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How does acupuncture work?

Practiced for thousands of years, acupuncture has been used to treat a wide variety of health concerns. A form of alternative medicine, acupuncture is a key component of traditional Chinese medicine and one of the oldest healing practices in the world.

Traditional Asian Theory, and acupuncture’s foundation lies in the concept of Qi (pronounced “chee”), which is frequently translated as “life energy”. 

Disruptions in the flow of this energy are thought to be responsible for disease. Disease includes anything that interrupts the body’s internal stability, or homeostasis. Acupuncture needles inserted into specific acupoints are thought to access this innate energy, Qi. 


Qi travels through the body via invisible “highways” called meridians. When the flow of Qi is disrupted, say there is an accident or a fender bender blocking the road, it causes discomfort, pain or disease.

Benefits of Acupuncture

Modern, scientific research, through organizations such as the National Institute of Health (NIH), shows that Chinese acupuncture accesses the sympathetic nervous system, initiating a chain of electrical events in the body. 


As the body communicates through electrical impulses, acupuncturists stimulate points along the meridians (“highways” of chi in the body). In other words, this stimulation helps to clear the road and open up the lines of communication, restoring balance to the flow of Qi. This helps to increase and clear communicate from the nerves to the brain, and from the brain to the organs and tissues of the body. 

Another function of acupuncture is to increase circulation of blood flow in the body. Why is this important? Blood brings oxygen to tissues as well as white blood cells which help heal damaged areas of the body. 

What Can Acupuncture Treat?

  • Abdominal pain
  • Adverse reactions to radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy
  • Alcohol dependence and detoxification
  • Allergies 
  • Bell's palsy
  • Depression
  • Diabetes
  • Facial pain
  • Headaches
  • Hypertension
  • Hypotension
  • Infertility
  • Insomnia
  • Knee Pain
  • Labor induction
  • Low back pain
  • Morning sickness
  • Neck pain
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Postperative pain
  • PMS
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Sciatica
  • Sprain
  • Stroke
  • Tennis elbo

quotes from the World Health Organization about acupuncture: 

  • Acupuncture analgesia can be regarded as the method of choice for treating many chronically painful conditions...
  • Strokes and their sequelae are another major indication for acupuncture. Early treatment of paresis after stroke has proven highly effective...In randomized controlled studies, acupuncture treatment of hemiplegia due to cerebral infarction gave better results than conventional medication and physiotherapy...Good effects with Bell's Palsy have been reported....
  • Acupuncture is more effective than antihistamine drugs in the treatment of allergic rhinitis.
  • Primary dysmenorrhea...is one of the major indications for acupuncture in the field of gynecology.
  • Acupuncture seems to be helpful to patients with [pre-menstrual disorders]. In a controlled study, the majority of the patients gained relief from symptoms and no recurrence in the six month follow-up.
  • Insomnia can also be treated successfully with acupuncture.
  • The effect of acupuncture on depression has been documented repeatedly in controlled studies.