Five Branches trains students for careers in complementary medicine.

The practice of acupuncture dates back more than 5,000 years where it originated in China. Acupuncture is one of the five branches of traditional Chinese medicine, which also encompasses Chinese herbs, Tuina (Chinese massage), nutrition, and Qigong (breathing and exercises). Traditional Chinese medicine is based on the belief that health is dependent on the flow of vital energy, or Qi (pronounced "chee") in the body. In an ideal state of health, Qi flows smoothly throughout the body. When Qi gets blocked, energy cannot flow freely, and disease and pain occur. In the practice of acupuncture, extremely fine needles are inserted into carefully chosen points just below the skin. These points are located along channels of Qi in the body. The inserted needles help correct the flow of blocked Qi and thus relieve pain and stimulate the body to heal itself. Acupuncture is not only helpful in the relief of pain but also highly effective in treating a variety of conditions from migraine headaches to sinus problems to gynecological problems to neurological disorders. Traditional Chinese medicine can be used in conjunction with Western medicine, not only as an alternative.

The theories and practice of traditional Chinese medicine have only become available in the U.S. in the last 30 years due to the recent increased scholarly exchange between the U.S. and China. Today, there are more than 3,000,000 people worldwide who practice acupuncture, and while most of them are in Asia, the number of Licensed Acupuncturists in the U.S. is on the rise. In fact, traditional Chinese medicine is the fastest growing medical profession in the U.S., according to Acupuncture Today Magazine. Licensed acupuncturists must complete a four year graduate degree such as the program offered by Five Branches Institute in Santa Cruz in order to practice in the U.S. In California alone, more than 7,000 licensed acupuncturists are listed as primary healthcare providers. In 1997, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reported that more than 1 million Americans receive acupuncture every year.

Traditional Chinese medicine stimulates the body's own healing mechanisms, treating the blockages that cause pain, disease or imbalance rather than simply treating the symptoms. It is a form of medicine that has been practiced in China for thousands of years, and is a growing healthcare profession in the U.S.