I say referrals are the best way but even then... someone who works for one person does not necessarily jell with another. I have been to dozens of acupuncturists here in the Bay Area. There are some that I really connected with but the commute was too long and there are others I did not connect with at all. One I found, liked and went to for a very long time but eventually we became friends so I stopped going to her professionally (due to ethical reasons). Now I'm searching for another one too. But honestly I start by going to people that my friends have seen and really liked. I do have the advantage of being almost finished with acupuncture school and being able to go to my supervisors now.

What to look for in a good acupuncturist - I think that's a very personal/individual question/answer. All the ones I have really liked have been very very very different! One was Chinese and spoke almost no English - he was fantastic!!!! One practices pre-Mao acupuncture - also fantastic!!!! Some rely more on herbs, others rely more on acupuncture. If you are not willing to take herbs than an herbalist might not be a good choice for you. Many have specialties. If you are going for pain, find a pain specialist. If you are going for fertility, find a fertility specialist. If you are interested in combining other alternative therapies there are acupuncturists that are also homeopaths or incorporate other modalities. I would say narrowing down what you're looking for is a good start. Then I would recommend trying one and seeing how you feel because in the end that will be the true test - your true answer - how your body and mind responds to a particular person.

If you just want acupuncture now and are worried about funds they do offer free acupuncture at the Haight Ashbury clinic on Monday mornings. The time, date, and clinic location may have changed so please check with them first. I have found exceptional acupuncture there myself. :)

I get this question all of the time at my website, as I specialize in fertility and it's hard to find an acupuncturist that treats infertility. While going with a referral is helpful, you may have different needs than a friend. So, I recommend checking out to see who is board certified in both acupuncture and Chinese herbs at www.nccaom.org first. Most acupuncturists take the acupuncture boards, but few take the herbal boards because they're extremely challenging and all acupuncture schools do no train their students in herbal medicine.

So, I think that if you get an acupuncturist that has taken both of these boards, you're getting a better trained acupuncturist and a more motivated one. Also, you can look at the listings in www.acupuncturetoday.com and www.acufinder.com for acupuncture listings. Of course, you can always Google "acupuncture" and "your city" and then read the reviews that are written about various acupuncturists.

Once you have a list of candidates, take an afternoon and give them all a call. See who returns your call and is willing to have a little chat with you on the phone. I believe that you can get a pretty good feeling for an acupuncturist over the phone and you can also ask her directly if she's knowledgeable about your particular condition.

Good luck!