BAP will be closed from March 16th to April 6th.
BAP will be closed from March 16th to April 6th.
BAP will be closed from March 16th to April 6th.
BAP will be closed from March 16th to April 6th.
We're Open!
COVID-19 has required us to adapt how we deliver services. We now offer both in-person acupuncture and telehealth. We will continue to evolve and grow and remain committed to providing the most accessible care we can.
Berkeley Acupuncture Project of California
Community Acupuncture * Sliding Scale $30-$50
At Home Acupressure
Touching the body to feel better may be the first and oldest ancestor to healthcare. We instinctively touch areas that hurt and learn to self-soothe with touch from an early age. Acupressure is a refined form of this self-medicine based on the thousands year old system of acupuncture. It entails using stick on beads or seeds or finger pressure to stimulate the same points we use during an acupuncture session. Many people find that acupressure helps extend the benefits of their acupuncture sessions. It's also just a great resource for at-home self care.
Acupuncture Points
Below are some very common acupoints. All acupoints have vast, complex uses and your practitioner has been studying them for years. What an acupuncture point "does" is effected by the other points used in a treatment as well as many other factors. Below are some simplified ways to uses these points at home for self-massage.

Video Tutorials
POCA (People's Organization for Community Acupuncture) acupuncturists and students have put together a fantastic series of video tutorials on how to find acupoints and what they can help you with. From stomach and ear aches to menstrual cramps, allergies, constipation and more, these easy to follow tutorials are for everyone. Learn more about POCA.
Ear Seeds & Tacks
AT HOME CARE
Whether you are using ear seeds on your own, or supplementing your BAP treatments by having seeds or tacks placed by your BAP acupuncturist, ear seeds and tacks are a safe and excellent resource for wellness. They can remain in the ear for several days, gently stimulating your body's innate healing abilities. Ear tacks are teeny tiny needles that are applied to ear points. They are not available for home use but can be placed by a practitioner during an in-person treatment.
We have found most people to have no problem with seeds and tacks, however, remove them right away if they feel uncomfortable or itchy, or the skin around them appears red or irritated.
When applying ears seeds at home, clean the skin with soap and water or alcohol first. Do not apply to broken or irritated skin. If your skin is sensitive to band aid and similar adhesive, ear seeds & tacks may not be right for you.
HOW TO REMOVE EAR TACKS & SEEDS
With your fingers or tweezers peel the adhesive away from your skin. For tacks, carefully fold the edges inward (be careful not to poke your fingers), wrap in a tissue and discard in your garbage.
Can I place ear seeds on my body?
Yes! If your practitioner recommends it, you can place seeds on any point on the body.
Where can I buy them?
Ear seeds are available in the BAP online herb store or at earseeds.com.
Make your own!
Ear seeds are traditionally made from the seeds of the vaccaria plant. They were chosen for this purpose because they are slightly acidic and cause a gentle stimulation to the acu-point. But practitioners have found over millennia that simple pressure is enough to stimulate a point. To make your own ear seeds at home you'll need band aids or medical tape and mustard, radish or similar seeds, or small crafting beads. Simply cut off a small piece of the sticky part of the band aid, place the seed or bead at the center and apply to your skin.



Breathing & Meditation
Relaxed, intentional breathing and meditation should be in everyone's self-care tool kit. They are free, can be done (almost) anywhere, and are effective. Meditation and breathing exercises don't have to be fancy or complicated though. Below are some simple techniques to calm your nervous system and get grounded.
Many prominent institutions have, and continue to investigate the effects and benefits of meditation and breathing exercises. The National Center for Integrative and Complementary Health has funded research on the effects of meditation on chronic pain in teens with fibromyalgia, stress reduction in people with multiple sclerosis, and reducing high blood pressure and chronic headaches in people with PTSD. Along with many other educational and research institutions, Stanford University has conducted studies on meditation and mindfulness and has numerous resources on the topic.
This is Your Brain on Meditation
Mindfullness and Meditation Resources
Meditation Archives (Stanford Center for Compassion And Altruism Research And Education)