Marcus Thompson, L.Ac.
5 years of practice. Sports injury, chronic pain, and electroacupuncture for musculoskeletal recovery.
- Practice: Five Branches Wellness
- Location: 488 Grand Ave, Oakland CA 94610
- License: CA #AC-018922 (verified April 2026)
- Languages: English
- Insurance: Out-of-network · superbills provided
- Visit price: $165 initial / $125 follow-up
About Marcus
Marcus Thompson is a licensed acupuncturist serving Oakland and the East Bay since 2021. A Five Branches University graduate (Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine), he came to acupuncture from a strength and conditioning background — he spent six years working with collegiate and amateur athletes before retraining as an acupuncturist.
That background shapes how he treats. Marcus's practice is heavily musculoskeletal: marathon runners with IT band syndrome, climbers with shoulder impingement, weightlifters with chronic low back issues, desk workers whose necks are wrecked by twelve-hour days. He uses electroacupuncture extensively for pain cases and isn't shy about combining acupuncture with referrals to PT, massage, and orthopedics when that's what the case calls for.
Marcus is direct about expectations. He'll tell you in the first visit roughly how many sessions he expects you'll need, what response timeline is reasonable, and when he thinks acupuncture won't be the right tool. Patients tend to appreciate that honesty.
What Marcus treats
Back pain
Chronic low back pain, post-injury recovery, lifting-related strain. Heavy use of electroacupuncture for musculoskeletal cases.
Sciatica
Radicular nerve pain from disc herniation, piriformis syndrome, or post-surgical recovery.
Neck & shoulder pain
Desk-worker tension, post-concussion stiffness, climbing/lifting injuries.
Knee pain
Runners' knee, IT band syndrome, post-meniscus repair, mild osteoarthritis.
Plantar fasciitis
Heel pain in runners, walkers, and standing-job workers.
Insomnia & sleep
Often comes up alongside chronic pain — sleep disruption is part of the pain picture for many patients.
Approach & style
Marcus runs a brisk, structured practice. Sessions tend to be more efficient than long and meditative — patients are usually in and out in 50 minutes for follow-ups. Most musculoskeletal cases are treated 2x/week for 3 weeks, then weekly until response is durable. Marcus will tell you upfront if he doesn't expect a course of treatment to help.
What patients say
Patient reviews launch mid-2026. All reviews will be gated to verified patients (proof of appointment required), because we'd rather have 10 real reviews than 100 fake ones.
Credentials
- Active licensure: California #AC-018922 (verified with the California Acupuncture Board, April 2026). Re-verified annually.
- NCCAOM Diplomate of Acupuncture: National board certification.
- Education: M.S. Traditional Chinese Medicine, Five Branches University, San Jose (2021).
- Prior credential: Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), 2015–present.
- Continuing education: 50+ PDA points completed in the current NCCAOM cycle.
Contact Marcus
Marcus responds to new-patient inquiries within one business day. Submissions go directly to him — Acupuncturing doesn't sit in the middle, take a cut, or charge per lead.