This month, Boston Acupuncture Project welcomes back two skilled practitioners with a deep dedication to community acupuncture.
Welcome Back, Tony – Monday, Sept 21
Anthony “Tony” Beal is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist. He earned his Masters Degree in Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine with a focus in Japanese Acupuncture from the New England School of Acupuncture program at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences University.
In his words: “My goal as a practitioner of East Asian Medicine is to provide patients with access to affordable, safe, and effective healthcare. . . . In addition to Acupuncture, I am certified as a reiki master/teacher and yoga teacher. I enjoy being able to give patients coping tools such as breathing exercises and meditations to help them with their healing process.”
Andrew Cheever is a licensed acupuncturist practicing mainly at Open Space Community Acupuncture in Somerville, MA and Acupuncture Together in Medford, MA. Andrew is a master practitioner and teacher of the Korean martial art, Soo Bahk Do. He earned his Acupuncture Master’s Degree from the Tri-State Acupuncture College (2011).
Andrew began practicing Soo Bahk Do in 1989 and earned his master rank in 2005. Andrew practiced acupuncture at the New York Presbyterian Hospital’s pediatric oncology ward and as a detox acupuncturist for Fenway Community Health in Boston. He has experience working with individuals with physical, cognitive and social disabilities.
Andrew’s specialties include pain management and injury recovery, motor and trigger point release, insomnia, pediatrics and addiction.
Appointments are strongly encouraged! Book online anytime. Walk-ins available as space allows. Before walking in, check our hours and/or get in touch: 617-506-3868
We’re excited to offer San Fu Moxibustion this year! San Fu Moxibustion (or Moxa for short) uses hot, warming herbs applied to specific acupuncture points on the back and/or torso during the hottest days of the year to prevent cold, damp diseases in the winter.
The herbs are hot in terms of their medicinal property. You know how ginger and cinnamon are warm, and mint is cool? Herbal medicine uses these properties for health. These particular herbs are not just warm – they’re hot.
Why Use San Fu Moxa?
Do you get colds a lot in the winter? Do your hands and feet feel frozen with just a bit of colder weather? Chinese medicine wants to add warmth to help things flow, and boost the immune system so you can fight off colds.
Acupuncture uses the resources we already have inside of us to heal. Herbal medicine can add resources to the body (or help us get rid of excess, no-longer-useful material built up in the body). San Fu is a way to use the power of herbs for health, without drinking bitter teas for months. It provides an annual reset for people who suffer from frequent colds, flu, asthma, or bronchitis, and can improve circulation to hands and feet, by giving the body more internal resources.
Do you have symptoms that tend to be worse in colder weather? Ask your acupuncturist if San Fu Moxa could be helpful.
The dates change each year, because they are based on Daoist cosmology, not the Gregorian calendar.
San Fu is sometimes translated as the “three hidings” since it references three 10-day periods that are predicted to be the hottest days of the year – or what we sometimes call in English “the dog days of summer”. The treatment is given on the first day of each Fu period; so the patient comes in once every 10 days to have the paste taped to points mostly located either on their back or lower legs. Traditional Chinese hospitals are known to have lines out the doors on the Fu days with patients waiting for hours to have their points taped.
We’ll use different points each time. San Fu is most effective when you come in for a treatment on all 4 dates.
What’s In the San Fu Moxa?
We’re using a formula from China Herb Co. which is equal parts Xi Xin (Radix et Rhizoma Asari), Bai Jie Zi (Semen Sinapis), Yan Hu Suo (Rhizoma Corydalis), Lai Fu Zi (Semen Raphani), Xuan Fu Hua (Flos Inulae), and Wu Zhu Yu (Fructus Evodiae). Please do not get San Fu Moxa if you’re allergic to any of these ingredients!
What can I expect at this visit?
This treatment is by appointment only. We’ll be treating people one at a time, using a massage table. Please be on time. Try to wear something that lets you easily expose your back for treatment, so you don’t have to undress.
We’ll locate the points, apply small balls of herbs, and tape them down using Tegaderm bandages. You will get printed aftercare instructions. Within minutes or hours, you may feel irritation, heat, or itching at the points. You can take the herbs off at any time. Don’t force yourself to keep them on if it’s too uncomfortable! Even if you feel nothing, take them off after 6 hours.
A blister may form at each point. Care for this the way you would any blister: cover with a neutral ointment and/or gauze. Some people get permanent or semi-permanent marks. These can be treated with scar strips or other scar treatments.
How much are you charging?
We’re sticking with a $30-$60 sliding scale. 12 hours’ notice is required to cancel or you will be charged a $30 late cancel/no-show fee. (Unless you’re sick. If you are sick, please cancel – no charge.)
Dr. Heidi Lovie, DACM Explains San Fu Moxibustion:
Boston Acupuncture Project builds community by providing widely accessible and affordable acupuncture. Boston Acupuncture Project is here for you – and thanks to you. But what does the “sliding scale” really mean?
We need to average $40 per visit.
We want to keep our sliding scale at $30-$60 for as long as possible. In order to continue to stay open and provide treatments, our clinic needs to average $40 per visit. (This assumes we’re averaging 50 visits per week.) This is a literal average – every dollar counts! But to keep it simple, let’s break it into 3 tiers:
Paying $50 or more helps us keep the low end of the sliding scale at $30, save for emergencies, and potentially even grow to have more open hours, more programs, and more staff.
Paying $40 helps sustain Boston Acupuncture Project financially. Thank you! This is the average payment we need to keep things running, assuming enough people are coming in.
If you are only able to pay $30, thank you so much – please keep paying $30 per visit.
If you need to pay $30, we want you to pay $30.
No matter how much you pay, we want you to be able to get as much acupuncture as you need to see a real difference in your health concerns. Not only does your life improve, but then you can tell other people about how acupuncture helped you! And that helps us reach more new patients, and fulfill our mission.
So, if paying more than $30 would prevent you from getting as much acupuncture as you need, we do not want you to pay more than $30. We want you to get enough acupuncture. There are also plenty of ways you can help BAP keep our doors open that are not paying more on the sliding scale, if you’re interested!
Before moving to Somerville in 2015, Andrew practiced acupuncture at the New York Presbyterian Hospital’s pediatric oncology ward. He has experience working with individuals with physical, cognitive and social disabilities.
On Saturday, Sept. 16, Andrew covers at BAP. Please give him a warm Hyde Park welcome! Our regular sliding scale of $25-$55 (plus the added $10 fee for first visits only) applies.
Today, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts ended the mask requirement for healthcare facilities. Clinics such as Boston Acupuncture Project can choose to retain their own mask requirements and we have decided to do so.
Throughout the pandemic, our highest priority has been to keep staff and patients safe inside the clinic. Masking is a proven prevention tool in reducing the transmission of COVID-19. We want to protect all of our patients including but not limited to our most vulnerable—for example, people with respiratory conditions, autoimmune disorders, those who are receiving treatment for cancer including chemotherapy and our pregnant patients.
We will no longer be asking symptom screening questions before your visits – however, we still ask that youreschedule or cancel your appointment if you are feeling sick. We also ask that you reschedule or cancel if you are in close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19. You will never be charged for a late cancel or reschedule due to illness or exposure. Thank you for participating in community acupuncture!
Our sliding scale has not changed. Boston Acupuncture Project builds community by providing widely accessible and affordable acupuncture. Boston Acupuncture Project is here for you – and thanks to you. But what does the sliding scale really mean?
We need to average $35 per visit.
We want to keep our sliding scale at $25-$55 for as long as possible. In order to continue to stay open and provide treatments, our clinic needs to average $35 per visit. (This assumes we’re averaging 40 visits per week.) This is a literal average – every dollar counts! But to keep it simple, let’s break it into 3 tiers:
Paying $45 or more helps us keep the low end of the sliding scale at $25, save for emergencies, and potentially even grow to have more open hours, more programs, and more staff.
Paying $35 helps sustain Boston Acupuncture Project financially. Thank you! This is the average payment we need to keep things running.
If you are only able to pay $25, thank you so much – please keep paying $25 per visit.
If you need to pay $25, we want you to pay $25.
No matter how much you pay, we want you to be able to get as much acupuncture as you need to see a real difference in your health concerns. Not only does your life improve, but then you can tell other people about how acupuncture helped you! And that helps us reach more new patients, and fulfill our mission.
So, if paying more than $25 would prevent you from getting as much acupuncture as you need, we do not want you to pay more than $25. We want you to get enough acupuncture. There are also plenty of ways you can help BAP keep our doors open that are not paying more on the sliding scale, if you’re interested!
We are selling a few excess furniture items! Your entire purchase will fund things the clinic actually needs. Please feel free to share with local friends. Call the clinic at 617-506-3868 or email contact@bostonacupunctureproject.org if you would like to check out or purchase one of these recliners!
Brand New Recliner for $195
Comfy and brand new recliner purchased for $263.99 with 5 year protection by Allstate ($52.99 value). Discontinued item from Wayfair. Purchased for high weight rating of 660 lbs but length is too short for us. Reclined length is a little under five feet. Great for a shorter, heavier person or someone who sits down with a lot of force. Find this Oliviya 26.37” Wide Manual Standard Recliner By Latitude Run on OfferUp or just stop by the clinic. Asking for $195 OBO.
Zero Gravity Loveseat for $45
Comfy and unique porch or patio furniture. 3’9” wide from armrest to armrest, seating area is 3’1” wide. Reclines with body weight. Folds flat for easy storage. Lightly used. Find this Orange Zero Gravity Loveseat on OfferUp or just stop by the clinic.
Used Recliner for $55
Well-loved recliner in good working order. This is exactly like the smaller, fluffy recliners in the clinic. 38″ tall, 35″ deep, 32″ wide. Find this Recliner on OfferUp.
Boston Acupuncture Project still offers Bubble Block appointments at the clinic during our regular clinic hours.
What is a “Bubble Block”?
Bubble Blocks reserve the clinic for one full hour, for up to 4 people. (Or just for yourself!)
The name comes from earlier in the pandemic, when many people were only interacting with others in their “bubble.”
Bubble Blocks cost $100 minimum – add $10 for each new (first-time) patient. Anyone new should fill out health history and consent forms before you arrive. 24 hours’ notice is required to cancel or reschedule a Bubble Block.
It’s almost BAP’s 3rd birthday! Show the clinic some love by purchasing your very own “I nap with my neighbors at Boston Acupuncture Project” T-shirt or hoodie through our fundraising partner, Bonfire (sizes XS-4XL). Click the button below to see all your options!
For the past year, our New Patient Process has involved a tele-health intake followed by an in-person visit.
As of June 2021, tele-health visits are optional! NEW patients can book a first visit, online or by phone, and come to the clinic in person to get acupuncture right away.
For those who need a more in-depth, intensive discussion of their health concerns, we recommend still booking a tele-health intake.
