Frequently Asked Questions

How do I schedule an acupuncture treatment or herbal consult?

If you have trouble scheduling, please send us an email at acupuncturemaine@gmail.com or a text at 207-200-5441 and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

We do not answer phone calls or return voicemails. This is due to a few reasons, the most important being the nature of the community model, which is streamlined to allow us to treat more people at an affordable price.

Please send an email or text us if you need extra help!

What is the best way to get in touch with you if I have a question?

Texting is the best way to get in touch. Our number is 207-200-5441.

You can also email us at acupuncturemaine@gmail.com.

Please remember we do not answer phone calls or return voicemails.

What should I bring to a treatment?

A clean blanket if you’d prefer to use your own. Ear buds if you like your own music. Ear plugs if ambient noise bugs you.

Consider wearing pants that can be rolled to the knees, and a top that can be rolled to the elbows. If you’d like to keep your limbs covered, we can also give a full treatment with acupuncture points in the hands, feet, and ears.

Pets, including emotional support and comfort animals, are not allowed in the clinic.

Why (and how) do treatments only cost $30?

The short answer? We treat multiple patients in a group setting. That keep costs affordable and saves you from having to pay much higher cash rates for acupuncture.

At L/A Community Acupuncture, you can receive 3-4 treatments for the same price as one private treatment elsewhere. In the United States, private treatments average around $100 per session, which is more than most people can afford, especially since insurance coverage for acupuncture is limited.

Acupuncture is most effective when received with frequency until your health improves. The community acupuncture clinic allows you to come in often enough to see positive results. Our goal is to offer you as much acupuncture as you want in support of whatever goals you have.

The shorter, more important answer?

We believe in healthcare for everyone, regardless of income level. Our model is one of solidarity, not charity.

What if I need to cancel my appointment?

If you need to cancel, please give us a 24 hour notice.

Cancelling an appointment is easy. The easiest way to cancel or reschedule an appointment is to go to your Full Slate confirmation email (Full Slate is the software you used to schedule) and find the link in your confirmation email that will allow you to do this.

If you are cancelling within 24 hours of your appointment, you can not use this link. At this point, the best way to change/cancel an appointment is by texting the clinic number or sending an email to acupuncturemaine@gmail.com.

Cancellations without a 24 hour notice are difficult on the clinic because that chair usually remains empty. If you must cancel within 24 hours of your appointment, please consider visiting our donation link to pay for your missed appointment.

We understand that life can be chaotic, but keeping our numbers healthy is essential to the clinic's success. Our ability to offer affordable acupuncture is dependent on volume. The clinic model is rooted in solidarity, not charity. Please do your part to help us thrive!

What if I didn’t reach out to cancel, or just didn’t show up for my scheduled appointment?

If there are two cancellations with less than 24 hour notice, or two no-shows, the only available treatment option in the future will be on walk-in basis. Getting a treatment as a walk-in is not guaranteed, and only possible if there is a chair available.

If you are a new patient and no-showed without communicating at all, your ability to schedule a future appointment is removed.

Okay - enough with all this school-marming, and a moment to say that though we want to be clear about expectations, we do not have to deal with no-shows very often, since most of our patients are AWESOME and understand this is a mutual exchange between patient and clinic!

Do you bill insurance?

We do not bill insurance.

Part of the purpose of the community acupuncture model is to free up the time we'd waste haggling with insurance companies and spend it instead on patient care.

We charge $30 per session, no questions asked, no proof of income required. Our fee is similar to (and usually even less than) the average co-pay for acupuncture, and no one has to navigate the complicated world of insurance.

After your treatment, you will be emailed a basic electronic receipt that gives the name and license of the practitioner, the name and address of the clinic, and the amount you paid. Many patients submit this information to their insurance companies and some get reimbursed depending on requirements.

Please note that we are a paperless clinic and do not have a printer. The receipt will be emailed to you, and if you're submitting, you will need to print receipts on your own (or submit electronically).

We do not provide ICD-10 codes or CPT codes.

How does acupuncture work?

Andy Wegman et al., of Manchester Acupuncture Studio in New Hampshire (one of the busiest community acupuncture clinics on the East Coast), explains all in the free online book, "Why Did You Put That Needle There?"

How long is an acupuncture treatment?

It's really up to you. Our treatments are customized to your needs, but an average visit lasts around 50 minutes (some stay for less, some stay for longer). The majority of people who come in for a treatment find that they fall asleep and wake feeling refreshed.

If you're a new patient at L/A Community Acupuncture, give yourself an extra 10 minutes.

What should I wear for a treatment?

Please wear loose pants that can be rolled up to your knees, and a loose shirt that can be rolled up to your elbows. There is no need to change into a gown. Don't freak if you accidentally show up wearing skinny jeans - we can work with it!

If you’d like your limbs to remain covered, we can give a full treatment using hands, feet, and ears.

What are the qualifications of the practitioner?

Lewiston-native and Bowdoin-alum Lauren Breau is our acupuncturist and herbalist. Lauren received a four-year Master's degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (MAcOM) from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine. She is licensed through the state of Maine, as well as nationally certified through the NCCAOM.

Lauren has given over 50,000 acupuncture treatments in the past twelve years of practice. Before founding L/A Community Acupuncture, she worked at Wildwood Community Acupuncture in Portland, Maine.

Do you consider your clinic a safe space?

L/A Community Acupuncture is dedicated to nurturing the health of our patients and our community. We strive to make our clinic a place of respite. We do not tolerate hate speech, bullying, or discrimination. We welcome people of all races, genders, colors, income levels, national origins, ages, religions, sizes, and sexual orientations.

What do you do about inclement weather?

If the weather is being difficult, check our home page (lacommunityacu.com). There will be a giant red banner across the top of the page letting you know if we’ve closed for the day. We’ll also be in touch with those who have scheduled via text or email. We also update our FB page with inclement weather closures.

If you need to cancel your appointment due to weather, you can text the clinic (207-200-5441) or email us at acupuncturemaine@gmail.com

Is your clinic wheelchair accessible?

Yes, though there is one small step (about two inches) from the sidewalk at the entrance to the building. We also have a wheel-chair accessible bathroom with rails.

Please call in advance if you'd like some extra help, and we'd be happy to meet you out front.

Do you take cash, credit/debit, and check?

Yes. Yes. And yes. We also accept HSA cards for payment (Health Savings Account).

What's your parking situation like?

Paid, one-hour, on-street parking is often available nearby, and there's a parking garage on Canal Street in the rear of the Professional Building that offers free parking for the first hour, then $1/hour for each additional hour.

Can I bring my pet, or my emotional support/comfort animal?

L/A Community Acupuncture is a medical facility; pets and emotional support animals are not allowed.