With acupuncture, a practitioner carefully inserts fine needles to stimulate specific points on your body to help encourage pain relief and healing.12 Needles may be inserted in your wrists, scalp, ears, and other areas.

What Is Acupuncture?

Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) believe the body has 12 meridians, which are pathways of energy, or Qi (pronounced “chi”).

These pathways link specific points of the body, or acupuncture points. Placing fine needles into the skin at the points and stimulating them with heat or electricity is thought to improve the flow of this energy, boosting overall physical and mental health.3

Types of Acupuncture

Acupuncture techniques target specific points of the body, with some techniques addressing specific health problems.

Depending on your needs, your practitioner may insert needles into several parts of the body, including:4

• Ears (auricular)
• Scalp
• Face
• Hands
• Nose
• Wrists and ankles

Additional Treatments

Alongside the needle insertion, there are a few other acupuncture methods:1

• Electroacupuncture: Acupuncture needles are wired to deliver low levels of electrical current to your acupuncture points.
• Moxibustion: In moxibustion, practitioners will burn certain herbs close to targeted acupuncture points, adding heat for added benefit.
• Cupping: With this treatment, a special heated cup is pulled over points of tension in the body. This creates suction, increasing blood flow to the area and releasing the tension.   

 What Are the Benefits of Acupuncture?

Within TCM, acupuncture is thought to benefit spirit, mind, and body, especially alongside other practices, such as herbalism.

Clinically, healthcare providers use acupuncture to treat or assist in the treatment of pain as well as a wide range of health conditions.

Regular acupuncture treatments may help relieve pain in the back, neck, and joints, such as in osteoarthritis. It can also treat pain related to conditions like myofascial pain syndrome (pain in the musculoskeletal system), neuropathy (nerve pain), and pain after surgery.2

The treatment is becoming increasingly common in managing the side effects of cancer treatment, including nausea, vomiting, and dry mouth.2

Acupuncture may also help treat or relieve:2

• Migraines or other types of headaches
• Sciatica (pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling in the leg)
• Seasonal allergies
• Urinary incontinence (urine leaking from the bladder)
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Asthma
• Menstrual cramps
• Infertility
• Quitting cigarettes and managing other addictive behaviors
• Depression and anxiety
• Insomnia or problems sleeping

How Does Acupuncture Work?

The exact mechanism of acupuncture is unknown. However, some evidence shows that stimulating acupuncture points affects the body in several ways:4

• Nervous system function: Acupuncture stimulates the release of neurotransmitters (brain chemicals) and hormones, and modulates the levels of cytokines, chemicals associated with immune function.
• Connective tissue: Acupuncture alters the activity of sensory neurons in the connective tissue, just below the skin, and the muscles. This may explain some of the pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects of treatment.
• Nonspecific effects: Some benefits arise from treatment without a clear physical action in place. Similar to a placebo effect, a person may experience benefits due to belief in the treatment or acupuncturist, or other aspects of treatment.

Does It Really Work?

Acupuncture has earned its place as a complementary and alternative medicine technique, especially for the management of pain and cancer treatment side effects.

While some evidence is mixed or inconclusive, a growing body of research is noting its benefits for a range of conditions.

Neck and Back Pain

Acupuncture, typically alongside other treatments, may be effective for chronic (long-term) back and neck pain.5

The American College of Physicians, a national association of family doctors, now recommends acupuncture as a first-line treatment for low back pain and an alternative to medications.6

There is also some evidence that acupuncture may help with sciatica, a common cause of lower back pain.7

Cancer Treatment Side Effects

Acupuncture is effective in managing certain side effects of cancer treatment, including:4

• Pain: A range of studies have found acupuncture to relieve pain caused by cancer or following surgery. However, some of these studies have been very small or haven’t found an effect.
• Aromatase inhibitor side effects: Drugs called aromatase inhibitors, used to treat breast cancer, can cause joint pain. Having 6-8 weeks of acupuncture may help reduce this symptom.8
• Chemotherapy side effects: Acupuncture is very effective in reducing nausea, vomiting, hot flashes, and other symptoms of chemotherapy. It’s become a standard therapy alongside medications or other approaches used during cancer treatment.
• Xerostomia (dry mouth): Chronic dry mouth can be an issue if you have head or neck cancer, especially following radiation therapy. Regular acupuncture can improve saliva flow and prevent the issue at three and six months of treatment.
• Neuropathy: Nerve pain, numbness, and tingling, or neuropathy, is a common chemotherapy side effect. Acupuncture can help reduce both the symptoms and the amount of pain medications taken for neuropathy.

Postoperative Pain

Several studies have noted that acupuncture can help with pain and discomfort after surgery. Regular treatments can help with pain and lower your use of analgesic (pain-killing) opioid drugs in recovery.9

Acupuncture can also help reduce nausea and vomiting after surgery and anesthesia.9

Osteoarthritis

Among other common causes of pain is osteoarthritis, caused by inflammation of the joints. Acupuncture can be as effective as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) like Ibuprofen in reducing symptoms. The most robust results have been seen with knee osteoarthritis.4

Menopause

Acupuncture can help with hot flashes due to menopause, called vasomotor symptoms. This includes not just the intensity, but the frequency of symptoms.10

Migraine and Headache

Acupuncture may reduce the frequency of migraine attacks, as well as tension headaches.11

This includes fewer headache attacks in both chronic and severe episodic cases.12 However, more research is needed to confirm these findings.

Allergy

Acupuncture is effective in relieving stuffiness, congestion, and itchiness caused by seasonal allergy, or allergic rhinitis.13 However, more research is needed to confirm this benefit.

Depression

Acupuncture may be effective in treating depression. However, much of the existing research is of low or mixed quality.14

What Are the Side Effects?

Generally, acupuncture is safe and causes few side effects when performed by a licensed professional. Acupuncturists use sterile needles and undergo extensive training.

Most people can receive acupuncture, and reported complications are rare. However, the treatment may be unsafe if you have a bleeding disorder or a metal allergy.

You may experience some minor side effects during or after treatment. Possible side effects of acupuncture include:1

• Soreness or pain during treatment
• Bruising
• Fatigue
• Sleepiness
• Feeling light-headed
• Minor bleeding
• Local infection

More severe complications rarely occur and are typically the result of getting acupuncture from someone without the proper training or a license, or who is using non-sterile needles. Complications may include:15

• Hepatitis
• Bacterial, viral, or fungal infections
• Damage to the pneumothorax (tissue around the lungs)
• Internal bleeding
• Spinal cord injury
• Heart injury
• Nausea and vomiting

What Should You Consider Before Getting Acupuncture?

Before getting acupuncture, you’ll want to consider how beneficial and affordable the treatments will be for you.

It’s also important to ensure you’re with the right practitioner. If you’re thinking about starting treatment, there are several steps to take:16

• Talk to your healthcare provider: Acupuncture is not a replacement for standard medical care.
• Find a qualified acupuncturist: Learn as much as you can about a potential acupuncturist’s training, licensure, and experience. Make sure they are licensed in your state.
• Ask about collaboration: See if acupuncturists you’re considering are willing to collaborate with your healthcare provider and other members of your medical team.
• Ask about experience: Make sure the practitioners you work with are trained in and have experience with treating cases like yours.
• Talk about your health: Be ready to talk about your health status and medical history with your acupuncturist; prepare lists of symptoms, medical concerns, and any medications you’re taking.
• Think about costs: Depending on your insurance plan, the condition treated, and the practitioner you work with, acupuncture may be covered by insurance. However, this isn’t always the case.

What Should You Expect?

Typically, acupuncture appointments last between 20 and 60 minutes.17

Before your first appointment, you’ll have a consultation and physical assessment with the acupuncturist. Come ready to talk about your health and any symptoms you’re having.

When you’re ready, you’ll be asked to sit or lie down, and the practitioner will insert very thin needles into specific acupuncture points. While the needles are in, you may feel a tingling or a dull ache in treated areas. Let your acupuncturist know if you feel significant pain.1

Depending on your case, the needles stay in position anywhere from five to 30 minutes.1 You’ll be asked to relax and breathe while they’re in place.

Then, the acupuncturist will remove the needles. There’s no recovery time needed after treatment.