Category: News

Updated Mask Requirements

Man puts on a surgical face mask.

As NPR put it: “With omicron, you need a mask that means business.” 

If you come in with a cloth mask, we will now ask you to put on a surgical mask. (Surgical under cloth is OK.)

Acceptable Masks:

  • 3-ply surgical
  • KN95
  • KF94
  • N95 (no valves)

Got only cloth masks? Please look into getting a better mask!

Some sources:

Watch out for fakes – click here for advice about that from the CDC.

We are doing this to keep you as safe as possible while providing affordable, effective community acupuncture!

Thank you for your participation.

Attention B-Local App users

Boston Points Expire on December 31, 2021

If you’ve been using the B-Local app, and you have Boston Points, use them by the end of 2021! As the year ends, so does the pilot phase of B-Local.

The pilot program was funded by the federal CARES Act, which expires at the end of this year. All pilot phase Boston Points expire on 12/31/2021 and your balance will go back to zero.

Use Your Points at Boston Acupuncture Project

You can use your Boston Points to purchase acupuncture treatments NOW, even if you can’t use the treatments until 2022.

It’s easy: just order yourself a gift certificate.

How To Redeem Your Boston Points

  • Open the B-Local App and Click REDEEM at the bottom.
  • Make a note of how many Boston Points you have! You’ll need this number later. Then click on Boston Acupuncture Project. (Use the search bar if you don’t see it right away.)
  • Now click the Redeem button at the bottom.
  • Click Next.
  • Type in the number of Boston Points you want to spend at Boston Acupuncture Project. Then click the button.
  • Click Redeem Now!
  • The screen will do this for a while . . . . wait for it . . ..
  • Done! If you are not in the clinic, please take a screenshot of this screen and text or email it to us, so we can be sure to credit your Boston Points to the right place.

What’s Next?

We’ll find out! In the meantime, continue to use the B-local app to discover new local businesses across Boston.

Big News: First Visits Are easy Again

Acupuncturist Ren treats a volunteer at BAP while another volunteer reclines in the background. All 3 are wearing masks.

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.

Book Now

With The B_Local App you can get rewarded for getting acupuncture!

B-Local App from the City of Boston. Earn Points. Support Local Businesses. Hand holding phone showing app.

Boston Acupuncture Project has joined the B-Local app from the City of Boston!

Here is how to get rewarded for every $ you spend at Boston Acupuncture Project (and other participating local businesses):
1. Download the app (in the App Store or Google Play)
2. Confirm your phone and email
3. Link a credit or debit card
4. Join all the offers within the app 
5. Use your linked card to pay for treatments – earning Boston Points every time. (You can earn points at any participating small business in Boston!)
6. Redeem your points at Boston Acupuncture Project (or any redeeming business).

<— This is a preview of what you will see when you download the app (click play for a quick walk through).

After you fill out your information, link a card and then join offers!

It’s absolutely free – for you, and for participating businesses. Start earning rewards today:

  • Download app
  • Link card(s)
  • Join offers
  • Use linked cards at participating businesses
  • Earn rewards (Boston Points)
  • Redeem Boston Points at redeeming businesses.

Boston Acupuncture Project is both a participating AND redeeming business.

That means that, when you pay for 5 acupuncture treatments with your enrolled card, you will earn enough Boston Points to pay for your 6th treatment. What a great way to get more acupuncture!

If you are already using a credit/debit card at local businesses, why not get rewarded?!

Click here to learn more, and please let us know if you have any questions about using the B-Local App!

Gift Certificates & holiday hours

3 gift certificates on a fluffy red blanket

Purchase a Self-Printed Gift Certificate

Give your loved ones the gifts of wellness, healing, and relaxation with a gift certificate to Boston Acupuncture Project. You can directly purchase online – anything in our online store that says Gift, and any Special Offer Package, will have a gift certificate you can print out yourself.

Order a Gift Certificate To Be Mailed

You can also fill out the form below to request a gift certificate, and we will send you an invoice to complete payment:

The clinic will be OPEN by appointment as usual on the following dates:

Thursday, December 24, 2020
Saturday, December 26, 2020

Thursday, December 31, 2020
Saturday, January 1, 2021

Hope to see you soon! Make an appointment online anytime.

State of the Clinic: to stay open, we need to raise prices.

Community acupuncture clinics (like us here at Boston Acupuncture Project!) work to keep care accessible, and we rely on many people paying a reasonable amount for every treatment to cover our expenses. That’s why we count on you to tell people in your life about Boston Acupuncture Project and how they should come here for acupuncture!

Part of being accessible means staying open. To do that right now, we have to raise prices. Our new sliding scale, starting Monday, November 16, will be $25 – $55 for return visits, plus a $10 intake fee for first visits only.

If this puts acupuncture out of your reach, please talk to your acupuncturist – we can almost always work something out. 

For the clinic’s health, Boston Acupuncture Project needs around 20 people a week to pay $25, 10 people a week to pay $35, and 5 people a week to pay $45. Right now (as of October 2020) we are averaging about 22 treatments per week, with an average payment of about $22 per treatment.

Overall, we need to increase the number of people getting acupuncture here, and also the average payment per treatment, so that the clinic can stick around for years to come.

Headline in purple: How Community Acupuncture Works. Top box in orange says: 1 acupuncturist, 1 patient, $120. Image shows acupuncturist with pale skin and gray hair next to one head/torso representing one patient. Middle box in Blue says: 1 acupuncturist, 2 to 4 patients, $30 to $60. Image shows acupuncturist with dark brown skin and black hair with 3 heads/torsos representing 3 patients. Bottom box in green says: 1 acupuncturist, 5 to 8 patients, $15 to $25. Image shows acupuncturist with brown skin and brown hair with 6 heads/torsos representing 6 patients.
Thanks to Shanell Rodriguez of Boise Acupuncture Coop for this image of How Community Acupuncture Works. When an acupunk treats more people per hour, each of those people can pay less for their treatment, while keeping the acupuncture practice sustainable and available for everyone.

Thank you for your support and understanding.

In-person acupuncture is back!

Acupuncturist Ren treats a volunteer at BAP while another volunteer reclines in the background. All 3 are wearing masks.

We are so excited to get back to the clinic! Starting June 15, 2020 you can visit Boston Acupuncture Project for community acupuncture, in person. Visits are by appointment only, so please schedule online or call us at 617-506-3868 to book a time.

Changes for Safety

We have made a lot of changes for your safety, and have extensive new protocols that you can read in detail. Here is a quick summary of what you need to know before your first visit:

  • Masks: bring one! Everyone in the clinic must wear a mask at all times, covering mouth AND nose. Valve-type masks do not count.
  • Screening: check your reminder email for questions. Please stay home if you feel sick!
  • New Patient Intakes (a.k.a. most of the talking parts of a First Visit) will be via tele-health.
  • Waiting: please wait outside the clinic until your appointment time. If you need to come in early to use the restroom, please wait in the waiting room until we let you know the restroom is available.
  • Physical distancing: one person at a time, please – one helper is OK if needed, just let us know before you come in.
  • Hand hygiene: use hand sanitizer when you enter, and after handling cash.
  • Payment: pre-pay online when you can! Cash (exact change only) in the payment box is great too. HSA/FSA cards are accepted in the clinic, not online.
  • BYOB (Bring Your Own Blanket): we’re going to have a LOT more laundry to do, so if you can bring a clean blanket with you, go for it.
  • No More Self-Serve: water and ear plugs available upon request, but please step outside if you need to pull your mask down.
  • It’s still going to be great! We realize that there are a lot of changes. The good news is that our mission to provide a peaceful healing place for everyone remains the same. We are looking forward to seeing you again soon!

Tele-health still available

We are still providing tele-health consultations for both acu-pressure and herbal medicine (for existing patients only).

With an acu-pressure consultation we will discuss your health concerns and guide you through using specific acu-pressure points to support your health.

For herbal medicine consultations, we will discuss your health concerns, and then prescribe herbal remedies based on Traditional Chinese Medicine pattern diagnosis. Herbal remedies will be delivered directly from one of our suppliers to your home. Payment for herbal remedies is in addition to the cost of the consultation, but we try to keep everything as affordable as possible.

All tele-health appointments can be made online, but you can also call for additional times. Thank you for participating in community acupuncture!

Gift Certificates available

3 gift certificates on a fluffy red blanket

Give your loved ones the gifts of wellness, healing, and relaxation with a gift certificate to Boston Acupuncture Project.

Come in whenever we’re open (click for hours) to buy a gift certificate in person or purchase online – anything in our online store that says Gift, and any Special Offer Package, will have a gift certificate you can print out yourself.

You can also scroll down in this blog post to see our special offer packages.

The clinic will be closed from December 25, 2019 – January 1, 2020 so we hope to see you soon! We plan to re-open January 2, 2020 with regular hours. Make an appointment online anytime.

Labor Day Weekend 2019 News

Andrew Cheever substitutes on Saturday, Aug. 31

Andrew Cheever sits in a chair and smiles. He is a white man with short brown hair and a trim brown beard.
Andrew Cheever, LicAc

Licensed Acupuncturist Andrew Cheever usually practices at Open Space Community Acupuncture in Somerville, MA – another POCA clinic – and also treats problem substance use at Fenway Community Health Center’s acupuncture program.

On Saturday, August 31, Andrew offers appointments at Boston Acupuncture Project from 10am-2pm. You can book online with Andrew by clicking here, or read more about Andrew on BAP’s website or on OSCA’s staff page.

Free Sample Treatments at Roslindale Farmers Market

Oren “Ren” Pilinger, LicAc, offers free sample treatments at nearby Roslindale Farmers Market on Saturday, Aug. 31, from 9am-1pm as Boston Acupuncture Project visits the Market for one last time in summer 2019. This event is also on Facebook – click here to view it and invite your friends.

Clinic Closed Monday, September 2, 2019

Boston Acupuncture Project’s Hyde Park clinic closes for Labor Day on Monday, September 2, 2019 and re-opens Tuesday, September 3 to resume regular hours. Click here to make an appointment.

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