(Updated Jan 2024) We are asking folks to mask, again. Massachusetts has again advised wearing masks at healthcare facilities and other places with high traffic. While this is not a state mandate, we feel it is in the best interest of our patients and staff to go back to requiring masks. Our community includes people who are at risk. We want to make sure all are protected. This includes keeping our staff healthy so they can continue to work with you. We use 3 air purifiers, MERV12 HVAC filter. Travelers, please follow MA CDC Travel Guidelines. If you are exposed to or test positive for Covid please cancel and stay home (no charge). 

Acupuncture can help speed the healing of acute problems like the common cold and muscle strains or sprains. It can alleviate chronic pain, and often enables patients to cut down their pain medications and/or resume exercise.

Acupuncture also helps chronic issues like allergies, digestive problems, insomnia, menopausal symptoms and PMS. It works well on emotional issues and addictions of all sorts. In these cases regular treatment over time will be most helpful.

Regular treatment supports patients with serious health conditions that require regular medical treatment, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, Lyme infection, and cancer.

Acupuncture is excellent for anything exacerbated by stress. Many find that acupuncture increases body awareness; they feel more alive/ more awake, and naturally gravitate towards healthier lifestyle choices.

Acupuncture is NOT a magic bullet. Although “overnight” cure is possible, usually it takes a course of treatment.

You aren’t missing out on anything. No matter what style of acupuncture you receive or with whom, there will be excellent points used, and good points that are not chosen. No one treatment uses all of the acupuncture points possible for any given condition – and nor should they…that would be a heckuva lot of needles! A real benefit of community acupuncture is the healing atmosphere created by multiple treatments happening in a shared meditative space.  It’s an atmosphere conducive to best results.
We think your best bet is to leave the point selections to your acupuncturist, while giving them feedback about how treatments are helping to change patterns of illness or injury for you.

No – acupuncture doesn’t have to hurt, and it definitely doesn’t feel like getting a shot at the doctor’s office. The needles are much thinner -about the width of a few human hairs, not hollow and do not inject anything into the body.

Most people are deeply relaxed and/or asleep once all the points are placed, and don’t feel the needles at all. They feel calm and refreshed after treatment. If any needle is uncomfortable the acupuncturist can adjust or remove it.

We are a sliding scale clinic with prices that are comparable to insurance co-pays. We accept HSA and FSA cards and we can write you a receipt that you can submit to your insurance. We do not work directly with insurance companies.

Yes, this is the industry standard in the U.S; all our needles are prepackaged, sterile and used only once.

 To be honest, we’re not sure. There have been many attempts at explaining why this happens and why acupuncture works in general. Our sense is, the presence of the needles causes our central nervous system to move into a clear pattern of rest (parasympathetic), allowing for our quickest healing and recovery to take place. Not unlike when we sleep at night.
This may explain why acupuncture is so effective at helping people overcome the many troubles associated with high stress levels – a state we can find ourselves in which is characterized by our nervous systems staying in a “fight or flight mode’ (sympathetic) for extended periods of time.

Remaining in this state for long periods of time can keep us from recovering in an ideal way, leading to nagging injuries, sleeplessness or illness.

We can tell you, helping people get into a sleepy state is one of the most predictable and best effects acupuncture has to offer.

While there are still a lot of unknowns, science has shown the following:

• Dopplar ultrasound shows that acupuncture increases circulation & blood flow in treated areas.
• Thermal imaging shows it decreases inflammation.
• Neuro-imaging studies suggest it calms areas of the brain that register pain and activates those involved in rest and recuperation.

Although the process of acupuncture is yet to be fully understood, the results are clear, and Acupuncture is endorsed by both the NIH and the WHO for multiple conditions.   Says Lisa Rohleder who inspired the creation of the People’s Organization of Community Acupuncture:  “No matter why someone is seeking treatment, acupuncture seems to produce similar overall benefits: increased energy, reduced stress, lower levels of inflammation, better sleep, improved moods, and often, a general sense of well being and relaxation.”
-Lisa Rhohleder

Building Accessibility:
The back door is accessible, and leads to our business through hallways. There is an accessible bathroom which we share with other businesses on the first floor.

Parking:
Our building (which we share with other businesses) has one accessible parking spot next to the back door. We cannot guarantee it will be available but it tends to sit empty. To get there drive up the ally immediately to the right when facing our business. This takes you to the parking lot in the back of the building.

Prior to Your Visit:
When You Book Your Appointment: note your practitioner’s name. Send us an email at staff@openspaceacupuncture.com with ATTENTION: (practitioner’s name) in caps in the subject line. The practitioner will need to let you in through the back door and so needs to arrange with you when you are coming in. If you take the first appointment of a shift this will make things easiest. In case you don’t get a timely response to your email please call us at 617-627-9700 to arrange.