Transformational Acupuncture

I’d been experiencing a ton of symptoms (GI issues, loss of appetite, weight loss, nausea, tingling in fingers radiating up the arm to the face, numbness in face, blurred vision, lower back pain, insomnia, tension in neck and shoulders… I get it, I sound broken for a 29 year old). I ran $ 20K worth of tests (full physical, allergist, GI, neuro) only to have everything come back negative thus far. I asked my primary care to refer me to an acupuncturist b/​c I was desperate to try anything and my docs insisted we went the holistic way 1^st. I tried breathing exercises/​other stress relieving techniques and peppermint herbs to no avail. They recommended Transformational Acupuncture and I did what any good Unilocaler does, read the reviews! I made my 1^st appointment w/​Jeremy in October 2015 and have been going 2x/​week since. I’d never had acupuncture before so I did not know what to expect. I wasn’t sure it would even do anything but I’ve been converted.
Location — super convenient, a couple blocks away from Dupont Metro (north), right above Hair Cuttery.
Waiting area/​reception — tons of reading materials/​resources available on mindfulness, different techniques to relieve pain, herbs, etc. Always plays soothing music. No cell phones allowed to preserve the ambiance and respect those in treatment. Super surprised that they ALL took the time to learn my name and by my second appointment, knew who I was and greeted me on my arrival and departure. Super friendly bunch!!!
Treatment rooms — 2 wings w/​4 bays/​massage tables each separated by curtains. There is a private room as well, which doubles as Jeremy’s office. Depending on comfort level, it may be weird at 1^st to «share a room» during treatment b/​c you can hear the rustling of people getting on/​off the tables but I’ve had plenty of treatments where I completely fell asleep and woke up feeling like I’ve had a couple gin and tonics (totally relaxed). Each wing is heated w/​mini portable heaters and you can request a heater and blanket in your bay. (I always do b/​c part way through, my body is at a resting phase and cold).
Low Prices — $ 75 for the 1^st initial consult and treatment and then $ 55 for each acupuncture treatment thereafter. They take Federal Blue Cross Blue Shield (which provides 24 sessions, and can be upped an additional 10+ on a case by case basis). I have the higher coverage BCBS and each treatment comes out to between $ 5-​$ 9 and change, no joke. They have additional services which are not covered by insurance like Qi Qong and cupping, which run $ 75, in addition to the acupuncture charge because they are done together.
Method of treatment — They are constantly treating multiple people on a rotating basis, which allows for lower prices. They start with a check-​in to see how you’re feeling, what areas you want to target, how the last treatment worked/didn’t work, etc. Then, you go into a bay for needle placement. While you’re left to relax for 30 – 45 min, the practitioner does a check in and treatment w/​another patient. The appointments run in 15 min increments and if there is no one after you, they give you the option of resting w/​the treatment for an extra 10 – 15 min. Each session typically lasts a total of 60 min.
Styles — Each practitioner has a slightly different style but they share notes on you. Jeremy likes to chat and see what’s going on. Andrei and Courtney will check your pulse and tongue.
Jeremy’s touch is the lightest in terms of needle placement. He also has a ton of essential oils at his disposal and they can be incorporated into your treatment to help you relax more. My favorite have been the sweet orange and peppermint behind the ear. He also chats like a friend rather than a stuffy doctor type.
Andrei’s strength is in Qi Qong (energy work) on the body. I swear I’ve gone in feeling like I had a stomach ache and during acupuncture, he places his hand directly on my stomach, it gets super hot, and I feel better. It’s a really weird feeling that is indescribable. Based on my GI issues, lack of appetite, and insomnia, he prescribed a couple different Chinese herb concoctions. I’m Chinese and grew up going to the traditional Chinese medicine shops, you know, w/​the glass jars of tree bark, snake skin, dried seahorse, that you had to boil and drink. Here, the herbs are pre-​ground, completely water soluble and can be taken in a shot glass worth of water. $ 0.40 per 3 grams, a week’s worth was $ 21. He also does cupping (suction not fire) over a salve to massage the muscles and increase blood flow. It’s great every 2 weeks.
Final Result — not 100% but significantly better than when I first started. Feeling a bit more relaxed and my symptoms are subsiding. I’ll continue coming here, even after my symptoms are completely gone, for stress maintenance and the lovely naps induced by acupuncture which force me to CTFD. I’ve already recommended this place to my dentist and a gf.

Extreme healing. Profound kindness. An environment that is so comfortable one feels cradled.. . Transformational Acupuncture, a treasure tucked behind Dupont Circle, should be discovered by all.
Thank you, Nadia, Office-​Guru-​and-​Visionary, and Jeremy, Healer-​and-​Listener-​Extraordinaire, for uniting your exceptional energies to transform the lives of so many and mine, especially. Every visit with you results in my spirit soaring, my physical-​self jubilant with appreciation, and my mind ecstatically awakening to the wisdom of alternative methods.
Destined to be leaders in your field, I feel pleased and proud to have basked in your attentions early on.. . Our every interaction I savour and your newsletters I devour as manna as I await the next. Love reading and re-​reading your articles, conducting the research they inspire, and following-​up with my questions.
Like twin-​stars that pulse brightly to form the impression of one (Capella of the Auriga Charioteer Formation, particularly visible in the winter night sky), Nadia and Jeremy lead us and their superlative team in an enduring quest for health and serenity. Five out of five stars for this constellation of talents.

I highly recommend Transformational Acupuncture! I went in seeking treatment for tendinitis in my shoulder. I tried everything from cortisone, physical therapy, and massage therapy to no avail. After my first acupuncture treatment, I noticed an immediate relief to pain and within 10 treatments my pain subsided completely. It has been two months since my last treatment and I am still pain free! Pricing is fair and the entire staff is awesome! A great place for holistic medicine in the heart of DC.

This place has changed my life! I am so grateful for the pain relief in my neck/​head/​shoulders/​upper back that I have experienced in a very quick period of time. I felt a major change after just one visit. It has made me a better person, even helping relieve other pains in my body, such as the stomach, due to the stress relief.
I tried the chiropractor, massage, stretching and yoga, but there was never any lasting real relief.
My insurance covers a big chunk of the cost. The facility is super clean and welcoming, and you can’t beat the location. I have had treatments from all 3 of the specialists, and everyone including the support staff is super friendly and genuine.
The temporary pain of the needles is worth it a million times over; besides, only a couple of spots are a little painful. I will be a patient for as long as I am in D.C.

I first went to Transformational Acupuncture when I was faced with spine surgery and in serious pain. Dr. Riesenfeld and his staff were amazing. He takes the time to listen at every session not only to the pain I’m experiencing but also to what is going on in my life to contribute to it. It’s rare to find a place where they will spend the time listening before treating. He has helped me so much I stopped going to my other doctors and only go to Transformational Acupuncture. They also offer many other services all in one place for a complete holistic approach. I wouldn’t go anywhere else.

I’ve been struggling with chronic illness, fatigue, and lower back pain for years and have needed that extra «umph» to get me feeling better. I’ve seen Jeremy several times and have already felt much better. I’m looking forward to working with him intensively over the coming weeks/​months. I feel like he’s a great listener and understands my mental and physical situation and is committed to helping me be more well.
I have tried accupuncture before, all with good results. But Jeremy is the first practioner who I’ve seen who tries to really get to know his clients so he can best treat them.
Having a holistic healer is something I’ve been searching for in Washington for years, and I hope that Jeremy will be that missing piece I’ve needed in my quest to get back to better health.

These past few months have been the hardest in my life. I have experienced excruciating pain in my legs from a chronic running injury and have tried everything under the sun to heal them. The acupuncture I have received at Transformational Acupuncture has provided me the best relief out of anything I have tried. Jeremy is an extremely talented healer, and all of the staff here are deeply compassionate souls paying close attention to every detail of your ailment. After dealing with this issue for so long and feeling alone and lost in my misery, it has been such a breathe of fresh air to go somewhere where I feel like someone actually cares. Nadiya is such a gem at the front desk and is always so sweet and uplifting! She always has something positive to say and makes everyone feel at home.
The schedule is convenient to book online and they accept insurance which makes it possible for a broke gal like me to be able to have acupuncture! They also sell affordable Chinese herbs and Jeremy makes recommendations based on your injury. I am excited to try them out tonight! Location is wonderful right in the heart of DuPont circle and the space is gorgeously decorated providing an atmosphere of relaxation. I am hoping to continue down the road to recovery and I am profoundly grateful to have found Transformational Acupuncture.

My motivation for the day was down. I felt ill equipped to handle my responsibilities. I have felt this way before and have just rode it out. I never really saw this sort of mallaise as treatable.
My energy changed when I got to the office. Further after my lifestyle discussion with Jeremy and fully after the treatment.
My understanding of Chinese medicine is remedial, but I understand enough to know that Jeremy influenced my energy in a way that was lasting and powerful.
I left the office feeling upbeat and secure in the knowledge that acupuncture works and that Jeremy is an expert.

I went here when I was desperate to get rid of shoulder/​upper back pain. The pain was to the point where I couldn’t stop thinking about it, but medically, it seemed like nothing was wrong. I never really believed in alternative healing methods but a friend suggested I go to an acupuncturist. She was an acupuncturist herself (but out of town), and suggested Jeremy based on his website.
Jeremy tried a few different techniques on my pain, but ultimately fixed it using a technique called Gua Sha. Basically, he literally scraped away my back pain with an instrument. I could feel the relief immediately. I went back about three times within the next month. Now I go about every six months for one treatment.
The difference has been amazing. I can’t explain how great it is to not feel back pain for six months to someone who hasn’t had it constantly.
Jeremy also suggested changes to my workspace to decrease the pressure on that area of my back, as well as explained ways we tense up our back when we are nervous or anxious. Now when I am anxious, I actively think about how my back is and release it. This advice combined with his treatments have left me relatively pain free. It is unbelievable to me because I had put up with this pain for so long.
I highly recommend him, and remember, it may take a few methods to figure out which is the best for your specific type of pain.

I’m a little confused about why all of Transformational Acupuncture’s reviews are filtered. Perhaps because they’re all uniformly so good? But if that’s the case, I hope Unilocal figures out that the reviews are so positive because Jeremy is just great at what he does, not because of review-​spammers.
Jeremy takes care to get to know the whole patient, requiring his clients to submit a thorough questionairre prior to meeting them, then engaging the client in a detailed conversation about physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of his or her wellbeing prior to giving any acupuncture treatment. The treatments I’ve received from him thus far have been effective, and should the need arise, I’ll certainly be going back to him.

Jeremy’s ability to be present with you, his wisdom and authentic interest in your excellence goes beyond medicine to addressing the core of what is possible for you as a human being regardless of where you are in your life. Through working with Jeremy I discovered that I set the bar of my health too low. Well-​being is not simply the absence of illness and symptoms — it’s a sense vitality and aliveness! Transformational acupuncture doesn’t just get rid of your pain and symptoms — it gives you back your zest for life!