Treatment Rooted in Trust
Uniting the wisdom of acupuncture with the expertise of modern medicine.
Prioritize Your Health
In times of uncertainty and chaos, acupuncture offers a powerful tool for fostering inner calm and resilience. While the world around us may feel out of control, acupuncture can help you reconnect with your own energy, promoting balance and stability in the body and mind.
We live lives with hectic schedules and obligations at all stages of life that can seem overwhelming. A part of every treatment is regulating and calming to help you cope with everyday living.
Making time for self-care helps us cope with daily stressors, regulate our reactions, sharpen focus and build resilience for life’s ups and downs — all important parts of long-term physical and mental health.
// Conditions We Treat
-
Acute and chronic pain conditions such as back pain, neck pain, osteoarthritis, migraines and headaches.
-
Acupuncture may help alleviate stress, anxiety and depression by promoting relaxation and reducing tension in the body.
-
Many people find acupuncture helpful in improving sleep quality and reducing insomnia symptoms.
-
Acupuncture may aid in managing digestive issues like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), indigestion, constipation and nausea.
-
Often used to address menstrual disorders such as irregular periods, painful periods and PMS. Also used in fertility treatment and to support women’s health during pregnancy.
-
Beyond general pain management, acupuncture is used for specific conditions like joint pain, tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow and arthritis.
-
A complementary therapy for chronic illnesses like asthma, hypertension, arthritis, fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis, to help manage symptoms and improve overall well-being.
-
Some people use acupuncture to alleviate symptoms of allergies, asthma and sinusitis.
-
Symptoms can have neurological, vascular or inner-ear causes; with acupuncture, treatment is based on addressing energy imbalances.
-
Acupuncture is believed by some to strengthen the immune system and promote overall well-being.
-
Acupuncture may be used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan for addiction recovery, helping to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
-
Used alongside other modalities, acupuncture is well studied for weight loss, smoking cessation and addiction, and the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) protocol has been in use since 1985.
Acupuncture Treatments
Every plan is tailored to you. Cupping, moxibustion, gua sha and tui na are generally used in conjunction with acupuncture.
// Personalized Treatment
Individual treatments take place in a private room and include a detailed intake, diagnosis, and customized acupuncture session. This setting allows for focused, one-on-one care and may be better suited for certain conditions. Questions are always welcome to help determine the right approach.
// Group Treatment
Group acupuncture is offered in a calm community style setting in comfortable zero gravity chairs. These sessions increase accessibility by treating more patients at a lower cost while maintaining high-quality care. Many people incorporate both individual and group treatments into their overall wellness plan.
What to Expect
Whether you’re coming in for an individual or group session, your first visit includes a brief intake and treatment. Follow-up appointments are adjusted based on your response and evolving needs.
// Personalized Treatment
First visit: 90 minutes
Follow-ups: 50–60 minutes
Full-body treatment including front, back, and ears
Performed on a cushioned, adjustable massage table
Clothing may need to be adjusted depending on treatment area
$ Rates
Initial Visit: $165
Follow-Up Visit: $95
5-Visit Package: $450
*Home visits may be arranged in special cases.
// Group Treatment
First visit: ~50 minutes
Follow-ups: 45–50 minutes
Calm community style setting
Recline in one of our comfortable zero-gravity chairs
Most treatments include auricular (ear) acupuncture
Points accessed on arms, legs, ears, and occasionally abdomen
Loose, comfortable clothing recommended
Heat lamps used as needed
Walk-ins may be accepted if space allows
$ Rates
Initial Visit: $65
Follow-Up Visit: $50
5-Visit Package: $245
Acupuncture can eleviate chronic pain, stress, anxiety, migraines, and other health conditions.
Treatment Details
Experience the unique benefits of both personalized and community-based acupuncture at Foreside Acupuncture.
Acupuncture
Using thin needles acupuncture is a natural healing technique that stimulates specific points on the body to promote healing, relieve pain, and restore balance.
Auricular Acupuncture
Using points on the ear based on the premise that the ear is a micro system which represents and reflects the entire body. Can be performed using needles, ear tacks, metal press balls or organic press seeds.
Electroacupuncture
Needles will be stimulated with small electrical currents.
Cupping Therapy
Enhance circulation, reduce inflammation, and promote relaxation with cupping therapy. This traditional Chinese therapy can provide relief for a variety of conditions, from muscle pain to respiratory issues.
Moxibustion Therapy
A traditional Chinese medicine technique that involves burning dried mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) near certain acupuncture points on the body. The heat generated from burning the mugwort is believed to stimulate these points and promote healing and well-being.
Gua Sha
A healing technique that involves scraping the skin with a smooth-edged tool to stimulate blood flow and promote healing. The name “gua sha” comes from the Chinese words “gua” (to scrape) and “sha” (redness), referring to the reddish or purplish marks that may appear on the skin during the treatment.
Tui Na
A form of Chinese manipulative therapy often used in conjunction with acupuncture, moxibustion, fire cupping. Tui Na works with many forms of massage with the intent to facilitate the flow of Qi through the meridians, similar to acupuncture.
// Cupping, Moxibustion, Gua Sha and Tui Na are generally used in conjunction with acupuncture treatments.
Meet Maureen Kittredge
Owner & Founder
Licensed Acupuncturist, Nurse Practitioner
Maureen is the owner and acupuncturist at Foreside Acupuncture, with an extensive background caring for people in both Eastern and Western medicine. She became a Registered Nurse in 1992, earned her Nurse Practitioner certification in 1997, and has worked primarily in Emergency Medicine for more than 30 years.
After receiving an acupuncture treatment herself, she became interested in Chinese Medicine and enrolled at the New England School of Acupuncture in 2004, earning a Master of Acupuncture degree in 2007. Foreside Acupuncture is her second practice — after relocating to Kittery in 2016, she knew she wanted to be part of the community and is thrilled to bring acupuncture to The Foreside.
Maureen brings a compassionate, straightforward approach to treatment. Through decades of caring for others she has developed the ability to rapidly build trust — and she honors the trust others place in her.
With a “let’s go” spirit, she has traveled widely — favorites include teaching acupuncture to rural communities in Mexico and Uganda so they had options for care where other medicine was sparse. She loves good company, music and food, and enjoys the theater, concerts and beaches of the Seacoast.
Kind Words from Patients
“Maureen was able to hone in on the root of my issues and I started seeing results after my first treatment. She has a non-judgmental and calm approach that helped me be less nervous, having not had acupuncture previously.”
— Rachel S.
“Exceeded my expectations! I found so many other benefits than I expected going in for some generalized pain. I had more energy and focus and was definitely calmer in my day-to-day life.”
— Mary L.
Ready to begin?
Every step toward balance and relief matters. Request your appointment today and let me support your health goals.
// Common Questions
-
Foreside Acupuncture does not accept insurance. We’ll provide a “superbill” you can submit to your insurance company if your plan reimburses for acupuncture or out-of-network benefits. Acupuncture is an eligible FSA/HSA expense, and we can process those cards just like a credit card.
-
It differs from person to person. At your consultation we’ll create a custom treatment plan for your concerns. Acute problems typically need fewer visits; chronic issues usually need a longer course, depending on how your body responds. The goal is to get you feeling better and back to the activities you love — many people continue with “maintenance” visits after their original complaint has resolved.
-
For both group and individual sessions, your first visit includes an intake and treatment, and follow-ups are adjusted based on how you respond (see What to Expect above for session lengths). Please leave your shoes and silence your phone before entering the treatment space to keep the environment calm.
-
For group treatments, loose, comfortable clothing works best — most points are around and below the knees and elbows, so shorts or yoga pants that pull up easily are ideal. For individual treatments, points on the front and back of the body are common; you’ll be in a private room and may need to pull up or remove your shirt. Auricular acupuncture only requires access to your ears.
-
Most patients feel only a small pinch or itch as the needle goes in — like a bug bite or a hair being plucked — and then don’t feel it at all. Acupuncture needles are hair-thin, solid stainless steel (not hollow like a hypodermic needle), so insertion is far less painful than a shot or blood draw. All needles are single-use and disposable, so there is no risk of infection.
-
Not usually. As energy is redirected in the body and healing begins, most people report a new state of relaxation. Occasionally the original symptoms worsen for a few days before improving, and you may notice changes in appetite, sleep, bowel patterns or emotions. These shouldn’t cause concern — they’re signs the acupuncture is starting to work.
-
Yes. Acupuncture has been practiced successfully for more than 5,000 years. It can be given alongside other approaches such as conventional Western medicine, physical therapy or chiropractic care. Be sure your physician and acupuncturist know everything you’re doing, so you get the most benefit from all your treatments.
-
No. Acupuncture is used successfully on cats, dogs, horses and other animals, who don’t understand or believe in the process. A positive attitude may reinforce the effects of treatment, just as a negative one may hinder them — but a neutral “I don’t know if I believe in this” won’t block your results.
-
Yes. Acupuncture has been practiced successfully for more than 5,000 years. It can be given alongside other approaches such as conventional Western medicine, physical therapy or chiropractic care. Be sure your physician and acupuncturist know everything you’re doing, so you get the most benefit from all your treatments.
-
No. Acupuncture is used successfully on cats, dogs, horses and other animals, who don’t understand or believe in the process. A positive attitude may reinforce the effects of treatment, just as a negative one may hinder them — but a neutral “I don’t know if I believe in this” won’t block your results.
-
Except in rare cases, acupuncturists earn a Master’s degree in Acupuncture (M.Ac.) or Oriental Medicine (M.OM) from an accredited graduate program — typically 3–4 years of intensive training in Traditional Chinese Medicine and modern Western medicine, plus almost 1,000 hours of hands-on clinical training. Graduates then sit for four national board exams from the NCCAOM, which confers the title Diplomate in Acupuncture (Dipl. Ac.) or Oriental Medicine (Dipl. OM). Depending on the state, the acupuncturist then applies to the board of medicine for a license to practice.
-
Lic. Ac. means Licensed Acupuncturist; in the U.S., all practitioners must pass the national board exams before applying for a state license. Maureen has been a Licensed Acupuncturist since 2007 (Maine and Massachusetts). She has been a Registered Nurse since 1992 and a Nurse Practitioner since 1997 (Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts), and is board certified as a Family (FNP-BC), Emergency (ENP-BC) and Gerontological (GNP-BC) Nurse Practitioner.
-
Medical doctors and chiropractors can add medical acupuncture to their practice with as little as 100 hours of training. Some massage and physical therapists offer “dry needling,” inserting needles similar to acupuncture needles into trigger points without following TCM principles — certification can take as little as a 3-day workshop. Acupuncturists also needle trigger points (called Ah Shi points), so essentially all acupuncturists do dry needling, but not all dry-needling practitioners can perform acupuncture.
-
Cash, check, Venmo and all major credit cards, as well as FSA and HSA cards that can be processed like a credit card.
-
No. Just as you wouldn’t tip your favorite nurse, dental hygienist or optician, we consider ourselves medical professionals and don’t expect tips.
Rebalance your body. Ease your pain. Reconnect with your body's natural healing power.
Location & Hours
Located on the second floor, just above Festina Lente and New Freedom Laser. Enter through the shared doorway between those two businesses — Foreside Acupuncture is at the top of the stairs, first door on the right.
// Location
1 Government Street
Kittery, Maine 03904
(207) 475-7866
info@foresideacupuncture.com
// Parking
Parking in the Foreside can be limited. There are three designated spaces for 1 Government Street, located just past the building along the edge of The Corner Pub. Please allow extra time to find parking during peak hours.
// Hours
Individual Appointments:
Tuesday — Saturday
* By appointment only.
Group Acupuncture:
Wednesdays 1PM — 8PM
* Hours subject to change. Please confirm when booking.
Contact Us
Whether you have questions, concerns or would like to request an appointment, use this contact form and your message will be addressed shortly.
