Acupuncture Office of Duncan Macdonald

AMAZING. So many great and wonderful things to say about Duncan. I had the fortune of having a friend recommend him to me. I was scheduled for an unnecessary surgery for my knee complaints. Luckily, I made it to him first. I am now 6 months or so of Accupunture. And I have to say, I have no sign of my symptoms. I could not be more thankful for his guidance.

I was referred to Duncan for a shoulder inflammation issue that was not healing on its own. Acupuncture saved my shoulder and now it’s completely normal and healthy. Now I trust Duncan as my general health practitioner as he advises me on diet, fitness, and sleep habits as well as performing acupuncture. I have learned how to pay attention to my own habits and he gently suggested various changes to make. I’m so happy to have met Duncan and highly recommend him!

Duncan is tops! I have been treating with him for five years on and off. First was for tmj, my teeth and jaw hurt so from grinding and clenching. There were days when I couldn’t chew, he’s fixed that. Then a few years later my wrist was killing me from typing. Most recently I am treating with him post spine surgery. He’s extremely accessible, more than any other practitioner I have ever had, and I have had many, especially after this last year. He always squeezes me in and responds to all my inquiries. Even when I was laid up post surgery and the surgeon wouldn’t allow acupuncture yet, Duncan still responded to every inquiry I had. It’s obvious he cares about his patients. I will respond here for him, as to another reviewer’s comment about his cell phone– it’s how he buzzes in his clients! He’s always been responsive and focused on my sessions, never distracted. I recommend him all the time to people. If you want someone who really cares & doesn’t try to slap a bandaid on things, he’s the perfect one. He’s also helped my system process stress, which has literally lifted a lot of weight off my shoulders. He doesn’t over treat, and always has a dialogue with me, unlike other doctors who just talk at you. I highly recommend him.

I’ve been going to Duncan for two months now, and I am thankful for his treatment. It’s taken me awhile to get to acupuncture– versus other modalities, and luckily my body is responding. My muffin complaints are poor sleep, chronic lumbar issues, and other Neuromuscular issues. I found great relief yesterday with a lumbar flare up. After treatment, today I am able to get out of bed, and out of the house for a few hours. It feels good to move.

If I could teleport back every Thursday for my appointment, I would. That is how great Duncan is as an acupuncturist. I was skeptical a few years ago when my chiropractor recommended acupuncture but I’m sold! Recently I was in so much pain, on a scale of 1 – 10 it was a 10, sometimes an 11 or 12. One trip in and he’s got me down to about a 4. He also will give you herbs. I know, herbs? What is this voodoo stuff he’s doing over there. No seriously, the herb he gave me to relax, wow. I noticed a change almost instantly. He’s not going to cure you in one trip but I can guarantee he will change your life!
(By the way, the reference to teleporting is because I am moving and I wish I could take Duncan with me or teleport back for my appointment. Besides my friends it’s the number two thing I am going to miss in SF. I am an acupuncture convert thanks to him.)
Give it a chance, you won’t regret it! Oh and he takes Anthem Blue Cross insurance!

I went to Duncan in the hopes of treating a serious shoulder problem that I had inflicted upon myself from improper exercise over the years, and which had progressed to the point that I was unable to throw a baseball or lift a heavy object without pain. I had no prior experience or investment in acupuncture, so I believe my review is relatively free from bias that would result from a commitment to a certain mode of treatment.
Duncan’s treatment healed my shoulder perfectly: I have no residual pain or diminished range of motion. His demeanor during my treatment was thoughtful, focussed, and professional, and he took the necessary time to develop a real understanding of the problem rather than try to hurry something along, which I greatly appreciated. I would recommend his treatment without reservation, and am very glad I went to him to seek care. Particularly for joint injuries where lack of circulation can really impede healing, I think that his skill and means of treatment are unmatched.

I’ve been using acupuncture as my primary from of care for at least ten years, so I’m picky when it comes to finding a practitioner I can work with. After moving down to the Bay Area recently, friends of mine recommended Duncan highly, so I set up an appointment.
I find Duncan to be an excellent acupuncturist– what sets him apart from other practitioners is deep knowledge of Chinese medicine without a trace of arrogance or new-​agey rhetoric. He took the time to listen and get to know me as a patient, as opposed to trying to rush my appointments. His bedside manner is very relaxed, and his ability to focus on the problem at hand was much appreciated. Needless to say, his skill in treating my issues was evident when I felt better almost immediately, and have emerged from a few treatments with him healthier and happier.
I would not hesitate to recommend Duncan to family and friends– his skills in acupuncture and knowledge of Chinese herbs make him a great choice for treatment, and he is a pleasure to work with.
Thanks, Duncan!

Well, it looks like I’m going against the grain and breaking the bar for the 5 star experience that Duncan has claimed so far… but here goes.
I love my mama, but I inherited a really crappy sinus set-​up from her side of the family. So once every year or so, I suffer from a debiliitating sinus infection, which puts a big damper on the social calendar for 4 – 6 weeks. I recently felt another one coming on, and a few of my co-​workers recommended acupuncture treatment and Duncan MacDonald. Hey, I live in Chinatown, so why not try dabble in Eastern medicine?
Perhaps I’m bitter because I’m out $ 138 and the Chinese herbs and treatment was not the Jesus like miraculous cure that I was told it would be. However, I think that Eastern medicine and Duncan McDonald could learn a thing or 2 about bedside patient ettiquite from the good old traditional medical doctors. Never, and I mean NEVER, has a doctor (physician, gynecologist, podiatrist) checked their cell phone during the middle of my exam. Not only did Duncan do this once, but I counted 3 occasions where he responded to his cell phone while he was in the exam room treating me. To me, that is truly despicable behavior when I am paying $ 125 per hour for treatment. It shows me that he isn’t truly concerned or focused on my care or my needs when I’m sitting right in front of him, and that he is more focused on lining up another patient, coffee date, placing a Superbowl bet, etc. He had more than ample opportunity during the hour after he prodded me with needles to respond to whomever was calling/​texting. It would be different if he had been upfront and said that his wife was due with their firstborn at any moment or that his mother was dying, but it was nothing of the sort. I walked away from the experience feeling a bit hopeless with my sinus problems and that I would easily spend several hundred $$ for him to «cure» my symptoms. I hate saying that Aunt Helen is right, but I should have listened to her advice and booked an appt. with my PCP for a script for antibiotics instead of this ill-​mannered quack.

Duncan was referred to me by Taylor Rabbetz at Chiro Medical Group. While ramping up my training for the 2008 Ironman in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, I began experiencing debilitating hip and hip flexor pain.
My treatment with Taylor reached a point in which we couldn’t get over the «hump», but after adding Duncan’s acupuncture treatment to my physical therapy, I was able to resume, and increase my training.
Not only did Duncan help me to successfully get back to my training, it ultimately led to a 10:55 finish in my first Ironman. Most importantly, I raced and finished feeling healthy and strong.
If you are a cyclist, runner or triathlete and are suffering from an injury that is interrupting your training program, I would highly recommend that you contact Duncan.
Ray

Duncan did good diagnosis of my problems, explanation was clear, and he got me in much improved shape very quickly. Can’t recommend him highly enough. A fellow motorcyclist, he’s spirited, pleasant to deal with, and figures out just what the right treatment is. You won’t be disappointed. Mack

Duncan Macdonald was part of the «dream team» organized by Dr. Irene Minkowsky to fix my chronic back /​sciatica problems. He helped the sciatic nerve let go of the pain that had been troubling me for 3 years.

Another fan of Duncan Macdonald’s magic needles here. He’s an amazing healer and always has a cure or an herbal fix for whatever ails me.
He has been instrumental in my recovery from RSI, digestive issues, kidney problems, knots in my back from a crappy sleeping setup at Burning Man, anxiety before my wedding, jet lag, the common cold, PMS, and so many other ailments.
In addition to acupuncture, Duncan knows a ton about Chinese herbs and the importance diet plays on the health of the body. And he is all-​around cool dude with such an easygoing demeanor that you instantly feel comfortable sharing the most intimate details of your bodily functions with him.

I am a massage therapist in the same building as Duncan, and after expericing some problems with my hand, I am now undergoing treatment with Duncan. He’s a gem — and really seems to care about helping me. I am feeling better, it’s amazing the results I am experiencing through acupunture. He is a healer — I would highly reccomend him if you’re seeking acupunture from a true professional.

When my patients require acupuncture, I refer my patients ONLY to Duncan MacDonald. As a current patient of his, I find him to have a professional bedside manner, the most accurate diagnosing ability and the best skills to both put the patient at ease and deliver the best care necessary.
When tough cases present themselves, I find comfort in being able to refer to Duncan to help achieve the level of success needed.
Duncan brings the best of the eastern medicine into our western culture and describes it in a way that makes sense.