How does traditional acupuncture work?

Acupuncture is a key form of traditional Chinese medicine, refined through over two thousand years of clinical practice. It involves the gentle insertion of ultra-fine, sterile, single-use needles into carefully chosen points on the body to encourage a therapeutic response. The aim is to restore balance, support the body’s natural capacity for renewal and promote overall wellbeing.

Detail-of-pomegranate-still-life
Detail of acupuncture needles with copper handle

Dual perspectives.

East

In classical Chinese medical theory, acupuncture points lie along pathways – known as channels or meridians – through which qi (氣), or vital energy, flows. These points are mapped along channels which form an interconnected network linking the body’s organs, tissues and systems, helping to regulate internal balance and overall health. The channels are often likened to rivers that nourish the body’s internal landscape, distributing qi and blood to where they are needed.

In Chinese medicine, the body is seen as an interconnected whole, where physical health, emotional wellbeing and mental clarity are deeply linked. Health arises from integration and harmonious relationships — within the body itself and between the body and its environment. When qi flows freely and abundantly, vitality and clarity follow. When the flow of qi through the channels becomes obstructed or disordered – due for example to physical strain, emotional stress, poor diet, environmental factors or lifestyle habits – disharmony manifests in body and mind.

Acupuncture involves the careful placement of fine needles at specific points to influence the flow of qi, remove blockages and restore harmony. Each treatment is tailored to your unique presentation, aiming to activate subtle physiological shifts that regulate this flow and support the body’s return to balance and ability to self-regulate.

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West

Studies show that acupuncture activates key signalling systems in the body, including the purinergic system, which uses molecules like ATP to regulate cell activity, nerve function and healing. Rather than targeting a single organ or pathway, acupuncture appears to influence multiple interconnected physiological systems. This systems-based response helps explain why treatment can have wide-ranging effects, even when symptoms seem unrelated.

It also influences brain connectivity, calms stress-related limbic activity and helps to balance the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, supporting healthy digestion, immune function, mood and energy regulation.

Acupuncture can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting rest, repair and recovery. Certain specialised neurons also trigger anti-inflammatory effects via the vagal-adrenal pathway.

Brain imaging, physiological studies and biochemical analysis show that acupuncture affects not only the local site of needling but also deeper nervous, immune and hormonal networks, helping explain how a single needle can initiate beneficial changes throughout the body.

For the latest evidence-based findings, visit www.evidencebasedacupuncture.org.

Where there is free flow, there is no pain; where there is pain, there is no free flow / 通则不痛，痛则不通.

—A classical concept, formalised during the Ming and Qing dynasties, with origins in early texts such as the Huangdi Neijing / Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine (circa 2nd century BC).

  • Traditional Chinese medicine is based on classical frameworks – such as yin-yang 陰陽 theory, wu xing 五行 (five phases or elements), zang fu 臟腑 (organ interrelationships), Channel Theory and the Six Divisions – that provide multiple lenses through which a practitioner can identify patterns of imbalance for diagnosis to guide the body back toward internal harmony.

    Acupuncture is one branch of this broader system of Chinese medicine, which also includes herbal medicine 中藥, dietary therapy 食疗, tui na 推拿 (medical massage), qigong 氣功 and tai chi 太極 (meditative movement), nei gong 內功 (internal cultivation), feng shui 風水 (environmental harmony), and the observation of natural and seasonal rhythms. Though diverse in form, each of these insightful and effective practices shares a common aim: to align with the body’s natural rhythms and promote balance and clarity in body and mind.

  • Traditional Chinese medicine has always been a rich and evolving system, and is one of the oldest continuously used medical systems used today. Rather than a single, fixed approach, it encompasses a diversity of traditions, methods and interpretations - like a language with many dialects. Acupuncture is part of a living tradition; it is a creative and expressive endeavour.

    The style I practise is influenced by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), a system that combines the foundational principles of classical Chinese medicine with modern clinical approaches, research and diagnostics; it is the system formally taught in China today.

    For centuries, traditional acupuncture has been valued for its positive effects and continues to be practised worldwide. In many parts of East Asia, it is integrated within conventional healthcare systems. The strength and sophistication of Chinese medicine lies in its adaptability - drawing from a deep classical foundation, yet open to clinical insight, ongoing reflection and thoughtful evolution.

  • Acupuncture has received the most focused research attention of any traditional Chinese medicine modality. Its research continues to grow exponentially – even outpacing some biomedical evidence-based research.

    Research into acupuncture includes numerous randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews, with organisations such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the UK recommending it for certain conditions, and the World Health Organization (WHO) recognising it for a range of applications. While RCTs are considered the gold standard in biomedical research, some aspects of acupuncture – such as individualised treatment plans, the therapeutic relationship and the holistic framework in which it is practised – can be difficult to capture within this model. As a result, research findings may not always reflect the full scope of its effects as experienced in real-world clinical practice.

What can acupuncture help with?

    • Anxiety

    • Depression

    • Insomnia

    • Mental health issues

    • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

    • Stress

    • Dysmenorrhea (painful periods)

    • Endometriosis

    • Fertility support

    • Infertility, IVF & ART support

    • Menopausal symptoms

    • Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

    • Arthritis

    • Back pain

    • Bell’s Palsy

    • Chronic pain

    • Fibromyalgia

    • Frozen shoulder

    • Headaches & migraines

    • Musculoskeletal pain

    • Osteoarthritis

    • Sciatica

    • Colitis

    • Crohn’s disease

    • Chronic fatigue

    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

    • Nausea

    • Cystitis

    • Urinary issues

Here are some of the conditions, among many, commonly supported by by acupuncture. You can also explore evidence-based resources and fact sheets on the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) website via this link here.


If you don’t see your concern listed, feel free to get in touch—I’d be happy to discuss how acupuncture might help.

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