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Quality, accessible acupuncture and herbs in Asheville, NC
Sliding-scale care for all.
ALL WELCOME
No ID required.
Gentle, consent-driven, personalized acupuncture treatments at a price you can afford.
First Treatment: $40-$65
Return Treatments: $25-$50
Quality, accessible, acupuncture for all.
Quality, accessible, acupuncture for all.
This clinic is a safe space for all genders, sexualities, races, religions, body types, and abilities. I value community and strive to make room for the most marginalized so that we can all benefit and create an inclusive environment.
open hours
Sun 9am-2pm
Mon 12pm-6pm
Tues 12pm-6pm
Wed 9am-2pm
Thurs 9am-1pm
Closed Fridays and Saturdays
We close an hour after our last appointment time.
Walk-ins always welcome!
Our online scheduler will always reflect the most accurate availability. Please check here for any clinic schedule changes.
What Can Acupuncture Help With?
Acupuncture is a whole medical model that treats the whole body using the ancient wisdom of Chinese Medicine. Here are just a few examples of what acupuncture can be used for:
Musculoskeletal and Neurological Pain
Arthritis, back pain, muscle cramping, muscle pain and weakness, neck pain, sciatica, headaches, migraines, bladder dysfunction, postoperative pain.
Gynecological, Respiratory, and Digestive
Menstrual pain, infertility, perimenopause, menopause, urogenital concerns, allergies, sinusitis, bronchitis, gastritis, irritable bowel syndrome, hepatitis, hemorrhoids.
Mental Emotional Health and Addiction
Anxiety, depression, insomnia, PTSD, nervous system regulation, quitting smoking, addiction and much more.
Meet Your Acupuncturist
Megan Grace Smith, L.Ac. (they/she)
Owner and Acupuncturist
Megan is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist and is passionate about providing quality healthcare in a community setting through low-cost acupuncture. They are originally from the Dallas, Texas area and moved to Asheville to attend Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical Arts. They fell in love with community acupuncture when they understood the revolutionary potential for healing that happens in a shared group space. In a world on fire and with ever-growing inequity in healthcare, community acupuncture meets a need for individual healing and self-regulation within communities.
Quality, Accessible Acupuncture for All
Parking
Plenty of free parking is available at Regent Park center.
Handicap and Wheelchair accessible parking is located directly in front of our suite.
Contact
Call or Text: (828)407-8198
hello@middlegroundavl.com
Your Questions, Answered
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Community acupuncture is an affordable care model that is based on the way that acupuncture is practiced in East Asia where acupuncture is used multiple times a week or even daily to get desired results.
We use an open area with several reclining chairs where each person is treated individually while also creating a shared healing space.
This model allows acupuncture to be more affordable for the patient, for patients to get the number of treatments needed, and for the acupuncturists to treat more people overall.
The clinic really is about the community and want you to feel like you’re participating in creating a safe, healing environment together.
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You can pay exactly what you can afford and we won’t ask questions about your income. I want you to be able to comfortably afford the treatments that you’re getting.
I also want this medicine to reach as many people as possible and your investment and participation are greatly appreciated.
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Yes, it really will! This community acupuncture clinic uses what is called “distal” acupuncture. That means we use points that are on your hands, arms, feet, legs and head to treat pain and other symptoms anywhere on your body.
We can treat sciatica, low back pain, digestive issues, and any number of other concerns by using points on the limbs that show referred tenderness, tightness, or weakness from other parts of the body.
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I completely understand. A lot of people have fear and trauma around needles. However, I use hair-thin, flexible needles that are vastly different from the hypodermic needles that you might be used to from your doctor’s office.
Acupuncture needles are very fine and are quickly inserted in certain acupoints. Each point is different but if it does hurt it will be short-lived and then you will get to relax and nap for the rest of your time.
Common sensations are a dull, achy, or sometimes a zingy feeling but if it is sharp and stays sharp past insertion just let me know and I’ll quickly adjust.
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As a general rule I recommend a 10 treatment course where you come in 2 times a week. This greatly depends on how long you’ve had the condition. I will also talk with you about your case and give you a treatment plan.
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I unfortunately do not accept insurance or provide codes for insurance reimbursement. As a community acupuncture clinic I provide low-cost acupuncture as a means to make this medicine more accessible to more people. However this means that I do not handle insurance. I will happily provide receipts from our point of sale system for you to use as you wish.
I take HSA/FSA but are not able to provide more information than what is provided by the receipts generated by my point of sale system.
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There are many ways for you to participate in your healing outside of acupuncture alone. To counter our fast-paced culture, make time and space for regularly slowing down and finding enjoyment in your life.
Whether that’s cooking a meal with seasonally available foods, sharing a meal with friends, a guided meditation, or a walk on your favorite trail.
I also offer prepared Chinese herbal formulas that can be prescribed for your specific imbalances.
Chinese herbal formulas are not prescribed based on condition but on a cluster of symptoms which can change over time. The herbal formulas can be seen like foods that you’re ingesting and are usually recommended to take three times a day to keep them in your system.
Talk with your acupuncturist to find out more about our affordable Chinese herbal formulas.
Another way you to extend the benefit of your treatment is through home moxibustion heat therapy. Moxibustion is a form of heat therapy that uses dried mugwort that is applied to the body in many different forms to bring healing and balance.
It can be done at home to help with problems like digestion, sleep, depression and anxiety, pain relief, and so much more. Moxa is especially great during the colder months and during seasonal transitions.
Click here for our At Home Smokeless Moxa Guide for general health and wellness that is safe for home and apartment use. You can pick up your smokeless moxa sticks at your next visit from the product shelf in the waiting area.
New Patients
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Simply click on the button at the top of the page, create an online account with our scheduling system, and then book your first appointment.
You will receive a confirmation email once you schedule your appointment and in this email will be a link to fill out your intake forms online.
Please do this before your appointment to make things more efficient at check in.
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Treatments are given in a lounging position in recliner chairs. To help us get to the points that are needed, you can wear loose fitting and comfortable clothing (wide leg pants, shorts, skirts, short sleeves, or loose sleeves that can be rolled up).
We will need access to areas on both your arms and legs.
If you need a blanket, please bring one from home. Our goal for this clinic is that every patient feels that they’re participating in creating a healing community environment. This is one way you can participate; we also have blankets on request for those that need them.
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Please enter the clinic with an awareness that this is a shared healing space. We ask that you enter quietly and use your “library voice”, and please do not take calls in the clinic.
When you have arrived for your appointment, you can simply wait in the lobby for your acupuncturist to check you in and begin the intake process.
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This part is short and simple and will take only a few minutes. Since we are a low-fee, high-volume clinic, it helps us if you fill your paperwork out beforehand so we can spend our intake time together getting to know more about your symptoms and make a treatment plan specific for you.
Payment is due at check-in for each appointment. We accept cash, card, check, or Venmo. Gift Cards are available for purchase. You can also purchase treatments ahead of time and get tokens applied to your account.
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After check-in, you can make your way to the treatment room and settle into your chair. You will find a basket on the side of your chair to place your shoes, socks, and belongings.
Please silence your phone.
Soft, relaxing music will be playing in the treatment room. You are also more than welcome to bring ear plugs to block noise or ear buds or headphones to listen to music or podcasts during your treatment.
Get comfy and expect to be in the chair for about 40 minutes. If you need to leave sooner please let us know beforehand.
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Alright, that’s it! You’ll get the hang of it in no time at all. Oh, and one last tip, always have a little something to eat before your treatment. This way your body is also ready for the work of receiving a treatment. We look forward to seeing you in the recliners!
*24 HOUR CANCELLATION POLICY
We’re able to keep our fees low by treating as many people a day as possible. That is why we ask that you give 24 hour notice for all cancellations so that another patient has the opportunity to be seen. For late cancellations and missed appointments there will be a $25 fee.
**SICK POLICY
We ask that you please stay at home if you have a fever of 100 degrees or more, have an active respiratory infection, or have tested positive for Covid or flu in the last five days. If you have a cough, please wear a mask in the clinic to prevent potential infections from spreading to anyone else.
Gentle, consent-driven, sliding scale acupuncture.
Clinic Disability Guide
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We aim to be an inclusive and accessible space for everyone and hope the following information will let you navigate our clinic with more confidence.
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Please feel free to call us to ask any questions you may have about accessibility in our clinic, we would love to see how we can accommodate your needs.
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This is available directly in front of the clinic door with a curb cut on the sidewalk.
Let us know ahead of time if you need help entering the clinic.
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Our clinic floors are level throughout and do not have and stairs or steps. Hallways and rooms are wide enough to accommodate all patients’ ease-of-use throughout the clinic.
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Located at the back of the clinic, the restroom is wheelchair accessible and includes grab bars near the toilet for useability and safety for everyone.
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As a high-volume, low-fee community clinic we treat in reclining chairs but for patients with different abilities and needs we have one private treatment room with a massage table to accommodate anyone that isn’t able to use the recliners or is immunocompromised.