Open Space Community Acupuncture

Afraid of needles and skeptical, but aching from inflammation, I visited OSCA twice before agreeing to treatment. Boy am I sorry I put off acupuncture until I was over 60. Leave attitude at the door; this is not Chestnut Hill Mall. Acupuncture for the rest of us, not the one percent. The people here didn’t go to hotel school; they relieve pain and discomfort with intent and focus. They care about what they do. I heard that one travels at their own expense to poor countries in order to train traditional healers and treat people without access to drugs. Talk about fair trade! Ask your barista if they’ve ever done that!

I had the most absolutely lovely acupuncturists, twice! Dalit and Lani are fantastic. Truly talented with warm soothing voices, and a visible love for their passion! I love the ability to drop in to a quiet space when the world is a bit too busy for me. Open space generally is a safe haven when I’m feeling the need to have a moment to myself to recharge.
And GOOD NEWS folks if your dog is suffering dry skin, pain, or insomnia they treat pets too! Or at least that’s how it seemed today when I was awakened to the sound of a jingling dog collar lasting more than 10 minutes brought in by an acupuncturist that works there, Daphne. It’s so great that Somerville is now progressing to dog friendly acupuncture. Be warned if you have allergies, or a fear of dogs this may not be the place for you.
If you prefer a nice quiet space, this may also not be the place for you as loud Dog collars are encouraged. So please put on some jingle bells, keep your cell phones on, and sit back for this new age experience. I’ve always wanted to experience the cat cafes in Japan, and now I’ve got a spot for pet therapy while simultaneously experiencing the zen of acupuncture.

My experiences with Daphne and Lani have been positive. They are kind and attentive, and I would give them both four stars. I have to remove a star from my rating because Dalit left me in tears after repeatedly snapping at me to «knock it off» and «STAY STILL» when I shifted around a bit when getting ready to leave. She said these things and laughed as though she were joking, but it was upsetting and humiliating, especially in a somewhat public space like this one. When removing needles at the end of our session, she mentioned that she couldn’t find a few of them, and by reflex, I began to gesture to my wrist where I thought I still felt a needle. She hissed at me again, «STOP MOVING.» I am still fairly new to acupuncture, and would have appreciated being asked to stay still in a gentle way. Instead, this was a confusing and upsetting way to end what otherwise could have been a really therapeutic experience. The last thing I expected was to leave the session crying. Not sure I want to return here.

I had my 3^rd appointment there today. I was initially skeptical about the whole «group experience» and I also had some concern about needle sterility because I am new to acupuncture.
I can honestly say that the room is clean, very quiet and relaxing. All chairs recline, there is calming sound/​music (I.e. waterfalls) playing and all patients really respect the space and do not speak except when whispering to the acupuncturist about treatment needs.
For anyone concerned about needle sterility, the unopened packages of needles are in plain view. They are used once and discarded in sharps containers. I also asked questions about this and Daphne was very patient and informative.
I have now seen both Daphne and Dalit. They both have a very holistic approach. They are also kind and attentive.
I found Dalit to be exceptionally warm and empathetic. She shows care and concern for all of her patients and no matter how busy things are, when it is your «turn» you have her undivided attention.
Whether you are new to acupuncture or accustomed to this treatment method, they will disappoint. Pricing is also very affordable and their website (
) is user friendly to learn more, complete the intake form (first visit) and schedule appointments.
I am very pleased that I found this place. Five stars for sure!

AMAZING! Thank you, Daphne it is so wonderful to be able to pop in w little or no notice & get the quality care from this clinic! Daphne was so phenomenal & knowledgable! She knew everything she needed to do without hesitation! She is quick yet very gentle & the combination of points was super effective!!!
THANK YOU!!!
I brought my daughter back w me the 2^nd time. Whatever she did was like unbelievably positive!!! It was like cleansing & therapeutic & so positive I am so grateful, Daphne! It is worth having to drive over 60 mins through traffic! #LIFESAVER

there is no reason not to give these folks five stars.
why, you might ask?
acupuncture can get expensive, especially if you’re like most people and don’t have healthcare coverage for it. it’s a sliding scale. no questions. honor code. pay by salary bracket or whatever you can. the practitioners are all sweethearts, kind, friendly, well-​meaning. many, many comfy chairs, and they give you blankets to pass out for a while while the needling does its thing. the prices are reasonable enough that you can go regularly without breaking the bank — which as with many practices (ex. yoga) are better when additive with some frequency.
acupuncture is amazing for many things — several i can think of off the top of my head include chronic pain, pain, migraines, fertility (hormonal stuff), headaches, anxiety, insomnia. some of the same benefits that herbal chinese medicine and reflexology/​massage and yoga (all limbs) provide, but through different avenues.
and it’s a couple blocks from where i live, so i have no excuse not to give them some love. they help make union square awesome.

Acupuncture is a wonder. I absolutely love this place, it’s very welcoming & cozy. They listen they focus on your specific needs, I leave feeling like a new me every time. It’s great, convenient & affordable!

Beautiful space! Very relaxing. I went with my boyfriend today (it was his first time) and he was very pleased with the results. He went in because his back was in considerable, acute pain, and walked out, for the first time in two days, without any serious discomfort. We are going again tmrw and will absolutely be coming in frequently. The prices here are on a sliding scale fee and are between $ 20 – 40. In CT, it averages around $ 80 per session. It’s amazing to have accessibility to affordable care at a decent price and be able to go as often as we need. They actually care and made us feel like they want us to return as opposed to making us feel like we have to pay a ton to feel like a number. This is what holistic care should be like!

What can I say about Open Space Community Acupuncture that hasn’t already been said… The service they provide to the community just warms my heart and nourishes my soul!
Having never been to acupuncture before I decided to give it a try for some female issues. I found OSCA here on Unilocal & its pretty close to my house so I thought what the heck. I’ve never looked back! Daphne & her amazing team of Acupuncturists are AMAZING!
Not sure what to expect I filled out my new patient questionnaire and headed in. The moment I stepped inside I just felt surrounded by warmth which eased my nerves. I picked my comfy recliner & settled in. Immediately I realized, hmm, this is not at all uncomfortable. The other patients already receiving their treatment were well into their own zen space. What I did feel was the calming energy of the group and tried to absorb it.
Daphne came over pretty quickly. She took all the time I needed to review my questionnaire & determine the best course of treatment. Needles were inserted & I was on my way. They did not hurt at all. What I felt was a sense of peace & relaxation. It should be noted i’m a pretty energetic person & truly I felt calm, no easy feat!
What I love is that all the practitioners encourage you to see the others, you’ll get a different experience with each of the Ladies. That workplace spirit is so rare & i’m happy they encourage it. I’ve seen Daphne, Lani & Melissa & I could not pick a favorite. Though Daphne has a special place in my heart because she was my first Acupuncturist. I’ve not seen Dalit but that is only because of my appointment scheduling. I have no doubt she’s great too. Oh you can schedule appts online! And they have appts 7 days/​week!
Did I mention the sliding pay scale? Again, for the service these Ladies provide it is almost criminal, but I am willing to bet every person pays what they can afford if not more. There is no judgement there. These Ladies are here to heal!
I’m happy to report i’m down to 1 treatment every 10 days or so. I bet I could go once/​month at this point but why would i? This is a place to surround yourself with peace, compassion, health & healing.
These ladies are miracle workers, what are you waiting for! :-)

Update: I hadn’t been in to OSCA in awhile (what can I say, I’ve had a nice clean bill of health lately). However, a situation involving bee stings and my sinuses demanded it.
Daphne was, as always, warm and focused. I could feel the energy working right away. Prior to going in, I was experiencing a lot of pain, itching, and tenderness in the affected areas, not to mention some really uncomfortable swelling on my face. I woke up this morning after receiving a treatment last night, and the swelling on my face is completely gone! Seriously, Daphne works wonderful wonderful magic over at OSCA. 100 stars!

What they do here is really quite lovely; sliding scale, walk-​in (and by appointment) acupuncture here in Union Square.
I recommend coming in during the week during normal business hours, though. I have gone then, and I have gone on Sundays. When I go on Sunday with an appointment it is way busy, they are a little overwhelmed, etc. I have some issues I am more comfortable relating with a chart, than just saying aloud, and they are cramped for time so can’t quite be thorough anyway.
On weekdays however, maybe it is just the person I saw (will need to double check the name), but she is super thorough and attentive, takes time to listen to your problems and explore the scope of what acupuncture can treat, etc.
Def’t a community institution to support!

At first I thought maybe uncomfortable being open like this but it’s not at all. Everyone is quiet and respectful and staff are all so nice they make you feel comfortable.
First I had Daphne and I didn’t think anyone else could be as nice and professional as she was. Then I had Dalit and was proven wrong. Then I had Lani and was proven super wrong. Everyone here is absolutely incredible!
Its very peaceful and relaxing. I’ll never go anywhere else.

OSCA is amazing!
I am going through a particularly difficult time right now both emotionally and physically and I thought I would give acupuncture a try.
I read a lot of Unilocal reviews to figure out where to go. Truthfully the positive reviews here along with the sliding payment scale ($ 20 — $ 40 + a one-​time $ 10 intake fee) made me choose OSCA.
So far I have only worked with Daphne and she’s amazing. The sessions are very relaxing. She takes time to listen to you, inserts the needles (painless), cocoons you in blankets, and then you sit back and relax (sleep) until you feel like you’re finished (plan on a little more than an hour).
Since starting acupuncture I’m now sleeping a full night for the first time in forever and I’m finding it easier to get up and get going in the morning. When I’ve come in stressed and tense I have left like a new person. The sliding payment scale means that I can continue multiple treatments a week (and I’m an underpaid nonprofit worker).
I highly recommend going here!

What a lovely place. Daphne is sweet and knowledgeable. I went here because I was feeling lethargic and the treatments helped me a lot. Love the sliding scale too!

I cannot say enough good things about this place. Daphne and her team are fantastic. She really knows her stuff! At first, I wasn’t sure how I’d like the open room with so many chairs – but I quickly found out it’s just great. The chairs are so comfortable and they slide all the way back. It’s peaceful, with lovely music playing softly in the background. I especially appreciated the sliding scale, and that there is parking in the back, a plus in this area! I go back as often as I can afford it, because not only did it help my back injury, it left me feeling a sense of peace that lasted for days afterward!
This place is A++++++++++++!

I went last year when I was struggling with a number of things in life and then hip pain from running. It was amazing, and for anything it teaches you to relax for an hour or so which it very beneficial in itself. It is clean and the staff is super sweet and knowledgeable.

I love it here! Daphne is so wonderful. I started going last summer as a way to deal with the headaches and massive amounts of stress. From the first time I walked in the door, she eased my spirit. She has a gentle way about her. She truly listens.
After the first visit, I noticed a decrease in the intensity of my headaches. Daphne is so great. I know that if I move out of the area, I would miss her a lot. In case you haven’t got the message yet… She’s WONDERFUL!

I can’t say enough good things about Daphne and her team. It is such a wonderful, relaxing experience going to Open Space for treatment. They are great with newbies, and I love that they have people from all walks of life coming in — elderly, non-​English speakers, etc. The sliding scale means that my treatment is helping for those who can’t afford much to still get great alternative health care.
As for my results — I have really found help with acupuncutre for women’s health, pain, and general relaxation. Give Open Space a try!

Great, affordable accupuncture. I couldn’t really afford accupuncture until I tried community, and I don’t think I’m ever going back. Daphne is great and takes her time to find the best options for you. She seeks your feedback and I definitely have seen results.
I had a chronic injury and accupuncture allowed me to manage the pain and continue on. For 15 – 40 for a session, you can’t go wrong. Pay what you can afford to pay.
You can even book online. How great is that?

I’ve started going to Open Space Community Acupuncture based on the Unilocal reviews and man is everyone here right! Daphne at OSCA is AMAZING. Even though she has other patients waiting or in the process of relaxing, she never makes you feel as though you are rushed. She analyzes each of your issues carefully and make sure she manages and takes care of them well.
The atmosphere is relaxing and you cannot beat this pay scale for such wonderful service. Most people do acupuncture for chronic pain, but I have been going for sleep and digestive issues. After each session, I can feel the difference in my body, mind and spirit!