Brian Barlay, L Ac

I visited Brian Barlay only once, unfortunately, because I belatedly learned that he was not covered by my health insurance. I wish I could have continued seeing him long-​term!
I’ve seen a number of acupuncture practitioners over the years, but I think my experience with Brian was the best I’ve had. He really listened to me and showed a lot of respect for my knowledge of my own body and my opinions regarding treatment for my severe headaches.
Brian used a cupping technique I haven’t experienced before. I was nervous about it, since no one had ever used this technique on me before, but he took the time to explain it fully beforehand and let me make the decision about whether to try it. I’m glad I did, because I think it helped a lot! (And it didn’t hurt at all, which had been one of my concerns.)
I have severe anxiety about having my face covered and could not lie face-​down on the table, but Brian was extremely sensitive to this issue and made sure that I was completely comfortable (both emotionally and physically) lying on my side, which still allowed him to work on my back.
One of the things Brian does that I’ve never seen from any of the other practitioners I’ve visited is that he gives you a little button that you can push if you need to call him into the room while you’re «marinating.» Since my anxiety has sometimes made acupuncture nerve-​wracking (if something went wrong, I wouldn’t exactly be able to get up and seek assistance when I’m covered in needles!), this was a huge comfort to me. I didn’t have to push the «panic button» (as I called it in my head), but just having it there put my mind at ease.
I ended up engaging in prolonged wrangling with my health insurance after seeing Brian & was extremely frustrated and distressed by their convoluted bureaucracy, but Brian was very compassionate and reassuring throughout. In the end, I could not continue seeing him, which was a great disappointment to me. I can’t recommend him highly enough!

Ever since my serious auto accident in 2008, I’ve felt like my body has been comprised of random, foreign body parts, pieced together in an archaic, Frankenstein-​ish fashion. It feels like nothing quite fits together properly — almost like an Ikea cabinet, after being moved in a U-​Haul … it’ll still hold a lamp and a couple books, but it’s pretty wonky.
I’m in constant pain — every day.
But when I go to Brian Barlay for acupuncture, I will have this brief, fleeting moment — seconds really … this sweet spot where all of a sudden, I feel like my body is all one cohesive piece. Everything flowing and connecting. It’s overwhelming and magical. It gives me hope.
Brian has helped me cope with the pain, and since the very first visit, my overall pain level has decreased. There have been days that the pain is not in the forefront of my mind. All thanks go to Brian for this. I pretty much look forward to my visits with Brian more than anything I do all month.
Brian’s not new-​agey, creepy, or weird. He’s a normal, genuinely friendly, family-​type guy. And he has a wicked, witty sense of humor.
Do yourself a favor and give him a try. You’ll thank yourself.

Brian is great! He is skilled, friendly and sweet. I found that he listens carefully and will do what it takes to help you get better.

Your search has ended! Whether you are looking for a new acupuncturist or are new to this ancient art of healing you need look no further. For 13 yrs I’ve seen Brian for various issues and injuries and I am always not only satisfied but healthier both mentally and physically. Brian is a talented, intuitive, gifted healer as well as a truly decent and caring man. He manages to bridge eastern and western medicine to devise a plan that will help you achieve optimum health and vitality.

I was past my due date and I didn’t want to be medically induced, so I decided to try acupuncture. I found Brian Barlay’s positive reviews on Berkeley Parents Network and Unilocal,so I scheduled an appt. I’m so glad I did. My contractions did not start right after the acupuncture treatments, but I did have a relatively easy and quick labor. It was our first baby and I had contractions for about 3.5hrs and pushed the baby out in about 30min. I tried all different natural induction remedies (walking up hill, spicy foods, castor oil, etc.), so it’s hard to say what exactly got the contractions going, but I’m sure the acupuncture contributed to getting my contractions going finally and helped me have an easy labor. Brian is very knowledgeable, professional, and calm (with all the needles in me, I was able to relax and fall asleep).

I found Brian Barlay through my insurance, Landmark Healthcare. He is great! He is no nonsense and really knows his practice. He takes the time to listen and gather a full picture of your current health status before getting to work helping you out. He is composed, present, and aware when consulting and I really feel he is at my service while I am in the room.

My whole family has been treated by Brian for years. It’s hard to identify a single characteristic that makes him stand out among the numerous acupuncturists I’ve known over the years. Here are a few of the more compelling reasons: He’s extremely qualified, with extensive education, teaching, clinical and private practice treatment experience. He’s also very intuitive, which allows him to quickly zero in on the appropriate point/​meridian needing attention. He has a light touch, which is so important for those tender points, and has been really crucial for my sensitive wife and young daughter. The most important reason, however, is the compelling medical «transformations» he achieves, quickly and easily. One experience I’ll relate was a sudden and very frightening bout with «Bells Palsy», where a nerve in my face was triggered by a virus, and caused facial paralysis! I was told by my western doctors that this condition would likely linger for weeks or months, with a small but significant chance of permanent facial paralysis. I made two visits and thanks to his treatment I was completely cured and 100% symptom free in under one week. I also appreciated Brian’s complete willingness and ability to work thoughtfully with my western doctors when needed, which he does both diplomatically and effectively. I can’t recommend Brian enough.