By Leonard Melamed, Florida-licensed Acupuncture Physician · September 25, 2026
Neck tension that has settled in after too many long workdays. Sleep that won't come. A habit you have tried to quit more than once. Problems like these rarely stay in one part of life, and people looking for acupuncture in Hollywood, Florida are usually looking for more than a quick fix for a single symptom. They want someone who will look at the whole picture.
That is the approach at AcupunctChi Clinic on South Ocean Drive. Leonard Melamed has more than 45 years of clinical experience. He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree in 1977 before building his practice around Traditional Chinese Medicine, and today he is a Florida-licensed Acupuncture Physician, a National Board Certified Diplomate in Acupuncture (NCCAOM), and an internationally certified hypnotherapist. More about Leonard.
What acupuncture may help with
Acupuncture uses very fine, sterile, single-use needles placed at specific points on the body. Most people feel little more than a brief, mild sensation, and many find themselves deeply relaxed once the needles are in place.
Patients come to the clinic for a wide range of concerns, including:
- Pain — back, neck, joints, arthritis, headaches, fibromyalgia
- Sports, work-related and motor vehicle accident injuries
- Stress, anxiety, insomnia and depression
- Quitting smoking and other cravings
- Weight loss
- Infertility
- Support during cancer treatment
Results vary from person to person. A recent strain may respond differently from pain you have lived with for years. Acupuncture is not a substitute for emergency care, diagnosis, or treatment prescribed by your doctor; it works best alongside the care you already receive. See the full list of conditions we treat.
What happens at your first visit
A first appointment typically lasts one to one and a half hours. It begins with a thorough review of your medical and life history, followed by a Traditional Chinese Medicine examination — including your tongue, skin, eyes and pulse — and then treatment.
Because the tongue is part of that exam, please don't brush or scrape its coating on the day of your visit. Wear loose clothing that rolls up easily above the elbows and knees, avoid a heavy meal or alcohol beforehand, and plan a light meal and a quiet evening afterward. Full details are on preparing for your first appointment.
Some concerns ease after a single visit. Longer-standing problems usually need a course of treatment — often somewhere between three and ten sessions — and your plan is discussed openly, including when it makes sense to reassess.
Why a whole-person approach matters
Two people can arrive with the same complaint and need very different treatment. One person's migraines may come with jaw clenching, skipped meals and poor sleep; another's may follow hormonal changes or a period of intense stress. Treating only the place that hurts can miss the pattern behind it.
Traditional Chinese Medicine looks for those patterns — how physical symptoms, emotional strain and daily habits influence one another. Leonard's grounding in both Western medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine shapes how he reads your history and decides where to begin.
More than one tool
Acupuncture can be effective on its own, but some goals benefit from combining approaches. Depending on your needs and comfort, treatment may include cupping, acupressure, tui na, massage, auricular (ear) therapy, Reiki, reflexology, moxibustion or gua sha. Cupping may suit someone with muscular tightness, while acupressure or gentle bodywork adds a needle-free element for those who prefer it.
The point is not to add every therapy to every visit. Each one is chosen for a reason, and adjusted as your needs change.
When stress and habits are part of the story
Many health problems have a mental and emotional layer. You may know stress is making your pain worse and still find it impossible to slow down. You may want to stop smoking and discover that knowing why is not enough.
That is why Leonard developed Acupnosis — his own method, and his own name for it. It combines acupuncture and hypnosis in a single session, so the body and the habits of mind are addressed together. It is used for smoking and other cravings, anxiety, sleep, weight control and pain. Most people who come to the clinic are dealing with pain, stress, sleep problems or addiction, and in Leonard's experience Acupnosis is the most effective tool he has for all four. Hypnosis on its own is a more focused approach for chronic conditions and habits such as smoking, vaping and alcohol abuse — there is more about quitting smoking here.
Is acupuncture safe for me?
Acupuncture is generally well tolerated when performed by a licensed practitioner using sterile, single-use needles. Please tell us about your medications — especially blood thinners — as well as any diagnoses, pregnancy, bleeding disorders, pacemakers or other implanted devices, and recent procedures, so treatment can be planned appropriately.
If you have severe or sudden symptoms — chest pain, trouble breathing, sudden weakness, or thoughts of harming yourself — seek emergency medical or mental-health care rather than waiting for an appointment.
Visiting the clinic
AcupunctChi Clinic is at 3725 S. Ocean Dr., Unit CU1, Hollywood, FL 33019, in the Sea Air Towers building, and sees patients from Hollywood, Hallandale Beach and across South Florida. Hours are Monday to Friday by appointment, and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Not sure where to start? Call (754) 400-1008 for a free 15-minute phone consultation, and we will help you decide which therapy fits what you are dealing with — or make an appointment.