Meg McDowell, L.Ac. in Kensington, CA

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Telephone:	+1 510-229-9922
Website:	www.mcdowell-acupuncture.com
Address:	1500 Oakview Ave, Kensington, CA, 94706 Berkeley Hills
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:	340 ftColusa & Oak View 720 ftColusa & Visalia 0.2 miColusa & Thousand Oaks Blvd
Categories:	Acupuncture Massage

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Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards	No
Parking	Street
Bike Parking	Yes

Wheelchair Accessible	Yes
By Appointment Only	Yes
Accepts Insurance	Yes

Today

Today	8:00 am – 7:00 pm Open now
Local time (Kensington)	8:45 AM Monday, June 23, 2025

Business hours

Monday	8:00 am – 7:00 pm
Tuesday	1:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Wednesday	–
Thursday	8:00 am – 7:00 pm
Friday	–
Saturday	–
Sunday	–

Description

Specialties

Greetings! I have a broad practice but specialize in pain (anything from back, shoulder, head to toe pain, and women’s health (anything form fertility issues, pms to menopausal symptoms). I also see a number of patients for asthma, allergies, stress, anxiety, insomnia, fatigue and symptoms associated with multiple schlerosis and Parkinson’s disease. I also practice massage and can incorporate it into your treatment.

History

Established in 2001.

After having practiced massage therapy for 15 years, I went back to school and studied Traditional Chinese Medicine at the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine. After getting my master’s degree and license from the state of California, I started my acupuncture practice in 2001. Since then I have developed a flourishing practice with a wide range of patients. In 2006 I moved to Kensington (near Berkeley/El Cerrito), and in 2008 I opened a second location in Lafayette at Lamorinda Healing Arts. With over 30 years of experience in massage and acupuncture, I bring a broad knowledge of healing to my practice.

Meet the Business Owner

Meg M.

Business Owner

As the owner of my business, and as a practitioner of traditional chinese medicine, I would like my patients to know that I love my job. I thoroughly enjoy working with my patients to achieve their health goals. I have trained as a doula (birth coach), and apprenticed in midwifery. Outside of my acupuncture work, I am an avid cyclist, delighted gardener, joyous mom of 2 beautiful girls, and am happily married to a man who is a nurse practitioner and who keeps me current on the western medical perspective and practices.

Meg McDowell, L.Ac. also recommends

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«I send many clients to Pharmaca and shop here myself. They have great customer service and usually have everything I need and more.»

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11 reviews of Meg McDowell, L.Ac.

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Bahvee V.

Place rating: 5
El Cerrito, CA

Boy oh boy! Shame on me for thinking I had left Meg a review! Perhaps I left it for the Kensington Acupuncture clinic instead?
Anyhow today as I looked for her phone number I came across this page so I’m leaving her review as well!
Years ago I went to Meg desperately seeking help. I had been struck down with some odd but aggressive lower back, hip and leg pain. I called Meg (because of her referrals), and she asked me to come in. It was the best decision ever! Even though my insurance covers this treatment anywhere in the Bay Area and my usual acupuncturist is in Oakland, I couldn’t bare the thought of driving with this pain!
Meg diagnosed me with similarities to Sciatica and wishing a few visits I felt almost 100 percent! I can easily say this pain never returned. Today I’m calling her for a different issue…
She’s warm, kind, and concerned and very well trained to help you feel better. Highly recommended!

Bobs Y.

Place rating: 5
Toronto, Canada

Best acupuncturist I’ve ever seen! She is more than just a practitioner, she is a healer with energy that is very special and rare. I highly recommend her for migraine headaches, irregular periods, stress, joint pain, and more!

Aki S.

Place rating: 5
West Oakland, Oakland, CA

I would give her 6 star if i can. I highly recommend her and you will have best nap ever at her office.
Meg has been my primary doctor since 2011 and she helped me and my fiancé with every sickness we came cross in last 3 years.
I rarely go to western medicine doctor anymore. I don’t need a medicine to cover up symptom, I need a cure!
Meg is compassionate, smiley, knowledgeable, very warm, great at what she does and care. She cares! I have gone to several acupuncturist in past but Meg treats patient with her kind and warm care.
I was comfortable when i saw talked to her first time and ever since, i see her every other week.
Here is a list of symptom i had in past 3 years and she treated and i had a great improvement.
I went to see her first time with ovally cysts problem. She treated with herb and needle.
I had several flu and cold. She took me in same day and treated me.
I woke up with numbness of my arm, from my shoulder to my wrist. (I was working on computer for long hours prior to that.)She treated me and pain subdued same day. She told me a different way to stretch while I work and since then, my arm has no problem.
I pulled my back out. She fixed it. My pain is gone.
Other reasons are stress, seasonal allergies, fatigue.
My fiancé went to get treatment with Meg for shingle, sinus infection, hemorrhoid, Lower back ache. He is back in health now.
I have been seeing her last 4 weeks intensively to treat Steroid Withdraw Symptom. My face, neck and arm is puffed up red, scale, ooz, itch, burns. It is awful symptom. She has been treating me with herb and needle. Symptom support to last over 6 month but I think I am almost recover now. My swell has gone down and it is much manageable I can finally go back to work after 4 weeks.
I just want to say, Meg is great and love her for keeping me healthy and thank you!

Jules W.

Place rating: 5
Berkeley, CA

Meg is beyond skilled! I have had some on going pain in my foot and was at my wits end. Meg was able to help me find the relief I was searching for. I felt she really listened to my needs and handled me with grace and understanding.

M M.

Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA

Meg always astounds me! Whether I am stressed, have back pain, or abdominal pain, she has a remedy, or at the least, a fast start on the way to better health.
I have been seeing 2, that’s 2, internal med people, for the past 4 months, to determine what the pain in my right side was… we did all the usual tests; ultrasound, colonoscopy, CAT scan, etc.,…(I am glad those were done, just to rule out certain things).
However. I went to Meg, she asked me questions that neither Dr (?) did, touched me in my pain area, ‘needled’ me, and after wards, suggested that I try probiotics in conjunction with more needle-ing…
I am a new women!
Meg allowed me to have a virtually symptom-free menopause change-over. Needles and Chinese herbs were/are the only way to ‘get-over’ these common issues. She saw me thru the whole journey.
I have been seeing Meg for over 10 years… She has NEVER hurt me with any needle, is caring, and incredibly funny. I will toot her horn always!

Jessica m.

Place rating: 5
Fort Collins, CO

Usually I try things like this twice before I Unilocal,but in this case, holy smoley I want to tell people how great this is RIGHT MEOW.
So I have this random incurable disease, no big whoop. I’ve been dealing with it now for 2+ years and have seen more doctors than anyone could shake a stick at. Or 2 sticks really.
Finally I’ve reached a point where I feel good enough to supplement my western treatment with some eastern, and I started with Dr. McDowell.
Located just off Kensington Circle, she is super easy to get to and like a lot of business in this area, her practice is in a converted house that is lovely on the inside– I especially liked their reception desk with neat patina-d bronze-y action and wood.
So Dr. McDowell wanted the story of Jessica, and she got it, and made copies of some documents I brought in and took notes all the while. By the time she got ready to poke me with needles I was really comfortable with her.
I have had quite a few tattoos and piercings so the needles going in didn’t bother me very much. And I didn’t really feel anything that strange by the time I had rested with them and then had them removed… but I got in the car, a good song was on the olé’ pod, and man… I was groovin. For a solid hour I felt a wash of warm honey-like relaxation washing over me… I may have even referred to this as reminiscent of post-coital bliss… and that’s it. I’m hooked. Sign me up, poke me stick me, I’m all about it.
Made me wish I’d given Meg a big old hug– if only I’d known!
But I guess I can save that for next time.

Laura H.

Place rating: 5
Albany, CA

I love Meg. I have been seeing her as needed for 8 years. She was me through my entire pregnancy. Acupuncture was the only thing that helped with my morning sickness. She is wonderful, relaxing and fun to be around. She is now of those people you feel like you can really tell anything. I always feel relaxed and happy when I walk out the door after seeing Meg. I would go a couple times a week if I could. The needles rarely hurt. She was able to get my very scared husband to love needles. He was sad to have to miss our sons first appointment with Meg when he was around 7 months old.

Ellie y.

Place rating: 5
El Cerrito, CA

Meg has a breadth of knowledge about herbal remedies, acupuncture, and sensible advice for whatever ails you! She often treats you for multiple problems, and I now «get it» that I should consider the herb/acupuncture route first, instead of exhausting all other remedies. Meg is a attentive, smart, caring, a good listener, and knows her stuff. I’m a more than satisfied patient, I’m a healthier one because of Meg!

I g.

Place rating: 5
Berkeley, CA

I’ve been seeing Meg for years after having been to two other acupuncturists. She’s the best, with her warmth, humor, and of course, the needles she always makes me feel better.

Gemma A.

Place rating: 5
Oakland, CA

Meg has been treating my teenage daughter for skin irritations that flare up each winter over the last three years. She is just wonderful! My daughter was a bit squeamish about the whole needle thing and Meg put her right as ease. She is gentle and caring, but can be tough and no-nonsense when needed.
I have found that Meg is very intuitive in her practice and seems to know just what the patient needs. The needles help my kid so we keep going back!

Jena L.

Place rating: 5
Fairfax, CA

Wonderful & Compassionate. I highly recommend Meg if you are looking for an acupuncturist.

Meg McDowell, L.Ac.

Kensington, United States