Agency Details:

The mission of the Immune Enhancement Project is to promote healing and wellness by providing high quality, accessible and affordable Traditional Chinese Medicine and other healing arts to the community. Our overriding goal is to address the needs of racial, ethnic, linguistic and other cultural populations that experience unequal access to health care services. Our policy is to provide acupuncture and nutritional information to anyone who walks through the door seeking services, regardless of ability to pay. Our vision is a vibrant, healthy community, supported in it's need for compassionate and effective health care. Our goal is to have health care be a human right, not a privilege of those who have money. Our dream is to be a part of the solution to the health care crisis in America by helping those in our immediate community and all communities in need.

Description:
"Our commitment is to offer our services in a safe, friendly environment and to provide healing arts to people of all gender identities, ethnicities, class status, sexual orientations, ages, body size, disabilities and economic situations. We embrace a philosophy of inclusion and make every effort to make our services accessible to persons living with specific challenges or disabilities."

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is holistic medicine that incorporates acupuncture, herbal medicine, massage, and exercise. It promotes mind and body healing through balance. TCM builds resistance to illness, reduces medication side effects, promotes health and relaxation, reduces stress and anxiety, relieves pain and helps you feel more energetic and alive!

While embracing the philosophy of TCM, IEP also incorporates perspectives of Western medicine. Our practitioners have a wealth of experience treating a broad range of conditions. Our clients have reported particular success in the reduction of symptoms of musculo-skeletal pain, headaches, nausea, respiratory infections, allergies, drug addiction, side effects of medications, neuropathy, skin problems, fatigue, flu, and colds.

History:
IEP been in operation since 1983 when we began as the HIV treatment branch of the local complementary health care center. Our first Director, Michael Young, ran IEP on a shoestring budget for several years as a for-profit business, bringing acupuncture and herbs to the HIV community. Just about a decade IEP began to change it's focus from treating only people with HIV to treating all low-income and no-income people from underserved communities dealing with chronic illness and pain.

Five years ago IEP started it's first free full body drop in clinic. This drop in clinic was the first of it's kind in the city of San Francisco staffed by fully qualified practitioners. Over the years IEP has increased the number of drop in clinics to three. IEP has not just stayed in our Castro office but has gone out into the community with our off-site clinics going to such places as The Ark of Refuge, St. James Infirmary,Walden House, Center for Young Women's Development, Rita de Casa and Bay View Hunters Point.

As of February 2009 all government funding was completely cut off, not to be as in the past re-funded. Like many non-profits IEP has had to depend on foundation and individual giving to survive. This loss of government funding could have been a disaster but we at IEP have always been part of many communities and have always had the pleasure of working with many dedicated and hardworking volunteers. We see this as an opportunity to work closer with volunteers and to encourage more community involvement.

Contact person: Crystal Mason, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email)

Address:

3450 16th Street San Francisco, CA 94114 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.iepclinic.com

Directions:

Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: Church Street Muni Station,   Walk distance (in minutes): 5 minutes

Miscellaneous Information

Besides English, which languages are spoken at your agency?
	German, Spanish
What is the minimum age for volunteers at your agency?
	18
Is your agency wheelchair accessible?
	Yes
Does your agency have the capacity to host groups of more than 10?
	Yes
Does your agency have the capacity to host groups of more than 20?
	No

Last updated on November 2, 2009