Services
Five Branches University Health Centers have provided Traditional Chinese Medicine and integrative healthcare to Bay Area and Santa Cruz families since 1984.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a comprehensive natural healthcare system that has been used successfully in Asia for centuries. Our TCM practitioners use acupuncture, Chinese herbs, massage, qigong and dietetics to prevent illness, preserve health, and effectively treat the majority of your healthcare needs.
As primary healthcare practitioners, we use a sophisticated and complex system of diagnostic methods to discern patterns of imbalance and determine the underlying cause of your symptoms. Practitioners may also recommend integrative medicine and work with M.D.’s and other healthcare practitioners for your best healthcare. Our objective is more than just eliminating or alleviating your symptoms, our goal is to improve and extend your quality of life. Our health centers in San Jose and Santa Cruz, California offer the following TCM services:
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is the primary form of treatment in traditional Chinese medicine and is one of the oldest healing practices in the world. It involves the stimulation of points on the body using very fine needles to correct imbalances in the flow of qi through channels in the body called meridians. Acupuncture is used to treat a wide variety of conditions (see our Specialties), to reduce pain, provide immune enhancement and promote overall good health. Acupuncture is accepted and recognized as part of mainstream medicine, and is currently one of America’s fastest growing choices for primary healthcare. Our health centers use only sterile, disposable acupuncture needles.
Herbal Prescriptions
Our herbal pharmacy contains over 500 high-quality herbal products. Herbal specialists provide personalized herbal prescriptions while you wait and offer prescription drug consultation when requested.
Therapeutic Massage
Our licensed massage therapists are professionally trained in one or more of the following therapies: Shiatsu, Thai massage, Swedish massage, and Reflexology. Please contact the clinic nearest you to determine availability of services.
Tuina Massage
Tuina massage is based on the principles of Chinese medicine, providing benefits to patients without the use of needles. For children, Tuina is the primary means of treating illness in Chinese medicine, offering a gentle, nurturing method to positively influence their health and development.
Medical QiGong
Using gentle movement, breath and focused intent, Medical Qigong practitioners work to correct energetic imbalances and blockages of vital energy (Qi) in the body. Medical Qigong provides numerous benefits, can be used to address specific ailments, and is highly effective in treating disease.
Dietary Consultation
Our TCM practitioners understand the vital connection between food and health. Nutritional balanced diets are prescribed to rectify your health condition, for weight loss and detoxification purposes and to improve your overall health and well-being.
