Frequently Asked
Do I need an appointment?
Yes!
We fill up very quickly and do not have a receptionist so unfortunately we can not accommodate walk ins.
Patients must always make an appointment.
Yes!
We fill up very quickly and do not have a receptionist so unfortunately we can not accommodate walk ins.
Patients must always make an appointment.
How do I create an account?
Simply navigate to the Book Now Page. There you will see our schedule.
You can create an account by clicking on "My Account" on the schedule or by selecting a service after which you will be walked through how to create your account. Create a login using your email and add a credit card to your online profile and you will be ready to go!
Always feel free to email us at hello@tinyneedlessf.com if you need assistance or have questions.
Simply navigate to the Book Now Page. There you will see our schedule.
You can create an account by clicking on "My Account" on the schedule or by selecting a service after which you will be walked through how to create your account. Create a login using your email and add a credit card to your online profile and you will be ready to go!
Always feel free to email us at hello@tinyneedlessf.com if you need assistance or have questions.
Do you accept Insurance?
We do not.
We are “out of network” for all insurance companies. This means that you’ll pay for your appointment out of pocket at the time of service.
We do accept Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).
You will get a receipt when purchasing a treatment, however we do not supply detailed insurance receipts. We can provide coded receipts upon request (a.k.a. superbills) that you can submit to your insurance company directly for reimbursement but most insurance claims for acupuncture are denied so it’s your responsibility to verify what your insurance covers.
We strongly suggest that you use your HSA or FSA card if you are looking for some sort of reimbursement from your insurer.
Is Acupuncture for me?
Chances are good that acupuncture has something to offer you. Acupuncture works by correcting the imbalances that cause disease and by stimulating your body’s natural healing mechanisms. Even if you are in great health by western medicine’s standards, acupuncture can improve your quality of life by enhancing your mood, boosting energy, and facilitating sleep. Acupuncture is effective for an incredibly wide range of conditions. In many cultures, acupuncture was used as primary health care for centuries, and acupuncturists were called on to treat everything under the sun. For generation after generation, the greatest minds of the times would spend their lives refining their understanding of the human body and healing techniques. The medicine we practice today is a reflection of this work and is still highly dynamic in its evolution, changing and refining itself as new information and understandings emerge.
Chances are good that acupuncture has something to offer you. Acupuncture works by correcting the imbalances that cause disease and by stimulating your body’s natural healing mechanisms. Even if you are in great health by western medicine’s standards, acupuncture can improve your quality of life by enhancing your mood, boosting energy, and facilitating sleep. Acupuncture is effective for an incredibly wide range of conditions. In many cultures, acupuncture was used as primary health care for centuries, and acupuncturists were called on to treat everything under the sun. For generation after generation, the greatest minds of the times would spend their lives refining their understanding of the human body and healing techniques. The medicine we practice today is a reflection of this work and is still highly dynamic in its evolution, changing and refining itself as new information and understandings emerge.
How does the community room work?
We use recliners, clustered in groups in a large, quiet, soothing space.
We allow you to rest for up to an hour in the community room. We recommend resting for at least 30 minutes for the best results.
The “right” amount of time varies from patient to patient. Most people learn after a few treatments when they feel “done”.
Tell the acupuncturist if you need to be finished at a certain time. In general, if you feel done, open your eyes and give your acupuncturist a meaningful look or cough gently – if your eyes are closed, we think you’re asleep and we won’t wake you up until you've been in the chair for an hour.
We use distal needling in the community room, meaning needles will be placed on your legs, arms, head and ears.
For it to work well for everyone the community setting requires some flexibility from you. For instance, many patients have a favorite recliner. When we are busy, someone may be sitting in yours. Similarly, we have a few patients who snore. Other patients who dislike snoring bring earplugs to their treatments. Some of our patients even bring favorite pillows or blankets from home with them, because they prefer theirs to ours.
The soothing atmosphere in our clinic exists because all of our patients create it by relaxing together. We appreciate everyone’s presence! This kind of collective stillness is a rare and precious thing in our rushed and busy society. Maintaining this reservoir of calm requires that no one talk very much in the clinic space. We also ask that you do not use cell phones in the treatment room unless you are using it to listen to soothing music.
We use recliners, clustered in groups in a large, quiet, soothing space.
We allow you to rest for up to an hour in the community room. We recommend resting for at least 30 minutes for the best results.
The “right” amount of time varies from patient to patient. Most people learn after a few treatments when they feel “done”.
Tell the acupuncturist if you need to be finished at a certain time. In general, if you feel done, open your eyes and give your acupuncturist a meaningful look or cough gently – if your eyes are closed, we think you’re asleep and we won’t wake you up until you've been in the chair for an hour.
We use distal needling in the community room, meaning needles will be placed on your legs, arms, head and ears.
For it to work well for everyone the community setting requires some flexibility from you. For instance, many patients have a favorite recliner. When we are busy, someone may be sitting in yours. Similarly, we have a few patients who snore. Other patients who dislike snoring bring earplugs to their treatments. Some of our patients even bring favorite pillows or blankets from home with them, because they prefer theirs to ours.
The soothing atmosphere in our clinic exists because all of our patients create it by relaxing together. We appreciate everyone’s presence! This kind of collective stillness is a rare and precious thing in our rushed and busy society. Maintaining this reservoir of calm requires that no one talk very much in the clinic space. We also ask that you do not use cell phones in the treatment room unless you are using it to listen to soothing music.
What is distal needling?
The style of needling used in the community room is called distal needle acupuncture.
We typically use areas below the elbows and knees and depending on the treatment plan and your level of comfort, the head and the ears. There are 12+ channels of energy which are comprised of nerve bundles and blood vessels and have been mapped out anatomically thousands of years ago. We tap into one channel and have it ‘talk’ to another channel and/or location in the body. Tapping into the channel unblocks the channel(s) and revitalizes the flow of neurological and circulatory function.
There are 2 main benefits to distal needling: 1) The site of pain will not potentially get further injured by needles. 2) Faster results: Because the nerves are denser below the elbows and knees, the central nervous system has more stimulation to release feel good opioids and to stimulate blood flow to the site of pain.
The style of needling used in the community room is called distal needle acupuncture.
We typically use areas below the elbows and knees and depending on the treatment plan and your level of comfort, the head and the ears. There are 12+ channels of energy which are comprised of nerve bundles and blood vessels and have been mapped out anatomically thousands of years ago. We tap into one channel and have it ‘talk’ to another channel and/or location in the body. Tapping into the channel unblocks the channel(s) and revitalizes the flow of neurological and circulatory function.
There are 2 main benefits to distal needling: 1) The site of pain will not potentially get further injured by needles. 2) Faster results: Because the nerves are denser below the elbows and knees, the central nervous system has more stimulation to release feel good opioids and to stimulate blood flow to the site of pain.
What is cupping?
Cupping is one of the oldest methods of Traditional Chinese Medicine and a great adjunct to acupuncture. If you need relief from back or neck pain, allergies, fatigue, flu, colds and/or muscle aches, cupping can be very beneficial. It promotes blood flow and decreases toxins. Your practitioner will apply coconut oil on your back, put the cups over the areas to be treated and then slide them around before leaving them to work their magic. Once the cups are removed acupuncture needles are applied and you can rest for 30 minutes.
Cupping is offered in our private room and can not be accommodated in the community room.
Cupping is one of the oldest methods of Traditional Chinese Medicine and a great adjunct to acupuncture. If you need relief from back or neck pain, allergies, fatigue, flu, colds and/or muscle aches, cupping can be very beneficial. It promotes blood flow and decreases toxins. Your practitioner will apply coconut oil on your back, put the cups over the areas to be treated and then slide them around before leaving them to work their magic. Once the cups are removed acupuncture needles are applied and you can rest for 30 minutes.
Cupping is offered in our private room and can not be accommodated in the community room.
How can you treat back pain in a recliner chair?
Because of the energy channels that run throughout the body we effectively treat back pain in the community room every day. If you have pain in the low back, we don't have to place any needles in your back. Instead, we will place needles in your feet and hands. And that’s it. The treatments are quick, utilize a minimum number of needles, and best of all, are extraordinarily effective.
Because of the energy channels that run throughout the body we effectively treat back pain in the community room every day. If you have pain in the low back, we don't have to place any needles in your back. Instead, we will place needles in your feet and hands. And that’s it. The treatments are quick, utilize a minimum number of needles, and best of all, are extraordinarily effective.
Does Acupuncture Hurt?
Some people say it doesn't ever, we prefer to say it depends.
You may feel a bit of a pinch when the needles are tapped in, but this should ease right away. If you continue to feel a pinching or a burning sensation at the needle site any longer than this, let us know and we can adjust it. If on the other hand you are feeling a slight ache or heavy feeling near the needle, this is usually a good sign – a clue that the body is reacting in a productive way. As long as the feelings around the needled areas don’t keep you from closing your eyes and napping for a little while, we say let them be.
Some people say it doesn't ever, we prefer to say it depends.
You may feel a bit of a pinch when the needles are tapped in, but this should ease right away. If you continue to feel a pinching or a burning sensation at the needle site any longer than this, let us know and we can adjust it. If on the other hand you are feeling a slight ache or heavy feeling near the needle, this is usually a good sign – a clue that the body is reacting in a productive way. As long as the feelings around the needled areas don’t keep you from closing your eyes and napping for a little while, we say let them be.
Why do you recommend I come back after my first treatment?
Acupuncture is a process. It is very rare for any acupuncturist to be able to resolve a problem with one treatment.
On your first visit, your acupuncturist will suggest a course of treatment, which can be anything from “we’d like to see you once a week for six weeks” to “we’d really like to see you every day for the next four days”. This suggestion is based on our experience with treating different kinds of conditions. If you don’t come in often enough or long enough, acupuncture probably won’t work for you.
Acupuncture treatments can take time to work and to provide lasting results. While some patients will feel immediate relief or a measurable lessening of symptoms with each treatment, this does not mean your condition is gone for good. A good analogy is the use of antibiotics in western medicine. With antibiotics, you are not asked to take a pill once. Instead you are prescribed a course of treatment that can last for days or weeks. You might feel markedly better after a short time, but you still need to complete the course of treatment. Acupuncture is the same. We are slowly changing the way your body is balanced, and this is not something that typically happens in one treatment. Your body needs time to learn how to balance itself, so it won’t revert to its old ways.
Acupuncture is a process. It is very rare for any acupuncturist to be able to resolve a problem with one treatment.
On your first visit, your acupuncturist will suggest a course of treatment, which can be anything from “we’d like to see you once a week for six weeks” to “we’d really like to see you every day for the next four days”. This suggestion is based on our experience with treating different kinds of conditions. If you don’t come in often enough or long enough, acupuncture probably won’t work for you.
Acupuncture treatments can take time to work and to provide lasting results. While some patients will feel immediate relief or a measurable lessening of symptoms with each treatment, this does not mean your condition is gone for good. A good analogy is the use of antibiotics in western medicine. With antibiotics, you are not asked to take a pill once. Instead you are prescribed a course of treatment that can last for days or weeks. You might feel markedly better after a short time, but you still need to complete the course of treatment. Acupuncture is the same. We are slowly changing the way your body is balanced, and this is not something that typically happens in one treatment. Your body needs time to learn how to balance itself, so it won’t revert to its old ways.
Do you use sterile needles?
For the last 20 years, acupuncturists have used one-time use, sterilized, disposable needles as the industry standard. So there is no re-using of needles even from one part of the body to another.
For the last 20 years, acupuncturists have used one-time use, sterilized, disposable needles as the industry standard. So there is no re-using of needles even from one part of the body to another.
I'm afraid of needles. Will I be OK?
Acupuncture needles are super thin, and a treatment feels nothing like a hypodermic injection from your doctor. We work with new patients every day and some are not so keen on needles. Just let us know how you feel and we’ll make sure you are comfortable. Once they give it a try, most people find acupuncture extremely relaxing.
Acupuncture needles are super thin, and a treatment feels nothing like a hypodermic injection from your doctor. We work with new patients every day and some are not so keen on needles. Just let us know how you feel and we’ll make sure you are comfortable. Once they give it a try, most people find acupuncture extremely relaxing.
How Much Does it Cost?
Acu-Nap in a Group Setting
First time patients: $40
Existing Clients: $35
Elders over 65 and Veterans and Students with Valid ID: Happy Hour Treatments $25
(Weekdays by appointment before 3pm)
Acu-Nap in a Group Setting
First time patients: $40
Existing Clients: $35
Elders over 65 and Veterans and Students with Valid ID: Happy Hour Treatments $25
(Weekdays by appointment before 3pm)
Private Sessions
Can include Cupping, Bodywork or Herbal consults depending on the length of the treatment
50 minutes for $80 (Existing Clients only)
60 minutes for $100
80 minutes for $125
Can include Cupping, Bodywork or Herbal consults depending on the length of the treatment
50 minutes for $80 (Existing Clients only)
60 minutes for $100
80 minutes for $125
Why is it so inexpensive?
Tiny Needles does not receive grants, state or federal money, or insurance reimbursement. Tiny Needles exists because patients pay for their treatments. We make acupuncture affordable by streamlining our treatments and seeing multiple patients in an hour. Instead of asking you lots of questions, we rely on tongue and pulse diagnosis to decide how to treat you.
We also do not have a receptionist so your acupuncturist will be the person handling all your check in and out. We ask that you respect their time, and therefore your fellow acu-nappers, by having your payment ready or by having a valid credit card for payment on your online profile at all times.
Tiny Needles does not receive grants, state or federal money, or insurance reimbursement. Tiny Needles exists because patients pay for their treatments. We make acupuncture affordable by streamlining our treatments and seeing multiple patients in an hour. Instead of asking you lots of questions, we rely on tongue and pulse diagnosis to decide how to treat you.
We also do not have a receptionist so your acupuncturist will be the person handling all your check in and out. We ask that you respect their time, and therefore your fellow acu-nappers, by having your payment ready or by having a valid credit card for payment on your online profile at all times.
Important Medical Details
In the state of California, Acupuncturists can be declared your primary care practitioner. Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine is its own complete system of medicine. The combination of acupuncture, Chinese herbs, massage, nutrition and physical exercise are the blend that allowing for healing. Regardless, we do not replace your western practitioner, especially in cases that are serious. We look forward to working in conjunction with a team of practitioners to help fully address your health. Please do not hesitate to have your other practitioners contact us so that we might figure out the best way to approach you achieving optimal health.
In the state of California, Acupuncturists can be declared your primary care practitioner. Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine is its own complete system of medicine. The combination of acupuncture, Chinese herbs, massage, nutrition and physical exercise are the blend that allowing for healing. Regardless, we do not replace your western practitioner, especially in cases that are serious. We look forward to working in conjunction with a team of practitioners to help fully address your health. Please do not hesitate to have your other practitioners contact us so that we might figure out the best way to approach you achieving optimal health.
Where are you?
Tiny Needles Acupuncture is conveniently located in the Japantown Neighborhood of San Francisco 2 blocks from Geary Boulevard.
1756 Fillmore Street at the corner of Sutter.
There are multiple bis lines within 2 blocks of us. There is metered street parking aplenty and the parking garage under the AMC cinemas is a block down on Fillmore.
Tiny Needles Acupuncture is conveniently located in the Japantown Neighborhood of San Francisco 2 blocks from Geary Boulevard.
1756 Fillmore Street at the corner of Sutter.
There are multiple bis lines within 2 blocks of us. There is metered street parking aplenty and the parking garage under the AMC cinemas is a block down on Fillmore.
