Curious About Acupuncture?
If you’ve ever wondered how placing tiny needles in the body could help with pain, anxiety, or other health concerns, you’re not alone. Acupuncture has been practiced for thousands of years, but only recently have researchers begun to uncover how it might actually work according to modern science. Here’s what today’s research is showing us.
👉Your Body Releases Its Own Painkillers
Studies show acupuncture stimulates your nervous system to release endorphins, enkephalins, and other natural opioids—your body’s built-in pain relief system. This can reduce both physical pain and emotional stress, creating that “acupuncture high” many people report after treatment.
👉It Calms the Stress Response
Acupuncture helps shift your nervous system out of fight-or-flight mode and into a more restful state. This parasympathetic activation promotes better sleep, digestion, and hormone balance. Studies even show it can improve heart rate variability, a marker of your resilience to stress.
👉It Reduces Inflammation
Chronic inflammation is linked to everything from arthritis to autoimmune disease. Acupuncture can lower pro-inflammatory markers like IL-6 and TNF-alpha while boosting anti-inflammatory ones. This means it may help ease pain, reduce swelling, and support overall immune balance.
👉It Boosts Circulation and Healing
Acupuncture increases blood flow to targeted areas, delivering oxygen and nutrients to tissues that need repair. It also stimulates the release of nitric oxide, a natural compound that relaxes blood vessels and improves circulation.
👉It Engages the Fascia and Cellular Communication
Recent research highlights how acupuncture interacts with the fascia—the connective tissue that wraps around your muscles and organs. Needle stimulation creates micro-movements in the tissue that can trigger healing responses and release tension. Some scientists call this a form of bioelectric communication within your body.
👉The Whole Experience Matters
Acupuncture isn’t just about the needles. Your relationship with your practitioner, the calm environment, and even the ritual of the treatment all play a role in your healing. This is sometimes called the “placebo effect,” but it’s really the mind-body connection in action—and it amplifies the physiological effects already taking place.
👉So Is Acupuncture Right for You?
Acupuncture works by supporting your body’s innate ability to heal—whether you’re managing chronic pain, stress, fatigue, hormone shifts, digestive issues, or simply want to feel more balanced.
If you have questions about your individual health picture and how it may benefit from acupuncture, you can book a 15 minute consult with Kate Henderson, MS LAc.
