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Few things are more satisfying than living a healthy, active life. When your body is fully balanced and in optimal health, it feels as though there is nothing that you cannot accomplish. Unfortunately, a number of things can lead to an imbalance, which can develop into various maladies and sources of discomfort. At Five Branches University Health Center, we are proud to offer top-notch healthcare based in the field of Traditional Chinese Medicine. We believe that there is nothing more rewarding than helping patients reach their optimal level of function, and we pride ourselves in our ability to provide our patients with excellent treatment by TCM Graduate Students and Faculty practitioners with a world-class education in Traditional Chinese healing techniques as well as integrative medicine.

What is Traditional Chinese Medicine?

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is rooted in a holistic healthcare system that focuses on treating the body as a whole, rather than as a series of individual components. Western medicine focuses on treating individual systems (cardiovascular, endocrine, nervous, etc.) and portions of the body when problems arise. While that approach may work for certain medical issues, it lacks the power and effectiveness of taking a holistic approach. The practice of TCM has evolved over thousands of years, encompassing new research and knowledge into a strong foundation of traditional medical practices. The end result is a medical approach that harnesses the power of the human body to heal itself, given the right circumstances. Traditional Chinese Medicine mainly uses acupuncture, herbs, Tuina or therapeutic massage, energetics and exercise such as qigong or taichi, as well as dietary therapy; the Five Branches that our school is named after.

How is Acupuncture Used in TCM?

Acupuncture plays a very important role in the practice of TCM. The fundamental theory behind acupuncture is that the vital force of the human body, known as qi (sometimes chi), is channeled through the body by way of various meridians, similar to that of the nervous system or cardiovascular system. The extremes of qi are yin and yang, and achieving the proper balance of these opposing but attracting forces is the key to balanced health. Acupuncture points are located along the body’s meridians that travel and reach all areas of the body as well as internal organs. If the flow of qi is somehow impeded through trauma or emotional distress, stimulation of the acupuncture points is needed to restore proper balance and flow. That process involves the targeted placement of thin sterile and flexible needles into specific acupuncture points.

What Conditions can Acupuncture Address?

According to research by western medicine, acupuncture has been found to assist patients suffering from a wide range of conditions. Among the most common are lower back pain, hypertension, osteoarthritis and severe headache. It is believed that the practice of acupuncture can help individuals with many more ailments like seasonal allergies, infertility/fertility, PMS, as well as digestive distress, and multiple studies are currently underway to explore the exact science behind this Traditional Chinese Medicine approach.

Other Tools of Traditional Chinese Medicine?

Aside from acupuncture, TCM uses a number of other tools and techniques to assist patients with a range of health concerns. The proper use of herbal medicines is a key component to the TCM approach, and has helped many people regain balance and improve their health. A great deal of research has been done on various Chinese herbal preparations, and how those medicines can be used to treat a number of different medical conditions. Finally, the integrative aspect of TCM is helping practitioners learn how to use these ancient and powerful techniques in conjunction and in combination with Western medical approaches to improve patient outcomes.

At Five Branches University Health Center, we operate two clinics that provide traditional Chinese medicine services to patients from throughout the San Jose and Santa Cruz areas. We invite you to contact us today to learn more about these services, or to schedule an appointment.