About

Harmony Community Wellness Center provides community style acupuncture on a sliding scale fee structure from $20 to $40 per treatment. We also offer acupuncture, massage and wellness classes in yoga, tai chi and qigong. Harmony Community Wellness Center is part of the growing community acupuncture movement that is changing the way health care is provided. We provide acupuncture in a community space at a reduced cost.

We treat in a community setting

In the U.S., most acupuncturists treat patients on tables in individual rooms or cubicles. This is not traditional in Asia, where acupuncture occurs in a community setting. In our clinic we use recliners, arranged in a large, quiet, soothing space. Treating in a community setting has many benefits, including:

·     Allows for low cost treatments.
·     Friends and family can be treated together
·     Group energy enhances treatment
·     It is comforting. The setting reduces apprehension and mystery

At Harmony Community Wellness Center, patients remain clothed, lie in comfortable recliners in a quiet, soothing community room. With this more traditional style, we can see more patients and this allows us to reduce the cost of the treatments.

What else do you offer?

We also offer other therapies to support your well being, such as massage and classes in Yoga, Tai Chi and Qi Gong. These classes will be offered at a cost as low at $5 per class.

We have a Sliding Scale…
    $20 to $40 per treatment

Most acupuncturists in the U.S. see one or two patients per hour and fees can range from $60 to $150 per treatment. They tend to spend a lot of time talking to each patient, going over medical records, asking many questions. We don’t.

Community acupuncture relies on a more traditional approach. The only way that we can make acupuncture affordable and still make a living ourselves is to streamline our treatments and see multiple patients in an hour. So we have returned to a traditional approach, allowing us to bring our fees down considerably.

Our fees are based on a sliding scale from $20 to $40 (with a $10 first-time paperwork fee) and you pay what you can afford in order to get the treatments you need to get better.

If you want to pay $35 one visit and $20 for the next visit, that’s fine with us. It’s up to you.

Why a Sliding Scale?

Community acupuncture is a grass roots movement. We believe that health care reform starts with us. We want to provide health care to the widest possible audience, regardless of insurance coverage or financial resources. We don’t bill insurance, so we wanted to bring our fees down to the realm of insurance co-pays.

We also know that acupuncture has a cumulative effect and works best when treatments are frequent. We want you to get better as soon as possible and we don’t want the cost to be a barrier to your well being.

What to Expect…

·     In general, the first visit takes about 60 to 90 minutes, with subsequent lasting about 45 to 60 minutes.
·     Wear comfortable clothes that allow access to areas below the elbows and knees. Please avoid use of perfume or cologne.
·     It is good to have something to eat about an hour before the treatment.
·     Please turn cell phones off when entering the wellness center.
·     If possible, set aside some time after your treatment to rest.

How often should I come?

At Harmony, we want you to experience maximum relief from your health complaints in the shortest amount of time possible. For acupuncture to have a lasting effect, it is best to receive it frequently and often enough for a cumulative improvement in your health.

About Us

Lars Nielsen, L.Ac., Dipl. OM.

Lars is nationally certified in acupuncture and herbal medicine and has been a student of Tai Chi and Qigong for the past 20 years. Lars earned his Masters of Science degree in Traditional Oriental Medicine from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine.

He is certified and licensed by the California Acupuncture Board and holds certifications from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) in Acupuncture, Chinese Herbology and Oriental Medicine .

Maki Tanaka, L.Ac., Dipl. Ac.

Maki specializes in the gentle techniques of Japanese style acupuncture and has extensive experience in Japanese acupuncture and moxibustion. She earned her Masters of Science degree in Traditional Oriental Medicine from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. She also has a Bachelors degree in Psychology from Tulane University.  

Maki is certified and licensed by the California Acupuncture Board and by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM).