The Yellow Emperor Community Acupuncture Clinic

Great neighborhood resource. Charles was very accommodating and attentive. First time there was easy. It’s quiet, clean and modest. He as also very skilled with the needles and the treatment helped (the nap didn’t hurt, either!). Will be making regular visits!

Charles is amazing! He got me into an appointment the same night as well as took extra care to make sure everything was right for me, including staying after he was supposed to be closed so that I could sit for a little bit longer in my treatment.
He exceeded my expectations and helped me feel very welcome in his office. I’ve been doing acupuncture for the past six years and I want to recommend him to anyone who is new or a veteran to acupuncture.
The chairs are set up community style so you are resting with others while peaceful music is played. The recliners are very comfortable and he has a massage table as well. Charles offers a sliding scale which really helps to make acupuncture afford for everyone, thank you!!!

I can’t say enough positive things about Yellow Emperor and acupuncturist Charles Adamec — devoted to making acupuncture accessible to all. Since soon after the doors opened several years ago, I’ve been taking advantage of having a community acupuncture clinic within walking distance. The sliding-​scale fees allow me to afford weekly acupuncture treatments. The cozy space is comfortable, with attention given to calming music to facilitate a relaxing experience. The center is also very near BART and bus lines. Highly recommended!

I’ve loved this place.
I’m moving back to France and I really gonna miss Charles.
He is a kind, gentle, knowledgable acupuncturist.
I barely feel the needle each time, if I fall asleep he wait for me to wake up by myself.
I went to see Charles because of some sleeping issues, and I’ve seen great result after 4 – 5 sessions, I’ve continue going every two weeks or so, just because it such a relaxing moment.
Thanks again Charles

I’ve been to various acupuncturists over the past 20 years and find Charles to be excellent. His treatments have helped me with sleep issues and recently I had been feeling like I was fighting off a cold for 2 weeks and went to see him. After two treatments — BOOM! I was better. So happy. He is gentle and kind. The atmosphere is warm, quiet soothing and I am so appreciative that there is an affordable option out there for people seeking acupuncture.

Charles, the owner and therapist at Yellow Emperor, is fantastic. Over the past 10 years various people recommended acupuncture to me for help with restless legs symptoms and general body tension. I had two separate attempts at acupuncture before– once at a non-​English speaking shop on Clement St which felt to me like some kind of terrifying ritual out of a sadistic torture movie, and another set of 6 sessions in Boston which was less traumatic but had neutral effect.
My third foray into acupuncture was fortuitously through Charles and Yellow Emperor. He’s very calm, kind, careful, gentle w/​the needles, attentive, and reassuring, and, as I told him, I haven’t received so much positive reinforcement (in this case, about my stoic ability to deal with the needles) since kindergarten! Most importantly, unlike other times the impact has been immediate… phenomenal and visceral energy flow and a deep relaxation (leading to sleep) unlike anything I’ve experienced before. I’m a convert! He’s also showed me some stretches to help with leg tension and is generally a very helpful and soothing therapeutic presence.
During the four times I’ve been there are between 1 and 2 other people in the space (there are a total of 4 super comfy reclining armchairs and 1 bed). It’s very easy to sign up for appointments online, though seems he accepts walk-​ins as well. I may have to wait 5 – 10 minutes for the treatment to begin, but with the warm feel and relaxing soundtrack it’s a good lead-​in to the treatment. He’s very generous in letting people stay for extended treatments, and appears to keep meticulous notes about where the needles went and the effect so we can refer to that for future sessions.
Sliding scale is $ 20 to $ 40.
Highly recommended!

My first experience with acupuncture was lovely. I felt relaxed and safe. Thank you Charles!

i love acupuncture. it helps me with sleep and allergies. this place is great for drop in and i like the sliding scale because i am job hunting right now.

I’ve been going to Yellow Emperor almost weekly for a couple of months now: most of the time, Charles is administering treatment when I happen to go, but today I was also treated by Erin. Both are phenomenal: super-​responsive and attentive, calm and friendly. One time I brought a friend who was anxious about needles: she ended up having a really great first experience with acupuncture, largely due to Charles making her feel so comfortable.
Appointments at present don’t seem to be crucial: I usually just drop by when I have time, and they’ve always been able to take care of me within a couple of minutes.
The environment is really serene and cozy: in addition to to comfy treatment chairs, heaters and blankets make it all the more comfortable if it’s chilly out. There are usually only 1 or 2 other people being treated at the same time, so it’s quite quiet, but the group environment as a whole still feels very private.
Their sliding scale policy is a godsend: they’re well-​worth an exponentially higher amount (but until I can pull myself out of a few more debts, I’m grateful to be able to pay for treatment on the lower end of the scale).

My friend suggested Yellow Emperor to me not once, but twice. First via sticky note and then with a business card. Now I go once or twice a week. Both practitioners are knowledgeable, friendly, and low key. The treatments have been a big help for a chronic illness and the community atmosphere is very pleasant.

Yellow Emperor’s Megan Gould, LAc. has a gentle manner and effective approach. I feel very supported by her thoughtful treatments. She is very focused and I feel like I am her top priority while she is listening to and treating me. I always leave with a significant improvement. She is clearly skilled at the craft of acupuncture, not to mention a deeply talented herbalist.

I had my first acupuncture experience here yesterday and it was wonderful. The setting was really nice and relaxing, and Charles was extremely kind and warm in understanding it was my first time, answering all my questions when I had them. If a needle felt weird, I let him know and he took it out and tried a new spot. He explained what he was doing when he was doing it.
After all the needles were in, I fell in and out of a lucid dreaming state which rocked! The treatment helped my neck and headache feel better right away. I highly recommend this clinic for acupuncture. It’s also affordable, at $ 30 for your first time (if you’re low income) and $ 20 for future sessions. Enjoy!!!

A few different practitioners work there. They all know their stuff. Sliding scale. Service for the sick. And the poor. Your friendly neighborhood acupuncture clinic.

Have I mentioned lately how much I love the Bay Area in all its business-​with-​sliding-​scales-​we-​just-​want-​you-​to-​be-​well glory? The Yellow Emperor Community Acupuncture Clinic opened very recently. My friend brought me as a birthday present. The intake was quick. Just a little paperwork and a short intake interview to talk about what sorts of things acupuncture could help with.
The idea of this clinic is that they want you to be well, and they don’t want money to stand in the way of your wellness. This clinic is also in the communal setting, so you don’t have a private room where you get nude and then someone comes and sticks needles in you. Instead, there is a space with a half-​dozen recliners (so you can be with your friends, even though they may fall asleep on you) and you roll up your pant-​legs and have a little rest while you get your acupuncture. This way, one acupuncturist can attend to many people at once and it makes the most of the space they have. This, in turn, allows the costs to be so low. There is a small initial intake fee ($ 10) and the acupuncturist may recommend herbs, some of which they have in stock there.
Ted happened to be the acupuncturist when we went in. He was easy-​going and seemed really happy to be doing what he was doing.
Another thing I liked is that the windows were facing West, and we were there in the early evening, so we got a lot of sunlight and didn’t have to worry about artificial lights. You may not care. I happened to like it.
If I found anything left wanting, I think I would have liked a little more explanation about what exactly was going on (e.g. the needle between my eyes is supposed to help with what?); however, I didn’t ask. I’m sure I would have gotten open and honest answers if I asked, so, next time!
In all, I felt great afterward and I totally recommend this place.