About

   Kim Silsby arrived in Santa Cruz, California in 1998 to attend the esteemed Five Branches University of Chinese Medicine. She completed her Masters of Chinese medicine in 2003, and soon became a licensed acupuncturist.

Five Branches was founded in 1984, with the explicit intention to bring the highest-quality, authentic Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) instruction to the Western world. They carefully selected distinguished faculty members who were trained in China and invited them to share their profound knowledge of Chinese medicine with students. Kim credits the Five Branches faculty and many additional instructors since then for all that she has learned about Chinese medicine over the past twenty years. 

Each acupuncturist has their own style based on their training and experience. Kim pays attention to the little details that make individuals unique; she wants new patients to know that her aim is to provide gentle and effective treatments for every person.  

It isn't placebo.

Acupuncture has been tested via sham-controlled trials, functional MRI studies, and measurable shifts in HRV, cortisol, and inflammatory markers. Animals and infants respond to acupuncture, and they're not "believing" their way to results.

When we needle a point, we are interacting with fascia, nerves, vasculature, and the nervous system. The mechanism is physical. It's a time-tested clinical system, refined across millions of patient encounters.  Modern science is still discovering the secrets of this ancient medicine, with studies conducted by leading scientists, hospitals, and medical research facilities all over the world.

It isn't a one-and-done-fix

If you’ve had a pattern for 10 years, one session won’t undo it. Acupuncture works cumulatively- shifting tone in the nervous system, circulation, and hormonal rhythms. Chronic patterns need a course of treatment. Acute ones often resolve faster.

Kim received her first acupuncture treatment in her early twenties, and, paired with herbal medicine, she was blown away by the results she received in a short period of time. Kim knew Chinese medicine was a vocation she would enjoy learning about for the rest of her life. She is grateful to be able to serve this community. She looks forward to being here for a long time, and hopes to meet you soon!