Acupuncture & How It Works: A Scientific and Chinese Medicine Perspective

Acupuncture is a key modality within Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and is increasingly recognised within modern healthcare systems worldwide. While its roots extend back thousands of years, contemporary research has helped explain many of its effects through biomedical frameworks.
From a Western medical perspective, acupuncture stimulates the nervous system and influences neurophysiological pathways. Inserting fine needles at specific points activates sensory nerves, which send signals to the brain and spinal cord. This process can modulate pain perception, regulate the autonomic nervous system, improve blood circulation, and trigger the release of neurotransmitters such as endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine. Functional MRI studies have demonstrated measurable changes in brain activity following acupuncture, particularly in areas associated with pain processing, emotional regulation, and stress response.
Acupuncture is also known to influence inflammation, muscle tone, and connective tissue function. These effects help explain its common use for pain conditions, stress-related disorders, and functional imbalances.
From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, acupuncture works by regulating the flow of Qi (vital energy) through a network of meridians that connect organs, tissues, and systems throughout the body. Health is seen as a state of dynamic balance between Yin and Yang and among the Five Elements—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. When this balance is disrupted, symptoms arise. Rather than focusing solely on a diagnosis, Chinese medicine aims to identify underlying patterns of imbalance. Acupuncture treatments are therefore highly individualised, addressing both the root cause and the presenting symptoms. This whole-body approach supports the body’s natural ability to heal, adapt, and self-regulate.