Brannan Street Acupuncture: Dan Abels, L.Ac

I’ve been going here a couple of months now… Really appreciate Dan’s approach, professionalism, cleanliness, knowledge and ability. I’ve never felt acupuncture so intensely –which I love! His approach has really helped some nagging issues.

I’ve been to several acupuncturists, but none have ever taken the time to really get at the heart of the issue. Dan spent a good amount of time discussing the issues and the treatment and then we got started. He is always very careful, very caring, and super professional. I went in for bursitis flare ups, and I haven’t had one since starting.
The facility is very tranquil, relaxing and comfortable. I can’t recommend Brannan Street Acupuncture enough.

Went to Dan for acupuncture today and he was great. He’s professional and understanding. He really takes his time listening to the patient. The treatment was great and I felt much better afterwards.

Dan is absolutely fantastic! I saw him for stress relief and a skin issue. Having worked as an engineer, he brings a level of detail and precision to his practice, but unlike most engineers, he can actually show care and compassion. He is also very professional and doesn’t push needless supplements on his patients. I highly recommend him.

I’ve been seeing Dan for a month for head, neck, and shoulder issues I’ve been having for the better part of a decade. The treatments have been amazing; I feel calm and pain-​free for days after the sessions, and overall my depression and anxiety (associated with chronic pain) have improved over the last month. Dan himself is also wonderful: compassionate, peaceful, knowledgeable, and a calming presence. And as someone who has worked in healthcare, I have to give him extra kudos for impeccable hand hygiene. :) Highly recommend.

Saw Dan for a few months and was so impressed with his professionalism, his care and his talent. He was always helpful, and creative with his treatments! I highly recommend him if you want to feel comfortable (especially a first time acupuncture patient, I was nervous, and he really made me feel safe).

I had an odd pain in my left ankle, so I started on the traditional MD route — X-​rays and pain pills, but didn’t want to continue on that path. I also tried Chiropractic, which helped quite a bit, but after multiple treatments, it still hurt. I decided to try acupuncture, and after one treatment from Dr. Dan, that pain disappeared completely. I was shocked, but it was gone. It came back a little, but after several treatments, it stopped hurting completely. I’m so happy to have gone in this direction. The clinic is very clean and organized.

MR. DAN ABELS IS THE MAN!!! HE SAVED MY LIFE!!!
I suffer from chronic back pain (from a car accident almost 3 years ago). I have tried every possible alternative to conventional medicine, and nothing has given me as long lasting effects as acupuncture. I have tried a few different Chinese medicine practitioners in the Bay Area and finally stayed with Mr. Abels. He is compassionate, intelligent, competent, caring and extremely passionate about his job. He has helped me in not getting addicted to the tons of pain medications prescribed by doctors. He cares for your comfort more than you do yourself, and he goes above & beyond his duties to help you get better. I have called him so many times in acute pain & he has seen me within 10 mins of the call.
He not only focuses on the problem areas that I highlight but also looks for subtle locations that I am often not aware of but are actually affecting my pain levels. He also makes sure to give me holistic pain relief including stress.
I don’t know what I would have done without him.
I swear by acupuncture because of him. I had a fear of needle but he made sure that my experience is not traumatic. I don’t even feel the needles anymore because he is soooooooo good.
If you need to get rid of pain, go to him. There is no other specialist who would care so much about getting his patients well than him.

I must say that I was a huge skeptic of Eastern/​Alternative/​Holistic medicine but I can 100% say that I am now a believer in acupuncture.
I’ve been having back/​shoulder/​neck pains for quite some time now, only to have temporary alleviation by monthly massages. I decided to give acupuncture a try so I found Dan through Unilocal.Great location, very clean, and professional. After a thorough medical history, I had a 30 min session and I woke up the following morning with almost no pain in my neck and can feel the tightness in my shoulder subsiding. Will definitely be going back for more.

Dan, the acupuncturist is professional, kind, gentle (as possible) & really listens.
The facility smells amazing! –Of lavender & blood oranges I think he said. It is clean, modern, & provides a calming healing atmosphere!
My first treatment was INCREDIBLY RELAXING so if you’re looking for this or to help with anxiety Dan is your man for sure!
I’m going for pain so this wasn’t exactly my thing & Dan switched up my treatment the next time & it was perfect!
After a few months of treatment I truly believe that the therapy contributed to my health improvement. Unfortunately, while my pain was getting better I kept getting very painful huge hematomas/​knots in one specific area. These caused me more pain than my original reason for treatment. Not sure why I kept getting them in the same place even after reporting it to Dan.
I eventually ended my treatments due to this pain before getting completely better.

I came to Brannan Street acupuncture because I was suffering from neck pain due to a recent injury from a car. I was tired of taking medications and feeling drowsy and I didn’t want physical therapy due to the lack of privacy. I’ve never tried Acupuncture and I don’t believe in Chi.
For some reason this works, yes I can feel the needles go in, but once the needles are in, I can’t feel them anymore and all of a sudden I’m asleep on table. Acupuncture works! Over the course of a month I have no more neck pain and I feel excellent.
Dan, is amazing, he is friendly, understanding, excellent bedside manner and very professional. The office is modern, beautiful, and always smells really good. There is usually plenty paid public parking there unless the Giants are playing in town. If you are considering acupuncture choose Dan at Brannan Street Acupuncture!

The previous reviewer is fortunate to have had Dan for their first acupuncture experience. I have been to many therapists and am so impressed with Dan’s care. Both His knowledge and ability to listen and explain are extremely beneficial to the treatment experience. And most importantly, Dan knows how to move Chi! I have been going in for acupuncture weekly –for hormone balance and digestion support.

I wouldn’t trade Dan for anything. He was the first accupuncturist I ever saw, and I was a bit nervous about the whole thing. He is one of the most patient and well informed medical specialists I’ve ever had. He listens more than I ever expected him to, and he always does his best to explain his perspective on the medical situation. I have been seeing him weekly for a while now and he has helped me so much with my back pain and sciatica. I truly feel that I hit the jackpot in finding him.

My husband went to see Dan to see if anything could be done for pain he’d been enduring for quite awhile (doctors can’t find a cause). Dan is very professional and very caring — my husband had a very good experience and would highly recommend.

LOVE Dan. I’ve been seeing him for some musculoskeletal stuff (yoga injury, congenital joint problem) for almost a year now, and he has my highest recommendation.
My muscle and joint issues are definitely better when I’m seeing Dan. He’s got an intuitive approach to the body that’s well-​grounded in experience and knowledge of anatomy.
He’s very professional. His space has a clean and welcoming aesthetic. He does everything he can to make you feel relaxed and comfy, from heating pads on the table when it’s chilly, to a little buzzer you hold if you have any problems while you’re resting with all the pokers in your skin. And he’s just a nice guy. I feel very comfortable with him and with his care. I always leave my appointments feeling amazing.

After having a painful shoulder injury that was exacerbated in a car accident in December of last year, I knew that I needed an alternative therapy of care. I had found Dr. Abels through Living Social. I was never against acupuncture but was not sure if this would help my pain. I took a chance, and in all honesty, my view of acupuncture has changed. Dr. Abels is very thorough and really tries to pinpoint the origin of any concern that I have. After the first visit, I felt instant relief. Furthermore, since January, my shoulder pain has improved drastically.
The location is near the Embarcadero. The setting is clean and comfy to be in. Dr. Abels is friendly and professional. I can sense that he truly cares about his patients, and that he loves what he does. I find that to be a rare characteristic to find in any health care provider. After every appointment, I leave extremely satisfied. I am thankful to be under his care. I highly recommend him.

I have numerous health conditions, and Western medicine often doesn’t help me. There is no one I trust with my body more than Dan. For the past week, I have been dealing with carpal tunnel pain so severe that I wanted to cut off my arm. Despite already having a full schedule for the day, Dan made me a 7:00 appointment. As soon as I came in and told him I was also fighting a cold, he made sure to treat that, too. When he finished, I could flex my hand without pain and was able to breathe easier.
I have seen Dan for everything from migranes to neck pain to carpal tunnel to severe fatigue. His kind demeanor and ability to pinpoint where the pain is the worst never cease to amaze me. Even if his schedule is booked, he always makes an effort to fit me in. After I lost my PPO insurance, he made sure I could still afford treatment because of how much it helps me.
I wish there were more practitioners like Dan in this world… between his amazing attitude and skill with the needles, he epitomizes how a patient should be treated.

I initially got introduced to Dan through a Unilocal coupon for first time visitors and I am super glad that I did that. I was looking for an acupuncture because I had been experiencing neck pain; I would wake up in the middle of the night because the muscles were so tight and even get tension headaches. In the past, I would just go to a massage therapist and have the therapist temporarily reduce the immediate pain; however, the neck pains would still eventually come back. I realized I was only masking the real issue and decided to search out an acupuncture.
The first time I went to go see Dan, I had told him that I was a bit skeptic and nervous of acupuncture because a) I do not like needles and b) just had an acupuncture session to call myself a believer. That said, after our first session, I noticed my tension was reduced substantially and after a couple months of weekly sessions, I no longer have the tension headaches or acute pain.
I totally recommend Brannan Street Acupuncture!

I’ve never tried acupuncture before. Brannan Street was my first experience. After just three sessions my carpal tunnel pain (plus some painful hand-​arm numbness from moving) was gone. Dr. Dan is professional, nice, and does good work. Don’t hesitate, just go see him.

Let me just say upfront that I’m kind of a spazz. Ok, I’m enough of a spazz that my nerves get frizzle frazzled and I get a little twitchy sometimes. Like I’ve had too much coffee. Even when I haven’t.
I went to see Dan for help with my spastic nerves. I needed help being grounded. Like, a Xanax. Except without the drug itself. And while we were at it, could he chill out my digestion a little, get rid of this damn knot in my neck and oh yeah, open up my heart a little for this new relationship I was embarking on? (oh hai, I didn’t even KNOW that was possible with acupuncture.)
During the course of my first treatment (I’ve had three so far), I think I heard Dan say at least three times, «in my former life as an engineer…» and I have to say, this I loved. Taking a very scientific approach to a practice that I still find a little mystical and magical.
Regardless of the mystic and the magic, the results, they speak for themselves. Twitchy nerves went from a ⁹⁄₁₀ to a ⁴⁄₁₀ (not sure my personality would allow for much lower). I’ll be damned if I didn’t walk out of his office with that knot in my neck «omg, it’s gone» no longer existent. I’m still working on the open heart and the new relationship, but I do know I’ll be back to see Dan on a routine basis.