Key takeaways:
Acupuncture uses very thin needles to stimulate specific points on your body. It’s rooted in traditional Chinese medicine and is now used in many health settings.
Research on acupuncture is strongest for pain, including back and neck pain, headaches, and osteoarthritis pain.
Acupuncture appears to work by affecting the nervous system and tissues. Symptom relief may also depend on a person’s expectations and the treatment setting.
Acupuncture is safe for most people when performed by a qualified practitioner using sterile needles. Temporary soreness, bleeding, or bruising can occur. Serious complications are rare.
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine that’s commonly used as a complementary treatment for a variety of conditions. And while it’s generally safe, does acupuncture really work?
Research suggests that it can help lessen symptoms for some people, particularly those with certain types of chronic (long-term) pain. Here’s what research shows about the benefits of acupuncture, what to expect, and how to decide if it may be right for you.
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a practice in which a trained practitioner inserts very thin needles at specific points on your body. In traditional Chinese medicine, these points are part of pathways called “meridians,” through which “qi,” or vital energy, is thought to flow.
The goal of traditional acupuncture is to restore balance in the flow of qi. Modern practitioners may also describe acupuncture as a way to stimulate nerves, muscles, and connective tissue.
How acupuncture is administered
During an acupuncture session, an acupuncturist inserts thin, sterile needles into specific points on your body. The number and placement of the needles depend on the condition being treated and the acupuncturist’s approach.
The needles can stay in place for a few minutes to about 15 minutes. A full appointment may last up to 1 hour, although some sessions are shorter.
Your acupuncturist may gently move the needles after placing them. Some acupuncturists also combine needling with:
Pressure
Heat
Electrical stimulation, or electroacupuncture
Laser
Does acupuncture actually work?
Yes, acupuncture can help some people with certain conditions, especially some types of pain. In a 2025 analysis, acupuncture reduced pain and improved function more than sham acupuncture. The difference was larger when acupuncture was compared with no treatment than when it was compared with sham treatment.
Sham acupuncture is a simulated procedure used in research, similar to a placebo. It may involve a device that touches the skin without penetrating it or needles placed away from the intended acupuncture points.
The difference between these comparisons is important. It suggests that needling may have a specific effect. But expectations, relaxation, time with a practitioner, and other parts of the treatment experience may also contribute to symptom relief.
In general, acupuncture is best viewed as a complementary treatment. This means using it alongside standard medical care rather than instead of it.
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What can acupuncture treat?
Researchers have studied acupuncture for pain and many other health conditions. Evidence is strongest for several long-term pain conditions. For most other conditions, the findings are mixed or based on lower-quality research.
Acupuncture for chronic pain
A 2018 meta-analysis evaluated people with musculoskeletal pain, osteoarthritis, chronic headaches, or shoulder pain. People who received acupuncture reported greater pain improvement than those who received sham acupuncture or no acupuncture.
As with the 2025 analysis described above, the difference was larger when acupuncture was compared with no treatment than when it was compared with sham acupuncture.
Some other types of pain that may benefit from acupuncture include:
Migraine and tension headaches: A 2016 review involving nearly 5,000 people found that adding acupuncture to usual care may lessen how often migraines occur. Another review involving about 2,350 people found that acupuncture may also help prevent frequent tension headaches.
Fibromyalgia pain: A 2019 review involving around 800 people with fibromyalgia found that acupuncture improved pain compared with sham acupuncture. But the quality of the evidence was low to moderate.
Acupuncture for other conditions
Researchers have studied acupuncture for many conditions beyond long-term pain. The quality of the evidence varies, so it’s difficult to draw firm conclusions. Some other common conditions that may benefit from acupuncture include:
Seasonal allergies: Acupuncture may help lessen allergy symptoms, like sneezing, watery eyes, and itchy nose. A 2015 review involving more than 2,300 people with seasonal allergies found that acupuncture helped lower allergy medication use, symptoms, and markers of inflammation.
Asthma: A 2017 trial found that adding acupuncture to routine asthma treatment was associated with a better quality of life. And a 2019 review found that people who got acupuncture had improved symptoms, although they didn’t see a difference in overall lung function. These findings suggest that acupuncture may help with some asthma symptoms, but it can’t replace standard asthma treatment.
Depression: A 2018 review of 64 studies involving over 7,000 people found that acupuncture may slightly reduce the severity of depression compared with usual care or no treatment. But most of the studies were considered low quality.
Stress urinary incontinence: In a 2017 trial of 504 women, electroacupuncture reduced urine leakage more than sham treatment after 6 weeks.
These findings don’t mean that acupuncture will treat the underlying cause of any of these conditions or relieve symptoms for everyone. If you’re considering acupuncture for a specific condition, talk with your healthcare team about how it may help support your current care plan.
How does acupuncture work?
Traditional Chinese medicine explains acupuncture in terms of qi (vital energy) flowing through pathways called meridians. These concepts are part of a traditional medical framework and don’t have direct equivalents in modern anatomy.
Scientists haven’t identified one definitive way that acupuncture works. Studies suggest that needling may affect the nervous system and how your brain processes pain. It may also influence other body signals involved in pain, stress, and inflammation.
These findings help explain how acupuncture might affect symptoms. But they don’t clearly show how acupuncture works for each condition.
Acupuncture side effects: Is acupuncture safe?
Acupuncture is generally safe for most people when a qualified practitioner uses sterile, single-use needles. Most side effects are mild and temporary, such as:
Pain, soreness, or minor bleeding where the needle was inserted
Bruising
Lightheadedness
Dizziness
Fainting
Nausea
Serious complications are rare, but they can happen. When acupuncture isn’t performed properly, it can lead to:
Infection
Nerve or organ injury
A broken needle that requires surgical removal
A collapsed lung (pneumothorax)
Proper training, clean technique, and correct needle placement can help lower these risks. The FDA regulates acupuncture needles as medical devices and requires them to be sterile and labeled for single use.
Is acupuncture safe during pregnancy or with a medical condition?
Acupuncture may be safe for many people with medical conditions, but some people need to take additional precautions. Let your healthcare team know about your overall health before starting any new treatment. It’s especially important to tell both your healthcare professional and acupuncturist if you:
Are pregnant
Take a blood thinner
Have a bleeding disorder
Have a pacemaker, implanted defibrillator, or another electrical device
Have a condition that affects wound healing or infection risk
A review of acupuncture during pregnancy found that side effects were mostly minor and happened at rates similar to those who didn’t receive acupuncture.
If you take blood-thinning medications, you may have a higher risk of bruising or bleeding. One review found a low rate of bleeding complications among people taking these medications. Still, make sure your care team knows about any medications you’re taking.
If you have a pacemaker, defibrillator, or another implanted electrical device, ask your healthcare team whether you should avoid electroacupuncture. The electrical current may interfere with some devices.
Is acupuncture right for you?
If you’re considering acupuncture, talk with your primary care provider first. The American Academy of Medical Acupuncture recommends getting a diagnosis before asking whether acupuncture may help treat your symptoms.
For many people, acupuncture may be a reasonable addition to an existing care plan. A diagnosis can help you and your healthcare team decide whether acupuncture is right for you and how to evaluate its results.
How to find an acupuncturist
Once you have a diagnosis and your primary care provider’s approval, find a licensed acupuncturist. You may be able to get a referral from your primary care provider. If not, you can visit the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture website to find a practitioner.
Also, remember to consider cost and insurance coverage. Some, but not all, insurance plans cover acupuncture.
Frequently asked questions
Most people experience little to no pain. Some people report feeling pressure or a slight ache at the needle insertion point. Others say that they feel relaxed or energized. You may also feel a numbness or tingling at and around the needle insertion point. These sensations can happen during treatment, but they don’t necessarily mean the treatment is working.
There’s no standard timeline for how long it takes acupuncture to work. Some people notice a change in their symptoms shortly after a session, while others need several sessions before they notice a difference. Some people don’t experience any noticeable benefit.
Before starting treatment, ask your acupuncturist how many sessions they recommend before evaluating your results. If your symptoms aren’t improving or they’re getting worse, contact your primary care provider about next steps.
Not everyone gets relief from acupuncture. How long any benefit lasts depends on many factors, including the condition you’re treating, how severe it is, and other treatments you’re using. Before you start acupuncture therapy, ask your practitioner how many sessions they recommend and when to reconsider the treatment if your symptoms return.
Most people experience little to no pain. Some people report feeling pressure or a slight ache at the needle insertion point. Others say that they feel relaxed or energized. You may also feel a numbness or tingling at and around the needle insertion point. These sensations can happen during treatment, but they don’t necessarily mean the treatment is working.
There’s no standard timeline for how long it takes acupuncture to work. Some people notice a change in their symptoms shortly after a session, while others need several sessions before they notice a difference. Some people don’t experience any noticeable benefit.
Before starting treatment, ask your acupuncturist how many sessions they recommend before evaluating your results. If your symptoms aren’t improving or they’re getting worse, contact your primary care provider about next steps.
Not everyone gets relief from acupuncture. How long any benefit lasts depends on many factors, including the condition you’re treating, how severe it is, and other treatments you’re using. Before you start acupuncture therapy, ask your practitioner how many sessions they recommend and when to reconsider the treatment if your symptoms return.
The bottom line
Acupuncture may help reduce symptoms for some people, especially those with certain chronic pain conditions. It’s generally safe and comfortable for most people. Mild side effects, such as soreness, minor bleeding, and bruising, can occur, while serious complications are rare.
If you want to try acupuncture, talk with your primary care provider about its potential benefits and risks. They can also help you decide how acupuncture may fit into your current care plan.
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References
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American Academy of Medical Acupuncture. (n.d.). Frequently asked questions.
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