What You Need to Know About Acupuncture
A gentle, research‑supported approach for pain, stress, and overall balance
Acupuncture is a gentle, time-tested therapy that aims to restore balance in the body’s energy and nervous system, often helping with pain, stress, and a variety of chronic conditions. When practiced by a properly trained provider using single-use sterile needles, it is considered a very safe treatment for most people.
What acupuncture is
Acupuncture grew out of traditional Chinese medicine, which describes health as a dynamic balance of qi (often spelled “chi”) flowing through meridians, or channels, that connect organs and tissues. From this perspective, symptoms like pain or tension can reflect blockages, excesses, or deficiencies in that energy flow rather than isolated “problems” in one body part.
In a modern clinical setting, very fine, sterilized needles are inserted into specific points along these meridians to influence both local tissues and overall regulation of the body. Some practitioners also use related methods such as gentle electrical stimulation on the needles, heat therapy, or acupressure to achieve similar regulatory effects.
How it works in the body
From a biomedical perspective, acupuncture stimulates nerve endings in the skin and muscle, which send signals into the spinal cord and brain. This neural input can trigger the release of endorphins and other neurotransmitters, which help modulate pain signals and support relaxation.
Acupuncture also appears to interact with the neuro‑endocrine‑immune network, influencing the release of hormones and immune mediators that affect inflammation, healing, and stress responses. In this way, a point on the surface of the body can have wide‑ranging effects on systems such as digestion, sleep, or mood.
Conditions acupuncture may help
Evidence has grown significantly in the last decade, with multiple reviews examining acupuncture for different health concerns. Current research supports clear benefit for several conditions, especially when treatment is provided in a series of visits rather than as a one‑time session.
Areas with good or promising support include:
Chronic musculoskeletal pain (such as low back pain, neck pain, and knee osteoarthritis)
Headaches and migraines, including tension‑type headaches
Postoperative nausea and vomiting
Cancer‑related fatigue and certain menopausal symptoms
Female infertility as an adjunct to reproductive medical care and some chronic pelvic pain conditions
Many other conditions show potential benefit but still need more high‑quality research, so acupuncture is often used as part of a broader integrative plan rather than as a stand‑alone cure. In practice, treatment plans are customized, taking into account not only the diagnosis but also sleep, digestion, stress, and emotional health.
What a typical session is like
During a visit, the acupuncturist will review your health history, current concerns, and any medications or diagnoses to determine the safest approach. Very thin, single‑use needles are then placed at carefully chosen points; most people feel a mild pinch or dull ache that usually settles into a sense of heaviness, warmth, or relaxation.
Needles typically stay in place for 15–30 minutes while you rest quietly, and many patients report feeling calm or sleepy during and after the session. A course of care often involves weekly or twice‑weekly visits for several weeks, then tapering as symptoms improve and the body stabilizes.
Safety, side effects, and cautions
Overall, acupuncture has a very low rate of serious side effects when performed by a qualified practitioner using clean needle technique. Common minor reactions include brief soreness, small bruises, or temporary fatigue after a session, which generally resolve on their own.
Certain situations call for extra caution or, in some cases, avoiding acupuncture, such as active infections at the needle site, uncontrolled bleeding disorders, or severe needle phobia. Pregnancy, use of blood thinners, immune compromise, and serious medical conditions are situations where point selection and technique should be modified and coordinated with appropriate medical care.