Minna Yoon, ND, LAC

I saw Dr. Yoon a few years back and she was a part of my health journey, for which I am thankful. She’s quite pleasant and really does get to know your life’s picture as part of her practice and all the blood panels, plus hormone tests really helped me to see for myself the greater context that was playing a part in my health problems. However, for a few reasons I can’t recommend her very high.
One reason is that despite the added context, she wasn’t able to diagnose something I suggested early on (hereditary hemochromatosis) which was diagnosed over a year later by a specialist that my roommate (who was a doctor) steered me towards (ie, she didn’t do her job as a primary care doctor and send me to a specialist).
Not only that, but when she finally came around to the idea that my suggestion was correct, she seemed confused, hadn’t done her homework and shared her concern that she unsure of that diagnosis because I wasn’t of an Inuit descent… when I did my own research, this particular genetic issue was of Irish genetics — and indeed runs quite high currently in Ireland where they screen for this inherited disease (that causes a lifetime of low quality life, various inflammations and eventually death).
Aside from that, when it came to some of the hormonal issues I was having regarding progesterone, she tried one way of treating me for it and then gave up… I’ve since seen another doctor who is trying another way (successfully so far) and giving me better context into how LOW (not high) cortisol plays into my issues, along with various kinds of stress (like the high intensity exercise I favor over gym workouts).
In the end, I felt she just gave up on me and several times told me flat out to ‘Quit your job’ which I argue, would cause just as much if not more stress.
I have waited nearly two years to write this review as I feel sincerely bad to say anything bad about anybody. But seeing a few of the other reviews, I wanted to let people know mine too and hopefully give a balanced view of Dr. Yoon’s services.
I have to say I’m quite happy now with my two doctors (a holistic allopathic doctor and a naturopathic doctor). I’ve lost 20 pounds of weight, have improved my hormones, on a proper diet and cross fingers will keep going with this track.
I’m really sorry that Dr. Yoon didn’t work out, I really wanted to support my neighborhood community and hope she finds it in herself to improve her approach or limit her services to what she does well.
Hope this review helps someone make a better decision about health care.

Minna Yoon’s negligence has cost me irreversible damage… She prescribed me a hormone drug to treat my medical issue and ever since I started using the prescribed drug, my prognosis have gotten worse. As a result of the prescribed drug my tumor has grown much bigger and is irreversible. Now, I may have to face surgery. I can’t even believe she prescribed me a drug that has potential to do harm to my body and she DID NOT even monitor me. Instead she tells me to monitor myself. After I went to see her and showed her the negative effects she did not do anything or even bother telling me to stop taking it until it was too late.
I agree with the previous reviewer that Minna’s initial consultation fee $ 280 is a bit exorbitant. However, she does give you the option of going to your regular lab for blood draw but if you don’t have insurance, she does offer to you a lab that could draw your blood at a discount price which is still not cheap and depending on what you need to do the cost does add up. Yes, she does charge you a follow up fee of $ 175 and she wants you to go in for a follow up to go over your lab results.
It’s obvious to me that she cares more about her wallet than her patients. But what I CANNOT forgive her for was her negligence. Now I have to find a way to deal with the negative consequences that she has caused me.

I would not recommend Minna and seriously question her ethics, honesty and practice. .I initially saw her for acupuncture for neck pain having found her through my insurance. She failed to tell me about her out of pocket fee for «initial evaluation“She insisted on an extensive blood panel which was an additional exhorbitant fee from a lab in which she has an» interest” .She then wanted to charge me an additional fee to simply go over the results at which point I drew the line and left… She also prescribed estrogen and progesterone after I told her about my recent dx and tx for breast cancer. The only pharmacy she recommended was one in which she has a «interest».
If I would have known upfront about her tactics which I consider to be underhanded and dishonest I would never have followed through with an appointment.

I was not pleased with the service I received, nor how Minna conducts business. After the 1.5 hour initial consultation, I was shocked at the $ 240 fee. I expected it to be inline with other specialists. When I mentioned it would have been helpful to disclose that up-​front, she replied «didn’t you read my website». And she asked questions and took notes the entire time, so there was no value to me. I had to schedule and pay for another visit to get any help for my health issue.
She heavily pushed the 24-​hour urine hormone test. After the 1.5 hours I was convinced and agreed, but only then learned the test was an expensive $ 500. Another thing she didn’t disclose upfront.
When discussing the test result report, she ran through it so quickly, speaking in foreign medical and hormone terms, it was confusing and challenging to follow. Summarizing in high-​level points for this complex information would have been helpful. When I sent clarification questions via email (which she said was ok to do), she replied to two emails, then responded to a question with ‘You have the report. And if you have any further questions you need to make an appointment.’ Wow.
I scheduled a follow-​up three months later (only because I had invested so much money already). She asked if I had results from her treatment plan. I did not. She then suggested taking progesterone hormones. I asked about the negative side effects and she said only sleepiness, increased fertility and depression. Yet when I researched it online, I found the many other possible side effects she did not mention including stomach upset, weight gain, fluid retention and swelling, acne, insomnia, allergic skin rashes, PMS-​like syndrome, and many others. It’s a good thing I didn’t take her word for it.
Each visit she only gave a sliver of information, so you have to go back for the rest (more expensive visit fees). I found her to be condescending, impersonal and didn’t’ appreciate getting blow-​off when asking clarification questions, which was rude and unprofessional.

I was suffering from migraine for more than a year. I had gone to UCSF student health clinic only to be prescribed with some medications, exercises to relive tension and no cure. I finally got a referral to see an acupuncturist and/​or chiropractor. I found Minna Yoon on Unilocal with glowing reviews.
My first visit with Dr. Yoon started with consultation regarding my struggle with migraine and constant tiredness (granted it could very well be caused by being in a professional school). She was very patient. After 2 visits, my migraines did not happen as often. In fact, after 4 visits, I have been migraine free for 3 months now!
Dr. Yoon is very attentive and caring. My feet get cold easily and she recognized that, putting a heat lamp over it during treatment. She also observed a lot of tension in my shoulder and helped me relieve it.
I like her natural approach with herbal supplements, nutrition, lifestyle advices. Highly recommend Dr. Yoon as acupuncturist and health provider!

Dr. Yoon is a wonderful health resource, and very conveniently located After my ovaries were removed, I was having problems both with symptoms and bone loss. My gynecologist would not consider bioidentical HRT. Dr. Yoon reviewed my case, and prescribed an initial trial of carefully balanced bioidentical HRT hormone creams. I had tried these before, but with so much skin irritation I had not been able to continue. Dr. Yoon worked closely with her compounding pharmacist to have the hormones administered in a base of baby lotion, which my sensitive skin tolerates. It worked! Then I took the more comprehensive 24 hr. urine test. Dr. Yoon did a fine tuning of the dosages and administration times, and I’ve done very well. My bone density has actually increased, my energy is high, and everyone says I look great. I highly recommend Dr. Yoon, especially for HRT.

Minna is a true healer. Her combination of eastern/​western medicine, nutrition, stress reduction techniques, pain management (now pain free) along with her caring and intuitive nature, makes Dr. Yoon a rare find. She treats the mind, body, and spirit to achieve REAL health. She really helped me turn my health around, on an everyday level. She’s amazing!

Minna has been an amazing help with my thyroid. I was like zombie when I first went in to her office. She spent two hours with me on my first appointment really listening to all my woes. I felt terrible then, but now 4 months later I am new person. I have so much more energy and have lost weight. She knows her stuff and the science behind it. I highly reccomend her over conventional doctors I have been to in the past.

Ah, the serenity and focus has helped me to work on some personal physical issues are brought out by the work of Minna Yoon. She has a wonderful office and personable approach in which she listens in her evaluation of your needs that is very thorough. It’s made my health all the richer. I only wish I can have the cups work on my shoulder every day.
One need not be afraid of needles with Minna as your acupuncturist. I highly recommend her.

Dr Minna Yoon is great and is very consistent in her healing methods. I came in for a Herniated Disc on my L5-​S1 and had trouble functioning in my every day life due to pain. After my initial visit the pain level went from an 8 to 2. She is conveniently located off the N-​Judah around 12^th st and takes insurance.
She is personable, patient and very caring which is important when providing health or healing services. I had to discontinue my visits because of my long term trip to LA but i definitely plan on making future visits when I come back from disability.

Dr. Yoon is incredible! Dr. Yoon is friendly, warm, and comforting… she is a great listener and shows a lot of compassion towards her patients. She takes her time and I never once have felt that she was trying to rush me to get to the next patient. Most importantly, Dr. Yoon is an extremely educated practitioner who provides in depth, customized analysis and recommendations. I would highly recommend Dr. Yoon to anyone and everyone!!!

An amazing and Comprehensive service… Minna herself took the time to review my history and health and prescribed a 24 hour urine catch for lab testing… To all the women out there (and men)…this is a fabulous service!!! if you are like me… i want to know whats going on invisibly in my system then i want to know how to optimally care for it… and sure enough thats what i got… all without frustration… the kind i was up against in my HMO… im glad they are there for emergencies but for optimizing and keeping vital this is the way… Thank You Minna!