Pacific College of Oriental Medicine

I’ve been a patient at the Acupuncture and Massage clinic for about 7 or 8 years now from a recommendation from a co-​worker (she was going for skin issues). I’ve been more consistently going within these past few years. Treating from a holisitic point of view, I’ve had treatments which focused (but not limited to) on fatigue, chronic issues, sinus & allergy issues, mood, muscle pain and knots, circulation, etc. Being a clinic, it really depends which intern you get, but finding someone good is life changing! It takes time and discussion of all of your symptoms and daily and emotional life, for a practicioner to connect and work on how it affects your body as a whole and which points work best. Although it’s SO SAD when your intern graduates from the program. I feel the program does prepare the interns to be fully knowledgeable about all different types of practice and approaches (depending on which supervisor they’re under each Semester), which is very reassuring. (including cupping, moxa, and prescription of herbs)
I’ve have great treatments from former interns: Lisa Wood, Kimberly Johnson, and Tracylin. I’m now seeing Master’s Candidate Jong Lee and feel a drast improvement in my health and energy level. Supervisors Cynthia Sui and Matthew are excellent as well, but it’s $ 53 for a session. Normal sessions with an intern is $ 46. They occasionally have Specials for $ 26 a session. If you’re with an intern, the Supervisor comes in after the Consulation to re-​cap with you. If you’re with a Supervisor, they are usually teaching 2 – 3 interns, who come to observe you.
My recommendation would be to stick with one intern as much as possible. Their schedules get very full as well, you have to be on top of scheduling, and scheduling in advance between Semesters. I have had one-​off treatments with other interns, when my intern wasn’t available and I never found them effective (ie. one treatment when I mentioned digestive issues in addition to my chronic issue. She used a thicker needle which was too strong for me and caused worse problems when i got home).
A few sessions with the massage therapists have been very good as well ($ 46 for 1 hour). They are very in tune to the body, one therapist asked me if I had some injury at some point in my life– she was totally right. It’s been an undiagnosed lingering problem. The massage is more deep-​tissue theraputic massage, involving stretching and movement. Massage appointment books Extremely fast, expect to not get an appointment until a month later. There is a waiting list though for same day cancellations.
I would say that it’s important to be on time for the appointments, since they’re booked back-​to-​back. Along with the consulation time within your appointment, it cuts treatment time shorter if you’re late. Highly recommend going a Saturday morning as well (I’ve gotten a bit of massage, moxa, and stomach paltating treatment during these times). The appointments in the evening are more rushed. The facilities are clean, modern, and simple. 7 Treatments, get the 8^th one Free.

The staff here is fantastic – very kind and knowledgeable and their treatments are non-​invasive. I highly recommend them.

I guess I’m used to being treated nicely at holistic places (they don’t roll their eyes when you ask for the wifi password and the refuse, they doubt your medical complaints, etc).
Go to a private practitioner instead of this place. I used to go to NCNM in Portland so they spoiled me for being treated well, and they only charged $ 10 a session for excellent service. This place blows on all fronts.

A brief history of my experience with PCOM. In late 2002 I went to the old location near the Flatiron building seeking answers for an issue that was not resolving and western medicine seemed to wanted to cut me open. It took a number of visits over a number of months but the issue eventually resolved. I saw a number of 3^rd/​4^th year students over a two year period and eventually followed my favorite practitioner out when she began her practice in 2004. I have seen her ever since.
I returned to PCOM in their new location for some massage appointments earlier this year to augment my acupuncture treatments and just to investigate.
Much like a teaching hospital if you do not want people who are working towards their certification treating you there are many other option especially in NYC. That being said it can sometimes be a hodge page of experiences-​just look at the various reviews here. I was fortunate in the past to make a nice connection with someone who I have continues to see.
The massage appointments were kind of up and down but I always left feeling realized which was my goal.
If you cannot deal with waiting sometimes or an atmosphere while clean is not fancy or has a waterfall this also may not be the place for you. I would give it a few appointments and you may get lucky and find someone you wish to continue working with.
It is one of the more reasonably priced options so that is hard to ignore.

Many problems with the way things are done here. I recommend reading the following before you go in:
1) I made an appointment to see an instructor and when I arrived they had me down to see interns accompanied by the supervisor. I agreed only to find out right before my treatment that both people I had been talking to were interns. The supervisor only saw me for about 1 – 2 minutes.
2) The fee includes treatment. This means that they will find something to treat. This is for interns to practice, I assume. They ask you a million questions and find something wrong with you to treat.
3) They were good about saying «no pressure» you do not have to receive acupuncture if you are not comfortable with it. They suggested trying one or two needles to see how I feel. Once I agreed, they basically gave me a full treatment without stopping to ask if I wanted to continue. The treatment was fine except that one of the interns was not good. I didn’t feel the needles going in from one intern, but they were painful from the other intern
4) One of the needles they put in must have been too deep because a week later the area still hurts.
5) Their medical knowledge is limited. I was explaining my issue, which is a common condition, and I feel like I knew more about it then they did. I felt as if I were explaining the disease to them. Also, when one of the interns took my blood pressure she had no idea what she was doing. She didn’t pump enough, and then she pumped way too much, and finally she left it pumped up way too long. My arm started going numb.
6) Finally, at the end of the treatment, they tell me that I could also get herbs if I come back another time. This was after I received acupuncture I was uncertain about. If I knew that was an option that’s what I would have chose. But they said neither of them were trained in herbs.
If I go back, it will only be because I will ask them to fix the problem they have created. I’m sure there are good practitioners and knowledgeable supervisors at the school, but you have no choice. They just give you a couple interns and next thing you know you have a bunch of needles sticking out of your body.

my drug of choice… Acupuncture, then add in massage and we have a recipe for heaven. I have gone to PCOM for different problems and I have seen great results. I have been going regularly, weekly since Feb, and miss them when they are closed for exams! I have tried the herbs and tonics, with very good results too. Each acupuncturist I went to was professional and knowledgeable. but I found one i connected with and i stuck with her… so what do i do when she graduates??? possibly follow her to her private practice!
Its so worth trying if you never had acupuncture and cannot find a solution to night sweats, anxiety, muscle pain, migraines… etc. and then they do their monthly specials with lower prices!
I am a serious fan of this school.

I had my intake and first acupuncture visit at PCOM this week. With my student ID, the two-​hour session was just $ 26! (Plus, the 8^th visit is free.) The staff is caring, thorough, and professional. The treatment itself was comparable to others I’ve had and I was so relaxed that I fell asleep.
FYI: The treatment rooms are shared, so there’s just a curtain separating you from another patient. Also, because it’s a college, you’re seen by intern (s) and doctor.
The verdict: No frills, good care, great price. I have appointments booked for the next three weeks.

I love this place. You can be seen by a student intern who is supervised, or a doctor. Either way they are very thorough and prices are good. Your first intake will take an hour and will set up a future course of treatment.
While you can walk in to any acupuncturist who hangs a shingle you never know what you’re going to get. Many times there is a language barrier. This place eliminates both those concerns.
The treatments were very helpful. I highly recommend them.

In terms of student clinics open to the public, not sure this is the best representation. I get it, its a learning environment, where students have to learn. However, having 4 – 5 people stuffed in a little room, or closed off by curtains, isn’t my ideal way to be treated. I have had some good acupuncture students, and some really bad ones. However, the front desk staff leaves a little bit to be desired.

I had my 1^st acupuncture experience of 19 needles. My head was spinning like a euphoric high as I slipped into a nap.
My pactitioner Janelle will be graduating in three weeks. She was professional while also expressing empathy. A great experience and I will go again!

Although the prices are very affordable, working with the administrative staff is a nightmare. They are, as other reviewers have also said, on the whole extremely rude and unhelpful. It’s almost as if they enjoy causing you distress; and it’s not just one particular admin staff member, I’ve had several different people give me this same attitude on unrelated matters. If you are very poor (like me) you will have to put up with this probably. But if you can afford to go elsewhere, save yourself the grief of having to deal with their office. Ridiculous.

I’ve been feeling bad about only giving them 3 stars since overall I’ve had such good experiences here, so I’ve bumped them up to four.

I’ve had lots of really god acupuncture here and also some meh treatments. Sometimes you won’t get the greatest treatment from here but its because its a school clinic.
I saw a couple of reviews complaining about the clinic but what people have to understand is, they are offering low cost acupuncture! You would other wise be paying $ 60 in Chinatown or up to $ 120 a session from someone western trained.
Many times the practitioners that tend to be rougher on you are Chinese… I have gone to more Chinese acupuncturists than western and that is just how it is. If you’re looking for a spa treatment you should go to a spa. If you’re looking for acupuncture that’s low-​cost, this is where you go! Also, its a clinic in a school, expect there to be students watching and taking your pulse and yes needling you. They are experienced enough to be needling and this is why you’re only paying so little. People shouldn’t be mad because they chose to cheap out on their acupuncture.
p. s. for the person who’s husband got needled through his shirt… that is common!!! I’ve been needled through clothes plenty of times, never got an infection from acupuncture.

I have been to PCOM many times, both for acupuncture and massage. I am a fan of both. I try to go once or twice a year for massage and have tried many places. I have never had a bad massage at this school. Additionally the experience here is no different from many spas. You are in a private room (with thin walls so you will often hear goings on around you) with a therapist and comfortable lighting and music. A teacher may come in to observe but I have never noticed because the massage is always great.
I also had great success with acupuncture (with a student or students) for my shoulder. After nearly a year of physical therapy with no great improvement I was helped by 3 months of weekly acupuncture. I did have occasional strange acupuncturists and it was challenging to get new practitioners when mine graduated or was on break. I once was placed in a large room full of people (with a private space covered in cloth dividers). But even with all these issues overall I would still recommend this school for acupuncture treatments.
The price of services can’t be beat!

I went for acupuncture here three times. The first time was good, the second time was great and the third time was beyond terrible and kept me in pain for a solid two weeks.
All three times I saw Jason Gainsburg who is an instructor. He would demo on me for his 3 – 5 students.
The third time I received treatment we discussed and he prescribed an herbal formula for me. These were berries, seeds, nuts and bark that I was to boil into a tea. I followed the instructions step by step and took the tea on Monday ¹¹⁄₈. Immediately I was nauseated. This was no ordinary nausea. I was in excruciating pain and literally (sorry to be graphic) lost my bowels and almost didn’t make it the 5ft walk to my bathroom. I didn’t take the tea again.
This kind of nausea along with severe cramping, dizziness, diarrhea (which then turned into constipation) has continued since. IT’S THE 19^th OF NOVEMBER! 11 days of not being able to go to the gym, not being able to eat normally, making it difficult to work (I’m a hairstylist) and just being in pain.
I called the acupuncturist and he said I’d have to come in but I refuse to go back. He said maybe some of the herbs had gone bad. Seriously?!? Does no one monitor the quality and freshness of this stuff?!?
Went to my MD and she said I probably got a bacterial infection from the herbs. I’m picking up antibiotics tonight.

This really for me is a «meh» review, a 2.5 star review. Yes, it is an affordable place to get acupuncture done. I mean, where else can $ 26 or $ 60 pay your way? However, the experience did not inspire me to go back. Everyone was nice, but the deal is that you either get a novice intern to stick you, or you get a licensed practictioner with 5 students watching the procedure. I did the latter. I did not feel like I got the kind of treatment I would have received if I were not being used as a guinea pig – a lot of instructing the students eats into your time. A mis-​placed needle started to droop at one point and was painful.
In other words, if you absolutely can’t afford to see a private practicioner and mmuuusstt have acupuncture, this is an option. If you can save up some money, you’ll have a much better session elsewhere.

Anyone that’s able to thoroughly massage my cheeks (you know where) while talking about the benefits of rice milk earns BFF status, in my opinion. In all seriousness, I have had nothing but great experiences with massage and acupuncture treatments here. All of my practitioners have been knowledgeable, friendly, and courteous to my health needs. The staff also helps me book my last minute appointments for next day. Oh, and didn’t I mention the prices are inexpensive? ($ 45 – 55)

I don’t know what took me so long to find this spot, as a bargain beauty babe. Acupunture done student cost $ 40 and my initial consult with Paul and two other students was in-​depth and professional. Needle placement was about the same as other acupunture treatments, but the next step I have never experienced something called moxying (sic). The heat the needles and and a warm sensation over the skin as well as a medicinal herbal smell ensues. This was a phenomenal treatment. Friday, I am scheduled for massage which for any style is $ 50– w’ell talk Friday afternoon…

I was painfully sick for several days, a whole week of calling out of work, no audible voice and long nights of difficulty breathing when I decided that instead of paying my doctor the 5dollar fee I would splurge and try PCOM for 20 (student).
It was a great decision. I truly felt amazingly better, went straight from my appointment and took a test at Hunter (got an A) and was even able to host a party two days later… with speaking… and with several ex boyfriends present.
I will not be silenced!
Thank you Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, thank you.

The Pacific College of Oriental Medicine is a great place to enter into the world of acupuncture at a price that doesn’t hurt the wallet.
From my understanding, most acupuncture practitioners charge anywhere from $ 70 – 120 a session. At PCOM, the cost is at least half that with every fourth visit free, which is a great benefit. Sure, as it is a college, your appointment is handled by a student, but all are seniors on their way to graduate with a few months, so they’re definitely proficient enough to handle many treatments.
Of course, this is also a drawback. When you do find someone you like who understands your treatment and body, before long they’ve graduated and you’re left to start sessions with another hopefully promising student.
My sessions started some years ago as a way to quit smoking. The year prior I tried cold turkey and picked the habit back up not long after quitting. The second time, using acupuncture not only helped to kick me of the habit, but also to avoid some of the pitfalls which occur, like being irritable and sudden binging of food. I was so amazed with my treatments that I kept on with them to help balance the energy in my body as well as a source for relaxation.
They also have a pharmacy of Chinese herbs, so you also have the option of supplementing your treatment, though it is optional. I’ve tried some of the herbals and found they don’t do much for me, but they were not costly for the amounts given.
I highly recommend trying out PCOM, even if it’s your first time experiencing acupuncture. Even if you don’t find a student to your liking the first time, keep going back until you find a good match — you won’t be disappointed!