic, friendly and pleasant.
I like being able to make an appointment online as it helps me plan my week and I can stick to my treatment program. I’m so thankful that my friend referred me to BAP. The environment is very peaceful.

Love this place. Came from out of town, scheduled online the night before and showed up a bit late. Initial consult with needling was only $ 40, right in the middle of their sliding scale. I love community acupuncture and knew what to expect. So don’t be shy if you’re only in town for a bit! Still very worthwhile to fill out 5 mins of paperwork.

I have an autoimmune disorder which led to major food allergies and eventually adrenal fatigue. I used to run on a regular basis and now I can’t even ride my bicycle a couple of miles without falling apart. I have bounced from one Dr. to another who said they could fix these issues all to no avail. I have spent years trying to fix this and I have only improved slightly.
Thank goodness I found BAP. Acupuncture is not a quick fix for such a systemic malfunction but they sure do relieve the symptoms. And they are the only relief I have found that is still working.
I have been in such bad shape, I could barely drag my self in the front door but presto-​chango, an hour later, I am practically dancing back out that door to work. And with something resembling clarity, too! Sometimes I can go for a couple days, sometimes a week but sooner or later my batteries will run down and I will be completely useless. If it wasn’t for BAP, my family would be in trouble because they are counting me to to do things that I just cannot do without a BAPNAP.
Western medicine has no remedies for me. I even went to neurologist who only made things worse with each visit. Bap would put me back together. I wish I could take back all the money l spent on the neurologist and give it to BAP.
I love being able to schedule an appointment online (the most reliable method) or by just calling them up (sometimes the person at the desk is busy elsewhere and doesn’t hear the phone). You can also walk-​in but during flu season, they get really busy.
It seems to me that there are different approaches to acupuncture. Even though they take extensive notes on you, each acupuncturist is free to pursue their own path within the discipline while treating your situation. I have found several I like and one I disagree with so I just don’t schedule with that person. I’m sure there are others who prefer that acupuncturist and may not like my fav.
They are very clean and quite conscientious about treating people with anything contagious.
They have a sliding scale of $ 15 to $ 40.
I cannot think of a better way to spend my limited funds.
I am so grateful I found them.