Energy Matters Acupuncture & Qigong

Energy Matters Acupuncture & Qigong Energy Matters Acupuncture and Qigong is here to help you live a longer, stronger and healthier life!

Energy Matters Acupuncture and Qigong helps people of the Bay Area live longer, healthier and stronger lives through personalized wellness and healing services using traditional Chinese medicine. Our skillful practitioners and accomplished teachers bring deep experience and care to the development and maintenance of our clients’ vitality and good health in mind, body, and spirit. We offer an array of services:
-Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs
-Orthopedic Acupuncture
-Pediatric Acupuncture
-Acupuncture for Beauty-
Qigong Classes
-21 Days to Better Health Program
-Health and Well-being Lectures

1 MINUTE RESCUEStress and anxiety can literally hijack our nervous systems, flooding us with adrenaline as our heart pou...
11/16/2025

1 MINUTE RESCUE

Stress and anxiety can literally hijack our nervous systems, flooding us with adrenaline as our heart pounds and our breathing speeds up. Interrupting this cascade for just a minute can help us get centered and move forward from a calmer place. Here’s five fave one minute (or less) ‘stress-busters’ to help you stop and regroup.

1. Breathe. This is the easiest, cheapest, no equipment, do anywhere way to help settle yourself in a crisis. Here’s a few of our favorite breath techniques.

2. Move. This can drain some of the adrenaline in your body. If you don’t have time to go for a walk, try some quick Qigong warmups to change your energy (scroll to the bottom of the page to get a free warmup video).

3. Rescue Remedy. This combination of flower essences is gentle, vibrational medicine for anxiety and shock. Take a moment to ‘rescue’ yourself with a spray on the tongue or in some water (PS Rescue Remedy is our Product of the Month in October, on sale for 15% off)

4. Essential Oils. With a direct line from the nose to the brain, essential oils can shift your mood almost instantly with one inhale. Try blends we carry at Energy Matters like “Worry-Free,” or soothing scents like lavender, sweet orange or sandalwood.

5. Guided meditation. Take a deep breath and let someone else guide you to a calmer place. Try this easy stress-reduction meditation with Kirstin, or browse apps like Insight Timer.

Refreshing your skin care routine every few months is a great idea for a few reasons. Our skin becomes habituated to the...
11/14/2025

Refreshing your skin care routine every few months is a great idea for a few reasons. Our skin becomes habituated to the ingredients in products which makes them less effective, so mixing up what you’re using on a regular basis will help you get the most from your skin care routine. And as the weather around us changes, your skin’s needs will change too. Here are a few of my favorite products and ingredients to consider adding to your face and body care for Fall in the Bay Area.

SKIN CARE AND ESSENTIAL OIL OFFICE HOURS WITH CLINIC MANAGER KIRSTEN COWAN L.AC

Stop by Energy Matters on Tuesday November 18 from 12-2, and Thursday, November 20 from 3-5 pm, where Kirsten will be in our lobby for skin care and essential oil consultations, with lots to smell and skin care trial sizes you can purchase.

Our huge annual Face & Body Sale is coming up in December, so if you’d like to get advice or test out some of the products we carry before then, please stop by! You can also reach Kirsten any time for a virtual consultation or advice - clinic@energymatterseastbay.com.

A recent spate of studies and articles has focused on the health impacts of what the World Health Organization has calle...
11/13/2025

A recent spate of studies and articles has focused on the health impacts of what the World Health Organization has called The Loneliness Epidemic. “Being Lonely is the Equivalent of Smoking 15 Ci******es a Day!” shouted a recent headline I read. Alarming clickbait aside, traditional wisdom, common sense and our own lived experiences confirm what studies are saying. We need each other.

What are loneliness and social isolation?

Loneliness is a subjective feeling, defined by the WHO as the relationships in your life not matching what you need. Social isolation is more objective; literally not having people in your life or seeing people on a regular basis. Also important is social connection; how we relate to the people in our lives and the quality of those relationships. (read more from the World Health Organization report on loneliness)

What are the most significant health impacts of loneliness?

Recent reviews of research show that loneliness increases risk of death from all causes by one-third. Although stereotypes of loneliness are often of an elderly person, young people and adolescents report higher rates of loneliness than any other group, and the rate is rising.

We are wired for connection. When we are isolated or feel lonely, our bodies and brains hit the danger alarms and we move into fight-or-flight mode. Our immune, hormone and digestive systems become less effective, increasing vulnerability to infection, disrupting sleep and nutrient absorption, and increasing anxiety and depression. We’re also more likely to try to soothe ourselves in ways that damage our health like smoking, alcohol, or drug use.

Swipe through to see our Four Ways to Find Connection

Today is Veteran’s Day, marking the end of the First World War in 1918. While we hope for a time when all wars end, we’r...
11/12/2025

Today is Veteran’s Day, marking the end of the First World War in 1918. While we hope for a time when all wars end, we’re grateful to those who choose to serve their communities, in many ways. A few years ago we created our Community Discount Program. Clinic treatments, Qigong series, and the 21 Days to Better Health Program are all 20% off for current and former members of the military, K-12 teachers and students.

Energy Matters is also in-network with Veterans’ Affairs Community Care Network, offering acupuncture coverage to veterans with a referral from their VA doctor.

If you or someone you care about is a veteran with VA healthcare, or a student, teacher or member of the military eligible for our Community Discount Program, email or give us a call.

With shorter days and cooler weather on the horizon, humble root vegetables have their moment to shine! Eating seasonall...
10/02/2025

With shorter days and cooler weather on the horizon, humble root vegetables have their moment to shine! Eating seasonally is a wonderful way to diversify your diet, support your gut health and feel connected to the earth’s natural rhythms. Root vegetables like sweet potatoes, beets, turnips, celeriac, carrots and parsnips, are packed with fiber, satisfying ‘slow carbs’ and nutritional all-stars like lutein, beta carotene and a bevy of vitamins and minerals. If you haven't enjoyed them in the past, try roasting or airfrying them to enhance their natural sweetness. Our 21 Days to Better Health recipe guide has a bunch of easy recipes to try, like these warm and comforting sweet potato wedges.

Need a shortcut? Find frozen root vegetable fries in the freezer section of grocery stores like Trader Joe’s or Berkeley Bowl

ROASTED SPICED SWEET POTATOES WEDGES
1 teaspoon coriander seeds
1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes, or more to taste
1 teaspoon sea salt and freshly ground pepper
2 pounds medium sweet potatoes
3 tablespoons organic extra virgin coconut oil, warmed to liquid

Preheat oven to 425°F. Coarsely grind coriander, fennel, oregano, and red pepper flakes in an electric coffee/spice grinder or pound a bit with a mortar and pestle. Stir together spices and salt.
Cut potatoes lengthwise into 1-inch wedges. Toss wedges with oil and spices in a large roasting pan and roast in the middle of the oven for 20 minutes. Toss wedges around, and continue roasting until tender and slightly golden, 15 to 20 minutes more.

Massage is more than just relaxation, offering a number of health benefits beyond pain relief. An especially powerful ap...
10/01/2025

Massage is more than just relaxation, offering a number of health benefits beyond pain relief. An especially powerful application of massage is during pregnancy. Prenatal massage requires specialized training, and we’re so happy our Therapeutic Bodyworker Yolanda Cazares has brought that expertise to Energy Matters. Recently we chatted with Yolanda about what’s special about prenatal massage.

"While I have never been pregnant, I was close to my sister and some of my friends as they went through the wonderful transformation of becoming mothers. For them it was a time of discovery, joyful anticipation, and sometimes even anxiety. To me they seemed warm and radiant, very much like my orchids when they start growing little buds on their branches, so full of flowering energy, getting bigger day by day.

When I learned about pregnancy in massage school, I was amazed by the incredible rebalancing that is orchestrated through the endocrine system. Learning that bodywork could offer extremely useful physical and emotional support during this time of change inspired me to include prenatal massage as one of the modalities I practice." Check stories for full interview.

Qigong Fall Term begins the Week of October 6!Spread your wings with a 9-week journey through Wild Goose Qigong — a grac...
09/30/2025

Qigong Fall Term begins the Week of October 6!
Spread your wings with a 9-week journey through Wild Goose Qigong — a graceful, energizing practice rooted in Chinese medicine. Qigong is a simple, soothing and natural way to:

Improve your balance and mobility
Regulate your energy and mood
Strengthen your immune system
Keep you grounded and centered in body and mind

Choose from 6 weekly class times with online and in-person options. Whether you’re a dedicated practitioner, returning to the practice, or brand new to Qigong, our classes offer expert guidance and the benefits of support from teachers and classmates.

It happens gradually, of course, but one day a couple of weeks ago, I suddenly "felt Fall". It seems to happen over nigh...
09/25/2025

It happens gradually, of course, but one day a couple of weeks ago, I suddenly "felt Fall". It seems to happen over night - the angle of the sun changes, air flowing through my open window at night is cooler, in the late afternoon the trees are drenched in that rich golden light that seems to come from underneath.

It makes sense - the Autumnal Equinox is next Monday, September 22. My body has been taking note of the subtle changes over the past weeks, even if it takes my brain a while to catch up.

Fall Equinox marks the transition from days that are longer than the nights to nights that are longer than the days. Many people feel a sense of mourning with the passage of summer. From a Chinese Medicine perspective, the Fall is in fact associated with letting go, with grief and loss, with shedding that which is not serving us currently. So, it is not surprising there can be a bit of melancholy associated with this seasonal shift.

In times past, people went to bed earlier and slept longer in the darker months by necessity. We can of course carry on per usual with the benefits of “modern conveniences" like electricity. But our bodies are noting the changes, and there are simple things we can do to facilitate the recalibration.

Gradually shift your bedtime/wake up time to get more sleep - even 15 minutes makes a difference.

Sit outside a few minutes each day.

Change your workouts toward more inward and yin activities.

Visit your local farmer’s market and relish the bounty of late summer harvest.

Take stock of your “harvest” for this year; your veggie garden, your work, your creative projects, etc.

It doesn’t take much to tap into the ancient rhythms of humans living in alignment with the natural world. Your body will thank you.

Kirstin Lindquist

Source: Lots of mainstream tea companies use cheap green tea - sometimes literally the dustings left after packaging up ...
09/24/2025

Source: Lots of mainstream tea companies use cheap green tea - sometimes literally the dustings left after packaging up the good stuff to be sold at higher prices. Tea is one of those items where you get what you pay for. Purchase your tea from companies that specialize in green tea. I have purchased my tea from Strand Tea for the past 20 years. They only sell in bulk (no tea bags), and their teas are top quality at reasonable prices. They source from small farmers, often organic. I highly recommend Strand Tea. You can buy small quantities of several different teas initially and experiment to see which are your favorites. Mine are Tai Mu San, Cloud in Mist, and Genmaicha.

Water temperature: Don’t use boiling water on your green tea!! This will make it bitter and cause you to think “I don’t like green tea.” Green tea tastes best when steeped at about 175 degrees (water boils at 212). How to know? If you get into drinking green tea, you’ll want to get an electric kettle that allows you to set different temperatures. But with a regular kettle, bring the water to a boil, turn it off, and set a timer for 5 minutes before pouring the water over your tea leaves or tea bag.

Steeping time: Steeping time for green tea is typically 2-3 minutes. Oversteeping is another common mistake that leads to bitterness and the idea that you don’t like green tea.

Slow Down: We live in fast times. Tea is an opportunity to slow down, even for just five minutes. A great book to accompany tea drinking is Paul Rep’s Zen Telegrams. My favorite: Drinking a bowl of green tea I stopped the war.

With a little bit of experimentation, likely you can find a green tea (or two or three!) that brings you both taste and soul satisfaction. Please let me know if you have any questions or want to share your favorite tea tips

Wisdom Teachings for the PolycrisisMonday, September 29, 5:30-6:45pm, Energy MattersJoin Prajna Choudhury, Dharma Teache...
09/23/2025

Wisdom Teachings for the Polycrisis
Monday, September 29, 5:30-6:45pm, Energy Matters
Join Prajna Choudhury, Dharma Teacher in the lineage of Thich Nhat Hanh and Energy Matters staff acupuncturist, for a monthly gathering. Each session will focus on providing spiritual support during difficult times, including

Meditation (part guided, part silent) to help calm and ground
Discussion of the reading and how the teachings apply to our lives and times today
Opportunity to share and to listen deeply to others in our community.

For the next Wisdom Teachings for the Polycrisis, we will be visioning the world we want (not just resisting what we don't want), a key practice in Norma Wong's When No Thing Works: A Zen and Indigenous Perspective on Resilience, Shared Purpose, and Leadership in the Timeplace of Collapse. (affiliate link) You don’t need to have attended previous sessions to join.

Suggested donation is $10-20 and space is limited.

Wisdom Teachings for the Polycrisis - Monday, September 29, 5:30-6:45 PMFall 21 Days to Better Health Group - Starts Sun...
09/23/2025

Wisdom Teachings for the Polycrisis - Monday, September 29, 5:30-6:45 PM
Fall 21 Days to Better Health Group - Starts Sunday, September 28
New Qigong Term Begins - Week of October 6

Global Acupuncture Project started 25 years ago in Uganda, where they continue to instruct primarily medical doctors on...
09/13/2025

Global Acupuncture Project started 25 years ago in Uganda, where they continue to instruct primarily medical doctors on the use of acupuncture for those living with HIV. Their program in Mexico began following outreach from a midwifery institute that sought an acupuncture program for its students. Next came a call from a birthing clinic in Guatemala, where the program continues to focus on acupuncture education for midwives or parteras.

It was an amazing group of women, each woman carried a wealth of knowledge and experience from cities and towns of both Guatemala and El Salvador. Some were second or third generation parteras, and a few also came from lineages of spirit healers.

On this magical 13th Friday, read the rest of Kari Napoli's full essay on her experience this summer in Guatemala on the blog in bio.

Address

4341 Piedmont Avenue 2nd Fl
Oakland, CA
94611

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 6pm
Saturday 9am - 3pm

Telephone

+15105979923

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Energy Matters Acupuncture and Qigong helps people of the Bay Area live longer, healthier and stronger lives through personalized wellness and healing services using traditional Chinese medicine. Our skillful practitioners and accomplished teachers bring deep experience and care to the development and maintenance of our clients’ vitality and good health in mind, body, and spirit. We offer an array of services: -Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs -Orthopedic Acupuncture -Pediatric Acupuncture -Acupuncture for Beauty -Qigong Classes -21 Days to Better Health Program -Health and Well-being Lectures