6 Best Acupuncture Clinics in San Francisco

Acupuncture for Athletics is our No. 1 pick for acupuncture and Chinese medicine in San Francisco, for everyday health and for athletes. Its published team includes three California-licensed acupuncturists, and San Francisco Ballet independently lists founder Andrew Castellanos among its partnering practitioners. The Cow Hollow clinic combines acupuncture with Chinese herbal medicine, cupping and massage, and publishes daily business hours of 7:30 a.m.–9 p.m.; individual appointment availability varies. Below, we explain that choice and compare five other clinics for community pricing, reproductive wellness, Traditional Chinese Medicine and continuity of care.

Publisher disclosure: This guide is published by Acupuncture for Athletics and includes our own practice. No. 1 reflects our editorial recommendation for acupuncture and Chinese medicine. Information checked November 14, 2026.

How we chose these clinics

We reviewed published practitioner backgrounds, treatment formats, locations, business hours and fees. For our top recommendation, we prioritized named licensed practitioners trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine, the range of care offered, experience working with performers and athletes, and the option to combine acupuncture with hands-on treatment. We link to the supporting sources so you can assess those details yourself. Other entries highlight different needs, including a lower-cost community setting and reproductive wellness.

Clinic websites are the source for most operating details and credentials. The San Francisco Ballet listing provides separate confirmation of Andrew Castellanos’s professional connection. “Best” here is a judgment about fit; we have not established a citywide star-rating winner or compared clinical outcomes.

The shortlist at a glance

Prices refer to different formats and durations. Confirm your appointment’s full cost and availability before booking. Sources and practical qualifications appear in each entry.

1. Acupuncture for Athletics: our top pick for acupuncture and Chinese medicine

Whether you're dealing with back pain, stress and poor sleep, headaches or a sports injury, Acupuncture for Athletics offers a clearly defined reason to book: acupuncture grounded in Traditional Chinese Medicine, with a choice of three named practitioners. Despite the name, most patients aren't professional athletes, and the clinic's sports background is a bonus for anyone who wants to keep moving. Its combination of practitioner backgrounds and treatment options is the basis for our No. 1 placement. Clinic overview.

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine under one roof

Care starts with a Traditional Chinese Medicine assessment and can include Chinese herbal medicine, for which Ali prescribes classical herbal formulas, along with cupping and scalp and ear acupuncture. Patients come for stress, anxiety and sleep, headaches, fertility, pregnancy and long-term pain, as well as sports injuries and recovery.

Three named California-licensed acupuncturists

The published team roster identifies Andrew Castellanos, L.Ac, CST; Ali Hakimi, L.Ac; and Suzanne Lange, DACM, L.Ac, CMT. Their individual profiles explain the differences in training and focus, so patients can choose a practitioner rather than book against an anonymous staff list.

• Andrew Castellanos: His biography reports more than 25 years of experience, a master’s degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from the Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine College in Berkeley, and a focus on sports injuries, post-surgical recovery and performance.
• Ali Hakimi: His profile focuses on sports medicine and orthopedics. It describes work with physicians and physical therapists at the Center for Elders Independence PACE program since 2019, and an approach that assesses movement before treatment and reassesses it afterward.
• Suzanne Lange: Her biography lists a doctorate in acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, massage training and the Whitfield Reaves Sports Medicine Apprenticeship. In a separate 2025 interview with Full Moon Acupuncture, she discusses that sports and orthopedic training and her earlier career in massage.

A professional connection you can check independently

San Francisco Ballet’s own staff and wellness page names Andrew Castellanos as a CMT/acupuncturist in its partnering-practitioner section. This is a concrete professional connection for readers interested in a practitioner familiar with performers. It does not imply that the Ballet endorses this guide or guarantees a patient’s results.

Andrew’s sports background also extends beyond dance: San Francisco Integrative Health’s profile describes work with the University of San Francisco sports departments and several professional baseball organizations, including activity during 2018 spring training. These are career-history details; readers should not infer that every relationship is a current team contract.

Acupuncture and massage in one appointment

The clinic publishes a specific acupuncture-and-massage combination service: 60 minutes with Andrew, Ali or Suzanne, and 75- or 90-minute sessions with Ali or Suzanne. Listed fees are $225, $265 and $300 respectively. One practitioner provides the combination appointment, which is useful for patients who want both treatments without arranging separate visits.

Published hours and practical booking details

The location page lists business hours of 7:30 a.m.–9 p.m., seven days a week, at 2920 Webster Street, between Union and Filbert in Cow Hollow. Practitioner schedules are more limited than those overall hours, so check the booking calendar for a particular clinician or time. The page also provides parking and Muni directions.

A first acupuncture assessment and treatment is listed at $225 for 60 minutes; a 45-minute follow-up is $195. HSA and FSA cards are accepted. The clinic does not accept or bill insurance directly, but provides a superbill for possible out-of-network reimbursement. Prices, payment policy and booking.

Best fit: Anyone seeking acupuncture or Chinese medicine, including athletes, who wants a choice of practitioners and the option of hands-on treatment in the same visit. For a lower-priced community-room appointment, compare the next clinic. Read Acupuncture for Athletics patient experiences.

2. San Francisco Community Acupuncture: community pricing and treatment-format choice

San Francisco Community Acupuncture is a practical option when budget is central to your decision. Its about page says it has served the community since 2007 and identifies four private treatment rooms alongside its community-room format. This gives patients a choice between shared treatment and private care; those formats have different fees.

The published community fee is $75, with a sliding scale down to $45 and an extra $10 for a first visit. That produces a first-visit range of $55–$85. The clinic asks patients to reserve the lowest end for financial hardship. Its menu also includes private acupuncture and appointments with cupping or massage.

Location: 228 Valencia Street, Mission District. Listed hours: Monday–Thursday 9 a.m.–8 p.m.; Friday 9 a.m.–6 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Best fit: Patients comfortable with a shared treatment room who want a published sliding-scale option. Confirm private-session fees separately.

3. Blue Ova: reproductive wellness with a larger care team

Blue Ova’s service focus includes fertility, pregnancy, postpartum care, perimenopause and menopause. It also offers services beyond acupuncture, including functional medicine testing and fertility coaching. That makes its specialty mix relevant to someone seeking reproductive-wellness support alongside existing medical care.

Its team directory names five people explicitly in acupuncturist roles: Tanja Dehne, Allison Delaney, Jessica Chimento, Michelle Medina and Mollie Henry, alongside its founders and administrative team. A dedicated new-patient coordinator is also listed. This is a count of the roles shown on that page, rather than a claim about the total number of currently licensed or available clinicians.

Location: 1414 Castro Street, Noe Valley. Listed hours are Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–8 p.m. and Saturday–Sunday 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Its fees page directs patients to current booking prices and describes out-of-network payment with superbills available on request. Best fit: Patients prioritizing a reproductive-wellness practice and several practitioner options.

4. Tong De Health Center: an established Chinese medicine practice in the Castro

Tong De Health Center identifies Tony Li, Ph.D, L.Ac, M.S, as its primary acupuncturist and dates its founding to 2014. Its published service list includes acupuncture, massage, cupping, gua sha and infrared lamp therapy. Those concrete details make it worth investigating if you want to discuss acupuncture within a broader Traditional Chinese Medicine approach.

Location: 4200 18th Street, Suite 103. Listed hours: Monday–Saturday 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; closed Sunday. Best fit: Patients seeking Chinese medicine and bodywork in the Castro. Ask for the regular initial-visit and follow-up prices and the terms of any introductory offer. Its homepage includes patient testimonials, but those accounts should be considered alongside qualifications and your own care needs.

5. Redmint: two locations and a broad wellness menu

Redmint publishes two San Francisco locations: 2044 Fillmore Street, second floor, and 1958 Union Street. Both list daily hours of 9 a.m.–9 p.m. Its location directory is useful for choosing the more convenient site before comparing available treatments.

The acupuncture menu offers 50-, 80- and 100-minute holistic-acupuncture appointments at base prices of $173, $248 and $343. It separately prices acupuncture-and-massage combinations and facial-focused treatments. The range of formats may appeal if you want acupuncture within a broader wellness visit.

Check the total price: Redmint’s booking page lists a 22% automatic gratuity, while its policy page lists 20%. Confirm the applicable total before booking. Best fit: Patients prioritizing multiple locations, evening business hours and a wider wellness-service menu.

6. Second Spring Acupuncture & Wellness: continuity with one practitioner

Second Spring emphasizes working with Coreen Gutierrez, M.S., L.Ac., Dipl. AMH, throughout care. Its clinic website identifies fertility and women’s health, sports medicine and pain as key areas of focus, and offers a free 15-minute consultation. Seeing the same practitioner may matter if you want one person to follow your history and reassess your plan over time.

Location: 414 Jackson Street, Suite 207, in Jackson Square. The homepage lists Monday–Thursday hours: Monday 1–5 p.m., Tuesday 11 a.m.–6 p.m., Wednesday 9 a.m.–4 p.m. and Thursday 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Confirm the current calendar and treatment fees directly. Best fit: Patients prioritizing continuity with one practitioner and a downtown location. Its site also links to patient testimonials and detailed service descriptions.

How to use reviews without letting a star average make the whole decision

Read recent reviews for the practitioner you expect to see and for concerns similar to yours. Look for details about communication, what happened during the appointment, follow-up planning and whether fees were explained. Compare ratings on the same platform and check how many reviews support each average. A five-star average alone does not establish that a clinic is the highest rated in San Francisco.

The rankings in this guide are editorial selections based on the criteria above. Patient testimonials describe individual experiences and cannot establish that one treatment or clinic will produce a better result for you.

Questions to ask before booking

How many licensed acupuncturists work at Acupuncture for Athletics?

Its published roster lists three: Andrew Castellanos, Ali Hakimi and Suzanne Lange. You can read their individual credentials and specialties and use the California DCA license search to check current state license records.

Is acupuncture better than massage for pain?

That depends on the condition, your goals and how you respond to treatment. Acupuncture uses fine needles; massage uses hands-on soft-tissue techniques. Research supports acupuncture for some pain conditions, with results varying between conditions and patients. Ask a qualified clinician how acupuncture, massage, rehabilitation or other treatment fits your diagnosis. NCCIH evidence overview.

Does Acupuncture for Athletics accept insurance?

The clinic does not accept or bill insurance directly. It accepts HSA and FSA cards and offers a superbill for possible reimbursement. Check your plan’s out-of-network acupuncture benefit before assuming any portion will be covered. Payment details.

Can I book on an evening or weekend?

Several clinics here publish evening or weekend business hours. At Acupuncture for Athletics, the overall listed hours are 7:30 a.m.–9 p.m. daily, but each practitioner has a separate schedule. Use the booking calendar or call (415) 646-1862 to confirm a suitable appointment.

Start with the practitioner who fits your goals

If you want acupuncture or Chinese medicine in Cow Hollow, meet the Acupuncture for Athletics team and compare each practitioner’s background. Then book an initial assessment to talk through what's bothering you, whether that's pain, stress, sleep or an injury keeping you from the activities you enjoy.