Larisa Rich Acupuncture in Belmont, MA

93 Concord Ave, Suite #5

Some of my favorite things about acupuncture

It is Effective

Treatment is Based on You

It is Gentle and Safe

It is so rewarding to see people after treatment with less or no pain, feeling calmer, more centered, rested and rejuvenated and watch as symptoms subside with each treatment.

Acupuncture treats your physical and emotional body and your mind. Issues tend to spill into each other. Physical pain can create emotional pain and the other way around.

It is Gentle and Safe

Treatment is Based on You

It is Gentle and Safe

Most people fall asleep or enter a deep state of relaxation during treatment. When I get acupuncture, this is definitely my favorite part. Good bye stress, worries, pain, etc...

And no risky side effects!

Treatment is Based on You

Treatment is based on your acupuncture diagnosis (symptoms, pulse, tongue and abdominal readings) and addresses the root of the problem.

In different people, the same symptoms can stem from different causes (weaknesses). Your treatment must match your individual diagnosis to be effective.

About My Practice

Styles of Acupuncture

What To Expect On Your First Visit

I practice Chinese, Japanese, non-insertive and auricular (ear) styles of acupuncture. To make an acupuncture diagnosis I will:

ask you a lot of questions (all styles),
take your pulse (all styles),
look at your tongue (Chinese style),
palpate your abdomen and some other points on your body (Japanese and needle free styles),
look at your ea

I practice Chinese, Japanese, non-insertive and auricular (ear) styles of acupuncture. To make an acupuncture diagnosis I will:

ask you a lot of questions (all styles),
take your pulse (all styles),
look at your tongue (Chinese style),
palpate your abdomen and some other points on your body (Japanese and needle free styles),
look at your ears and check some ear points (auricular acupuncture),
fewer needles, less stimulation (Japanese style), more needles and more stimulation (Chinese style).

Additional techniques that apply to all styles:

moxa - heat therapy or burning of the mugwort herb on specific points,
cupping - suction cups applied to the area of pain or congestion to promote circulation.

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What To Expect On Your First Visit

Plan for an 80 minute appointment.

You will answer a lot of health questions.

Wear loose comfortable clothing, if possible, and drink water before the treatment.

Acupuncture is not recommended right after a big meal, in a state of extreme hunger or intoxication.

If possible, please fill out a health questionnaire before your visit (see

Plan for an 80 minute appointment.

You will answer a lot of health questions.

Wear loose comfortable clothing, if possible, and drink water before the treatment.

Acupuncture is not recommended right after a big meal, in a state of extreme hunger or intoxication.

If possible, please fill out a health questionnaire before your visit (see below).

Please, don't hesitate to contact me, if you have any questions.

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Schedule Online

Fees and Specials

What To Expect On Your First Visit

Fees and Specials

Initial visit (80 min) - $125;
Follow up visits (50 to 70 min)- $95

Sliding scale: $75 - $95

Some insurance companies cover acupuncture. Please speak to your insurance company. A receipt can be provided for reimbursement.

I accept Venmo, Visa, Master Card, American Express, Discover, Flex. spending cards; Personal checks and cash.

Conditions Treated

Cardiovascular - Hypertension, hypotension, heart palpitations;

Digestive - acid reflux, colitis, Chron's disease, hemorrhoids, IBS, constipation, loose stool, nervous stomach;

Emotional - anxiety, anger, depression, irritability, nervousness, mood swings, seasonal mood changes;

Neurological - migraine headaches, MS and Parkinson's - quality of life;

Pain management (acute and chronic) - neck, back, carpal tunnel, sciatica, arthritis, joint pain, tendonitis, frozen shoulder, headaches, migraines, TMJ;

Women's health - PMS, menstrual irregularities, perimenopause and menopause symptoms, infertility, pain management during pregnancy, breach babies;

Upper respiratory - asthma, allergies, cold, sinusitis;

Urinary problems - frequent urination, UTI, urgency, incontinence, urine retention;

Others - sleep problems, Meniere's disease, vertigo, dizziness.

Acupuncture is a valuable therapy to complement western medicine treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, pre and post operative care, side effects of western medications, life quality for people with MS and Parkinson's.

My Story

My interest in Eastern philosophies started after watching my first martial arts movie in my early twenties in my home town Riga, Latvia, then part of the Soviet Union. The movie made me think there must be something more behind the movements. I started researching Buddhism, Zen Buddhism and Confucianism. It wasn't an easy task: Martial arts and Eastern philosophies were banned in the Soviet Union and there was nothing published on the subject after 1917. I was reading old books, most of them on microfilm, and my friends were sure I would be black listed and punished, but I found it absolutely fascinating and worth the risk.

With Perestroika came the first teachers of meditation. I learned how to meditate and worked as a translator for the teachers as they taught hundreds of people to meditate for the first time. With more openness came other international projects and more unexpected events followed - I found myself living in Boston where I finished my thesis on Gary Snyder and Zen Buddhism.

I had my first acupuncture treatment in a response to a stubborn sinus infection where nothing else had worked. As I left the office after the treatment I was amazed that my sinuses were completely cleared. Words of Confucius came to mind: you start with yourself, then your family, then the people. Right there, standing on the steps, I thought - that is what I want to do. Months later my younger daughter started kindergarten and I started acupuncture school.

I earned my Master's degree in Chinese and Japanese Acupuncture at the New England school of Acupuncture, the oldest school of Oriental Medicine in the United States. I interned at Mount Auburn Hospital's Women's Center and other hospitals in the Boston area and also studied other styles of acupuncture with amazing teachers like Dr.Tan, Shoji Kobajashi, and K.Kuwahara (my first acupuncturist and teacher).

I have been practicing since 2006 and have treated people with numerous issues, including women's health, people going through chemo and radiation for cancer treatment, breach babies, chronic pain and those suffering from emotional problems such as anxiety and depression. I am privileged to be a part of people's journey to wellness.

Nutritional recommendations based on your acupuncture diagnosis have become a big part of my practice, as I have found that food is the cheapest medicine! You have to eat and your choices can speed up or hinder your healing process.

I love to spend time with my family - my wonderful husband and two amazing daughters. Yoga, meditation and gardening are my favorite things to do.