Inclusive,
Sliding-Scale Community Acupuncture.
Services
Sliding Scale
Sliding scale treatment is an honor based system designed to make services more affordable, while honoring the practitioner’s time, labor, and expertise.
The lower end of the scale is for those who do not have expendable income.
The middle part of the scale is for those who can afford to buy coffee, go out to eat, or get a tattoo.
The higher end of the scale is for those who make over $70k per year, take vacations, have generational or other wealth, or don’t stress about money.
Please pay what is realistic for you, while noting you’re supporting a small practice with big dreams.
Acupuncture
First Visit $40-60
BIPOC & Transfems $35-55
Return Visits $30-60
BIPOC & Transfems $25-55
Acupuncture is administered in a large room with several recliners that other patients are simultaneously receiving treatment in. Several medical-grade HEPA air purifiers are utilized throughout the space. KN95 masks are required and provided upon arrival, though bringing your own mask is preferred and appreciated.
Herbal Medicine
Herbal Consultation $20-40
Add-on to acupuncture
Herbs sold separately
Telehealth Consultation $40-60
Herbs sold separately
Herb shipping costs apply
Herbal consultation fees apply when new herbal formulas are prescribed. There is no fee to re-purchase herbs that have already been prescribed.
Body Work
Cupping $60
Gua Sha $60
Moxibustion
Add-on to acupuncture $5-10
Stand-alone moxa pricing is the same as the acupuncture sliding scale
Body work is not available for online booking.
Yvi is a disabled practitioner with chronic pain, so they may not always be able to accommodate cupping or gua sha requests. Contact directly to inquire.
About
Yvi Hyacinthe, L.Ac.
“ee-vee high-uh-synth”
they/them
Yvi Hyacinthe, L.Ac., MACHM (they/them) is an acupuncturist passionate about leveling disparity in American healthcare. From disability injustices to blatant medical racism, Yvi understands how the American healthcare system is designed to oppress. It is Yvi’s life mission to provide inclusive and accessible healthcare to as many people as possible, which is reflected in their sliding-scale, mask-required clinic model.
Yvi is no stranger to chronic illness, pain, and the frustrating limitations of disability. This deep understanding is reflected via empathy and compassion in their acupuncture practice, as well as diligent COVID precautions in their day-to-day life.
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Graduating from Pacific College of Health and Science in 2024, Yvi obtained their Master’s Degree in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine (MACHM), becoming a licensed acupuncturist (L.Ac.) in 2025. Yvi completed clinical rotations at Rush University’s Supportive Oncology unit, treating cancer patients with adjunctive acupuncture, and Chicago Women’s Health Center, providing affordable acupuncture to women and trans folks alike.
Outside of the clinic, Yvi enjoys spending quality time with their cats and close friends, and finds joy in hobbies such as reading, playing guitar, singing, songwriting, tending to houseplants, playing dress-up, pole dancing, and riding their motorcycle.
Liberation Acu
Liberation Acu is a small acupuncture practice with infinite dreams. The community clinic opened its doors on Lunar New Year of 2026, providing accessible acupuncture to overlapping queer, trans, disabled, and BIPOC communities. Liberation Acu’s high-volume pace is grounded via patient empathy, attention to detail, and vast intentionality.
Fueled by value-aligned comrades who are passionate about community wellness, Liberation Acu further serves its community by offering free Traditional Chinese Medicinal services at community health events and street pop-ups around Chicago. Click here to see which events Liberation Acu is currently organizing.
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Liberation Acu is based out of Lincoln Square Acupuncture, an Asian-owned family business and Chicago’s fist community acupuncture clinic that has been thriving for over 20 years. The ongoing wisdom and mentorship of David and Rosa Kato of Lincoln Square Acupuncture has been crucial to Liberation Acu’s success, and the depth of our gratitude cannot be understated.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Acupuncture is pillar of Traditional Chinese & East Asian Medicine that has been cultivated over 4,000 years. It is a powerful, non-invasive, and relatively painless treatment modality that uses tiny needles to treat a wide variety of health conditions. From every day aches and pains to chronic and serious illness, acupuncture plays a critical roll in maintaining health of all ages.
Traditional Chinese medicine views the body like a road map, and qi (life force energy) and blood are like cars on the road. Qi and blood can get stuck, like a traffic jam, causing pain, illness, or disease (dis-ease) to occur. Acupuncture needles “direct traffic” in the body, reducing pain, healing illness, and harmonizing the functions of the body.
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Some patients don’t feel needle insertion at all. Some may feel, at worst, the sensation of plucking a single hair. Acupuncture needles are a fraction of the size of needles used at the doctor’s office, about as thin as a strand of hair.
Patients often feel subtle shifts in the body, leading to deep relaxation; many fall asleep during treatment! Warmness, dullness, heaviness, or a slight ache around acupuncture needles are all normal, even desired, sensations from acupuncture - it’s the qi (life force energy) arriving to the needle do its job.
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No, I am not a massage therapist. I recommend Alex at VIP bodywork in Uptown (discounted on ClassPass), Clay Hands in Albany Park, or Body Euphoria in Ravenswood.
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Yes! You may choose to get treated with a friend or family member, in which case bookings are scheduled back-to-back. If you just want someone there for support, they are welcome, as long as they wear a mask (provided) and keep talking volume to a minimum.
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If you unblock traffic at the exit of a highway, the highway flows more freely and swiftly. Similarly, energetic acupuncture channels are connected all throughout your body. By moving stuck qi (life energy) and blood in one area, another area also feels relief. Points on the arms and legs are most commonly utilized in community acupuncture models, since patients are treated in recliners instead of a massage table.
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Acupuncture visits take about an hour in total. Gua sha and cupping appointments are 30 minutes each.
Because of the nature of the community clinic, new patients are seen every 15 minutes. If one patient is running late, it can affect the entire schedule. I try my best to start and end on time, but your patience is very much appreciated! Please let me know if you need to leave by a specific time, so we can accommodate accordingly.
Please allocate an extra 10-15 minutes for parking.
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Wear comfortable, loose fitting clothing that can be rolled up past the knees and elbows. Make sure to eat an hour or so before your appointment - please do not arrive with an empty stomach.
Schedule extra time (10-15 min) to find parking if you are driving. For more information about parking and location, visit our Location & Accessibility section.
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Upon arrival, you will take off your shoes & coat, put on a mask (provided), use the restroom if needed, and pick a recliner.
There will be a slightly longer intake during your first visit to establish care. For returning visits, we discuss any changes since the last visit (~5 min). Needles are then inserted (~5 min). I will answer any questions, and guide you through the process so that you feel comfortable and safe. You will rest (~30-40 minutes), until needles are removed. We will then schedule your next visit.
For ease, we charge the card on file after your appointment. Cash is accepted, though the clinic doesn’t offer change.
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After your treatment, you may feel relaxed or sleepy. Some may feel slightly stiff or sore, which is normal, and typically resolves within 24 hours. Bruising is uncommon, yet normal.
Resting afterwards makes your acupuncture treatment more effective. Be sure to drink plenty of water. Avoid alcohol and stressful activities 24 hours after your treatment, if possible.
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Gradual improvement is generally seen after each weekly visit, although recovery is not a linear process. In general, the longer you have had an ailment, the longer it will take to see results; the shorter you have had an ailment, the quicker the results. Improvement also depends on patient lifestyle and circumstance.
Recent (acute) conditions will likely see improvement between 2-4 visits. For acute ailments, 2 treatments in one week is generally more effective than 2 treatments in one month. Long standing (chronic) conditions are generally treated 1-2x a week for 8-12+ weeks.
After you start to feel better, treatment frequency is typically decreased. Some patients continue to receive acupuncture to maintain health or manage stress, even after they start to feel better; health preservation and illness prevention is crucial to long-term wellness.
Location
4720 N. Lincoln Ave, 2nd Floor
Chicago, IL 60625
Sunday 11:30 - 5:00 pm
Tuesday 12:00 - 5:00 pm
Liberation Acu is proud to be based out of Lincoln Square Acupuncture, Chicago’s first community acupuncture clinic.
The clinic is a few doors North of Merz Apothecary, above SmileWorks Dentistry. The glass door is street level, with a red sign that says “Lincoln Square Acupuncture.”
Parking & Transit
We are within walking distance of the Western Brown Line and 49 & 81 busses. There are also several nearby bike locking stations available on Lincoln.
There is paid parking on Lincoln Ave and outside the Western Brown Line, though they are typically full. We recommend utilizing free street parking around Oakley and Giddings, as well as the 2200 block of Leland, east of Lincoln.
Accessibility
Patients are asked to wear a KN95 mask when in the clinic space to prevent the spread of COVID and other air-born illness. Masks are provided, although bringing your own mask is preferred and appreciated.
We utilize 3 large, medical-grade HEPA air purifiers.
The space is a second floor walk up via one flight of stairs - sadly, there is no elevator. We understand how frustrating and disappointing this is, and we are working towards solutions to make the clinic space more accessible. Please feel free to reach out with any questions.
There is also one non-gendered, single occupancy bathroom.
Patient Reviews
Contact
773-280-7036 (text preferred)
Liberationacu@Protonmail.com
All acupuncture and herbal appointments can be booked online.
Please reference our FAQ and Location & Accessibility sections before submitting a question.
To inquire about event organizing or to request a body work (gua sha or cupping) appointment, please fill out the following form.
We look forward to hearing from you!