Acupuncture is a traditional treatment that has been used for many years. It involves placing very fine needles at specific points on the body.
In traditional Chinese Medicine, it is described as helping the body stay in balance. In modern settings, it is often explained through the nervous system and how the body responds to stimulation.
Is it just a placebo?
A common question is whether acupuncture works only because people believe it will.
This idea is called the placebo effect. It can play a role in many types of treatment, not just acupuncture.
What research suggests
Some research suggests that acupuncture may have effects beyond placebo, especially in areas like pain.
For example, studies have found that people receiving acupuncture for chronic pain reported more improvement compared to those who did not receive treatment (Vickers et al., 2012).
There is also research looking at how acupuncture may influence the body, including how it responds to pain (Zhao, 2008).
At the same time, results can vary from person to person, and research is still ongoing.
Different ways to understand it
Acupuncture can be explained in different ways.
Some people prefer the traditional explanation based on balance in the body. Others prefer a modern explanation based on nerves and circulation.
Both ways aim to describe how the body responds to treatment.
The role of the practitioner
As with many types of care, how the treatment is applied can make a difference.
Assessment, experience, and understanding the person’s condition all play a role.
This is why it is important to see a qualified and registered practitioner.
Ongoing research
Acupuncture continues to be studied.
Research is looking at where it may be helpful, how it works, and how it can be used alongside other forms of care (Linde et al., 2016; Lee et al., 2013).
References
Vickers, A. J. et al. (2012). Acupuncture for chronic pain: Individual patient data meta-analysis. Archives of Internal Medicine, 172(19), 1444–1453. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2012.3654
Zhao, Z. Q. (2008). Neural mechanism underlying acupuncture analgesia. Progress in Neurobiology, 85(4), 355–375. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pneurobio.2008.05.004
Linde, K. et al. (2016). Acupuncture for the prevention of episodic migraine. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2016(6), CD001218. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD001218.pub3
Lee, M. S. et al. (2013). Acupuncture for treating fibromyalgia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Rheumatology International, 33(3), 597–606. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-012-2483-z