Golden Bay Acupuncture

Golden Bay Acupuncture is an acupuncture and Chinese medicine clinic on Addison Street in Berkeley. The clinic describes acupuncture as a way to address disharmonies in the body and move it back toward balance. Services are grouped under Acupuncture, Facial, and Skin care, and the clinic also offers Chinese herbal medicine and nutritional counseling.

Before booking treatment, clients can book a free discovery call or a free consultation. General health acupuncture uses thin needles at points along the body's channels, after an intake that includes looking at the tongue and checking the pulse. It is used for a wide range of concerns, from sports injuries, back and neck pain, and migraines to sleep, digestion, anxiety, menstrual symptoms, fertility, pregnancy and postpartum support, and menopause symptoms. Teenage and young adult care is for ages 13 to 25 and covers concerns such as sports injuries, allergies, mood, sleep, hormones, and attention. Visits can combine acupressure, acupuncture, cupping, gua sha, vibrational sound therapy, and manual therapy, with nutritional and lifestyle counseling. For clients under 18, a parent or guardian stays for the entire treatment.

The facial and skin care side of the clinic centers on therapeutic facial acupuncture. A session starts with a consultation and then combines body acupuncture, targeted facial acupuncture, Celluma LED light therapy, and facial massage with cupping or gua sha, using Botnia products chosen for each client's skin. The clinic recommends a series of 10 sessions through its Radiant Renewal Treatment Plan, and there is no downtime afterward. Microneedling uses a motorized pen to create micro-injuries on the face, neck, and décolletage, and is aimed at fine lines, acne and acne scarring, sun damage, uneven tone, rosacea, and large pores. Visits begin with numbing cream, and aftercare with LED red light and serums follows. Clients should expect 24 to 48 hours of redness and tenderness, similar to a mild sunburn. A series of four to six treatments spaced four to six weeks apart is suggested. The clinic describes microneedling as a botox alternative.

The clinic does not take insurance but accepts HSA and FSA payments. It can provide a detailed receipt for clients who submit claims, and clients should check their own plan for out-of-network acupuncture coverage. Hours are Mondays 2pm to 8pm, Wednesdays 10am to 8pm, Thursdays 10am to 2pm, and one Sunday a month from 9am to 1pm.

Treatment is aimed at restoring balance in the body, with acupuncture combined as needed with herbal medicine, cupping, and nutritional guidance.