Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsBenefitsWhat to ExpectSide EffectsRisksInsurance

Table of ContentsView All

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Table of Contents

Benefits

What to Expect

Side Effects

Risks

Insurance

Acupuncture benefits may include pain management, stress relief, and physical and emotional well-being. A traditional Chinese medicine practice, acupuncture is based on the idea that a blockage or disturbance in the flow of the body’s life energy, or qi, can cause health issues. Research into the benefits of acupuncture is mixed.

Acupuncturists insert thin needles into specific points throughout the body. This is believed to help balance the body’s energy, causing a reduction or resolution of symptoms.

This article explains acupuncture’s benefits and the potential side effects. It will also cover what conditions acupuncture may be used for.

Science Photo Library - ADAM GAULT / Getty Images

Acupuncturist inserting a needle into a client’s back.

Acupuncture Benefits

The research into the effectiveness has been mixed, with some studies showing effectiveness and others showing that acupuncture is no better than “sham” or placebo treatments. Many of the existing studies have been small or poorly designed.

Researchers don’t fully understand how acupuncture might work, but some theories include:

Research into the various conditions that are treatable with acupuncture has been ongoing for decades, with some uses more well-studied than others. Some research supports acupuncture to treat symptoms associated with the autonomic nervous system, including many different types of pain, mental health conditions, gastrointestinal problems, and sleep disorders.

Acupuncture may be useful for a variety of conditions, including:

The health benefits of acupuncture can vary depending on the individual. Keep in mind that it may take several acupuncture sessions before you notice any benefits.

Pain

Acupuncture is often combined with other therapies to treat various kinds of pain. Sometimes acupuncture is used as the only treatment for pain.

Acupuncture may help provide pain relief for people with chronic lowerback pain. Studies have found that combining acupuncture with conventional therapies may be more effective at reducing lower back pain than conventional therapies alone.

Some studies have found that acupuncture may even be more effective for controlling lower back pain than conventional therapy for up to six months after treatment.

Acupuncture has also been studied for its effectiveness in reducing other types of chronic pain, such as shoulder pain, nonspecific musculoskeletal pain, neck pain, and others. Studies have found that acupuncture can help relieve pain for these conditions and that the benefits can’t be completely explained as a placebo effect.

Can Acupuncture Treat Your Pain?

Arthritis

Research that looked at multiple studies suggested that acupuncture may be able to improve the physical function of the knee in the short and long term in individuals who have kneeosteoarthritis. With this condition, the connective tissue in the knee breaks down. This study also found that acupuncture helped those with knee osteoarthritis decrease theirknee pain, but this was only helpful in the short term.

Another review that looked at multiple studies found that acupuncture delayed and reduced the use of pain medication in those who hadknee replacement surgery.

Acupuncture has also been studied for its effectiveness in treating other types of arthritis pain, including arthritis of the spine, hands, and feet. One study found that acupuncture helped reduce pain, swelling, redness, and stiffness in all patients in the study group. Because this was a small study group without a control or placebo group, however, more studies are needed to confirm the results.

Mental Health

Acupuncture has been used to treat a number of mental health conditions, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety.

Headaches

Acupuncture has been well-studied for treating headache pain, including migraine headaches and tension headaches.

Acupuncture Benefits and Risks

Sleep Disorders

Acupuncture is sometimes used to treat insomnia. There is some evidence that it is effective for this, though it’s unclear whether it is acting as a placebo.

One review of studies found that acupuncture provided better relief of symptoms after more than three weeks of treatment than pharmacological treatments.

Fertility

Acupuncture is sometimes used to treat infertility. Much of the research into this use has focused on women undergoing assisted reproductive techniques such as in vitro fertilization.

One review of studies found that combining acupuncture with other fertility treatments might help improve the chances of pregnancy, but the authors also noted that the evidence is not yet robust enough to form a solid conclusion.

Other studies have found no benefit compared to placebo for women undergoing in vitro fertilization.

Acupuncture has also been used to treat male infertility. A review of studies, however, noted that most of the scientific evidence to support this use comes from poorly designed studies or studies with a small sample size. Some studies have also reported that control groups receiving “sham” treatments also experienced a therapeutic benefit.

A separate review study also concluded that acupuncture does not seem to help improve sperm quality, though it noted that research has so far been limited and larger studies are needed.

Skin Health

Cosmetic acupuncture, also known as facial acupuncture, is used to improve the appearance of the skin on the head, face, and neck.

This use has not been well studied, but a 2018 review of studies found that existing trials were well-designed and showed positive benefits. The authors did note that further research is needed.

Respiratory Health

Acupuncture is sometimes used as an adjunctive or complementary therapy for people with chronic respiratory conditions.

For example, one review of studies found that people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) experienced significant improvement in symptoms when acupuncture was used as an adjunctive therapy.

People with advanced cancers may also benefit from acupuncture. Another review of studies found that acupuncture could help reduce breathlessness and improve quality of life for people experiencing severe breathlessness as a result of advanced cancers or COPD.

Nausea

People undergoing treatment for cancer or recovery from surgery often experience nausea and vomiting. Some studies have found that acupuncture can help reduce these symptoms.

For example, one review of studies concluded that using acupuncture alongside standard treatments could help control vomiting compared to standard treatments alone. However, the study authors noted that the quality of the evidence was low, and more studies are needed to confirm the usefulness of acupuncture for treating chemotherapy-associated nausea and vomiting.

A small trial looked at acupuncture as a preventative measure for postoperative nausea and vomiting in children undergoing tonsillectomy. It found that the incidence of nausea and vomiting was reduced significantly when acupuncture was used during early recovery.

Prior to getting acupuncture, your acupuncturist will ask about your health history and may give you a physical examination.

During the acupuncture session, thin needles are placed in specific areas to address your concern or condition. The acupuncturist may gently twist the needles for added effect. The needles are often left in for 15 to 20 minutes, with the total session lasting anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.

Your acupuncturist may use additional techniques during your session including:

After the treatment, some people may feel relaxed, while others may feel energetic. If you experience any unusual symptoms, you should contact your healthcare provider.

Is It Painful?

You may feel a slight sting, pinch, ache, or some pain as the acupuncture needle is being inserted. Some acupuncturists move the needle after it has been placed in the body, which can cause additional pressure.

Once the needle has been properly placed, you may feel a tingling or heavy feeling, which is referred to as de qi.

Let your acupuncturist know if you are uncomfortable or in a lot of pain at any point during the session. Intense pain may mean the needle has not been inserted or placed correctly.

Results

How long acupuncture takes to work also depends on the condition being treated. For some people, it may take a few sessions before considerable improvement is noted.The effects may persist for some time after treatment ends, but it is unknown how long acupuncture can continue to provide relief after stopping sessions.

As with any treatment, acupuncture may cause side effects in some individuals. Side effects may include:

One of the risks of acupuncture is the accidental insertion of a needle into the space between the lungs and the chest wall. This can lead to pneumothorax or collapsed lung.However, this is uncommon.

It is also possible to experience blood vessel andnerve injury, complications from the needle breaking during treatment, organ injuries, as well as brain and spinal cord injuries. While rare, acupuncture complications can lead to death.

Who Should Not Have Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is not recommended for people who have a pacemaker. You should not have acupuncture if you are at high risk for infection or you have chronic skin problems.

People with bleeding disorders or who are taking a blood thinning medication should also avoid acupuncture.You should also avoid getting acupuncture in any areas where you have had lymph nodes removed, as acupuncture could increase the risk of infection.

People who are pregnant or who have cosmetic implants such as breast implants should ask a healthcare provider before having acupuncture. Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about any medications or dietary supplements you’re taking.

Not every insurance policy covers acupuncture, but some do.It is best to check with your insurance company before setting up an appointment. Be sure to ask your provider whether they accept your insurance.

Summary

Researchers aren’t exactly sure how acupuncture works, however, theories suggest that it may help release endorphins, as well as influence the autonomic nervous system.

Acupuncture may be helpful for a variety of concerns, including some mental health disorders, pain, inflammatory conditions, stress, and skin appearance. However, keep in mind that acupuncture can lead to mild or serious side effects in some individuals.

An acupuncture session can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour and usually involves about 20 minutes with the needles in. Some individuals may feel some pain or pressure while the needles are inserted, while others may feel different sensations while the needles are in.

32 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Acupuncture.Harvard Health Publishing.Relieving pain with acupuncture.Li YW, Li W, Wang ST, et al.The autonomic nervous system: a potential link to the efficacy of acupuncture.Front Neurosci. 2022;16:1038945. doi:10.3389/fnins.2022.1038945Wang H, Yang G, Wang S, Zheng X, Zhang W, Li Y.The most commonly treated acupuncture indications in the United States: a cross-sectional study.Am J Chin Med. 2018;46(7):1387-1419. doi:10.1142/S0192415X18500738Shin BC, Lim KT.Acupuncture for cosmetic use: a systematic review of prospective studies.J Cosmet Med. 2018;2(2):76-84. doi:10.25056/JCM.2018.2.2.76Lim TK, Ma Y, Berger F, Litscher G.Acupuncture and neural mechanism in the management of low back pain-An update.Medicines (Basel). 2018;5(3):63. doi:10.3390/medicines5030063Vickers AJ, Vertosick EA, Lewith G, et al.Acupuncture for chronic pain: update of an individual patient data metaanalysis.J Pain. 2018;19(5):455-474. doi:10.1016/j.jpain.2017.11.005Zhu J, Arsovska B, Kozovska K.Acupuncture treatment in osteoarthritis.Int J Recent Sci Res. 2020;11(02):37471-37472. doi:10.24327/ijrsr.2020.1102.5116Tedesco D, Gori D, Desai KR, et al.Drug-free interventions to reduce pain or opioid consumption after total knee arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis.JAMA Surg. 2017;152(10):e172872. doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2017.2872Zhu J, Arsovska B, Kozovska K.Acupuncture treatment in osteoarthritis.Int J Recent Sci Res. 2020;11(02):37471-2. doi:10.24327/IJRSRSmith CA, Armour M, Lee MS, Wang LQ, Hay PJ.Acupuncture for depression.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;3(3):CD004046. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004046.pub4Grant S, Colaiaco B, Motala A, et al.Acupuncture for the treatment of adults with posttraumatic stress disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis.J Trauma Dissociation. 2018;19(1):39-58. doi:10.1080/15299732.2017.1289493Yang XY, Yang NB, Huang FF, Ren S, Li ZJ.Effectiveness of acupuncture on anxiety disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.Ann Gen Psychiatry. 2021;20(1):9. doi:10.1186/s12991-021-00327-5Motlagh FE, Ibrahim F, Rashid RA, Seghatoleslam T, Habil H.Acupuncture therapy for drug addiction.Chin Med. 2016;11:16. doi:10.1186/s13020-016-0088-7Linde K, Allais G, Brinkhaus B, et al.Acupuncture for the prevention of episodic migraine.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;2018(4). doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001218.pub3Kim SA, Lee SH, Kim JH, et al.Efficacy of acupuncture for insomnia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Am J Chin Med. 2021;49(5):1135-1150. doi:10.1142/S0192415X21500543Yun L, Liqun W, Shuqi Y, Chunxiao W, Liming L, Wei Y.Acupuncture for infertile women without undergoing assisted reproductive techniques (ART): a systematic review and meta-analysis.Medicine (Baltimore). 2019;98(29):e16463. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000016463Coyle ME, Stupans I, Abdel-Nour K, et al.Acupuncture versus placebo acupuncture for in vitro fertilisation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Acupunct Med. 202;39(1):20-29. doi:10.1177/0964528420958711Feng J, He H, Wang Y, et al.The efficacy and mechanism of acupuncture in the treatment of male infertility: a literature review.Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2022;13:1009537. doi:10.3389/fendo.2022.1009537Jia W, Wang C, Yin Y.Acupuncture for oligospermia and asthenozoospermia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Medicine (Baltimore). 2021;100(48):e27816. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000027816Hsieh PC, Yang MC, Wu YK, et al.Acupuncture therapy improves health-related quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2019;35:208-218. doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2019.02.016von Trott P, Oei SL, Ramsenthaler C.Acupuncture for breathlessness in advanced diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis.J Pain Symptom Manage. 2020;59(2):327-338.e3. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2019.09.007Yan Y, López-Alcalde J, Zhang L, Siebenhüner AR, Witt CM, Barth J.Acupuncture for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Cancer Med. 2023;12(11):12504-12517. doi:10.1002/cam4.5962Martin CS, Deverman SE, Norvell DC, Cusick JC, Kendrick A, Koh J.Randomized trial of acupuncture with antiemetics for reducing postoperative nausea in children.Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2019;63(3):292-297. doi:10.1111/aas.13288Zhou Q, Wei S, Zhu H, et al.Acupuncture and moxibustion combined with cupping for the treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia: a meta-analysis.Medicine (Baltimore). 2021;100(31):e26785. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000026785National Institutes of Health.De qi sensation.Uğurlu FG, Sezer N, Aktekin L, Fidan F, Tok F, Akkuş S.The effects of acupuncture versus sham acupuncture in the treatment of fibromyalgia: a randomized controlled clinical trial.Acta Reumatol Port. 2017;42(1):32-37.Chan MWC, Wu XY, Wu JCY, Wong SYS, Chung VCH.Safety of acupuncture: overview of systematic reviews.Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):3369. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-03272-0National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Acupuncture: what you need to know.Chiu WS, Lu YW, Lien TH.Latrogenic pneumothorax during acupuncture: Case report.Medicina (Kaunas). 2023;59(6):1100. doi:10.3390/medicina59061100Hsieh HT, Chou HJ, Wu PY, Lin SK.Bleeding risk after acupuncture in patients taking anticoagulant drugs: a case control study based on real-world data.Complement Ther Med. 2023;74:102951. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2023.102951Breastcancer.org.Acupuncture.

32 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Acupuncture.Harvard Health Publishing.Relieving pain with acupuncture.Li YW, Li W, Wang ST, et al.The autonomic nervous system: a potential link to the efficacy of acupuncture.Front Neurosci. 2022;16:1038945. doi:10.3389/fnins.2022.1038945Wang H, Yang G, Wang S, Zheng X, Zhang W, Li Y.The most commonly treated acupuncture indications in the United States: a cross-sectional study.Am J Chin Med. 2018;46(7):1387-1419. doi:10.1142/S0192415X18500738Shin BC, Lim KT.Acupuncture for cosmetic use: a systematic review of prospective studies.J Cosmet Med. 2018;2(2):76-84. doi:10.25056/JCM.2018.2.2.76Lim TK, Ma Y, Berger F, Litscher G.Acupuncture and neural mechanism in the management of low back pain-An update.Medicines (Basel). 2018;5(3):63. doi:10.3390/medicines5030063Vickers AJ, Vertosick EA, Lewith G, et al.Acupuncture for chronic pain: update of an individual patient data metaanalysis.J Pain. 2018;19(5):455-474. doi:10.1016/j.jpain.2017.11.005Zhu J, Arsovska B, Kozovska K.Acupuncture treatment in osteoarthritis.Int J Recent Sci Res. 2020;11(02):37471-37472. doi:10.24327/ijrsr.2020.1102.5116Tedesco D, Gori D, Desai KR, et al.Drug-free interventions to reduce pain or opioid consumption after total knee arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis.JAMA Surg. 2017;152(10):e172872. doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2017.2872Zhu J, Arsovska B, Kozovska K.Acupuncture treatment in osteoarthritis.Int J Recent Sci Res. 2020;11(02):37471-2. doi:10.24327/IJRSRSmith CA, Armour M, Lee MS, Wang LQ, Hay PJ.Acupuncture for depression.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;3(3):CD004046. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004046.pub4Grant S, Colaiaco B, Motala A, et al.Acupuncture for the treatment of adults with posttraumatic stress disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis.J Trauma Dissociation. 2018;19(1):39-58. doi:10.1080/15299732.2017.1289493Yang XY, Yang NB, Huang FF, Ren S, Li ZJ.Effectiveness of acupuncture on anxiety disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.Ann Gen Psychiatry. 2021;20(1):9. doi:10.1186/s12991-021-00327-5Motlagh FE, Ibrahim F, Rashid RA, Seghatoleslam T, Habil H.Acupuncture therapy for drug addiction.Chin Med. 2016;11:16. doi:10.1186/s13020-016-0088-7Linde K, Allais G, Brinkhaus B, et al.Acupuncture for the prevention of episodic migraine.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;2018(4). doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001218.pub3Kim SA, Lee SH, Kim JH, et al.Efficacy of acupuncture for insomnia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Am J Chin Med. 2021;49(5):1135-1150. doi:10.1142/S0192415X21500543Yun L, Liqun W, Shuqi Y, Chunxiao W, Liming L, Wei Y.Acupuncture for infertile women without undergoing assisted reproductive techniques (ART): a systematic review and meta-analysis.Medicine (Baltimore). 2019;98(29):e16463. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000016463Coyle ME, Stupans I, Abdel-Nour K, et al.Acupuncture versus placebo acupuncture for in vitro fertilisation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Acupunct Med. 202;39(1):20-29. doi:10.1177/0964528420958711Feng J, He H, Wang Y, et al.The efficacy and mechanism of acupuncture in the treatment of male infertility: a literature review.Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2022;13:1009537. doi:10.3389/fendo.2022.1009537Jia W, Wang C, Yin Y.Acupuncture for oligospermia and asthenozoospermia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Medicine (Baltimore). 2021;100(48):e27816. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000027816Hsieh PC, Yang MC, Wu YK, et al.Acupuncture therapy improves health-related quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2019;35:208-218. doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2019.02.016von Trott P, Oei SL, Ramsenthaler C.Acupuncture for breathlessness in advanced diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis.J Pain Symptom Manage. 2020;59(2):327-338.e3. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2019.09.007Yan Y, López-Alcalde J, Zhang L, Siebenhüner AR, Witt CM, Barth J.Acupuncture for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Cancer Med. 2023;12(11):12504-12517. doi:10.1002/cam4.5962Martin CS, Deverman SE, Norvell DC, Cusick JC, Kendrick A, Koh J.Randomized trial of acupuncture with antiemetics for reducing postoperative nausea in children.Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2019;63(3):292-297. doi:10.1111/aas.13288Zhou Q, Wei S, Zhu H, et al.Acupuncture and moxibustion combined with cupping for the treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia: a meta-analysis.Medicine (Baltimore). 2021;100(31):e26785. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000026785National Institutes of Health.De qi sensation.Uğurlu FG, Sezer N, Aktekin L, Fidan F, Tok F, Akkuş S.The effects of acupuncture versus sham acupuncture in the treatment of fibromyalgia: a randomized controlled clinical trial.Acta Reumatol Port. 2017;42(1):32-37.Chan MWC, Wu XY, Wu JCY, Wong SYS, Chung VCH.Safety of acupuncture: overview of systematic reviews.Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):3369. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-03272-0National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Acupuncture: what you need to know.Chiu WS, Lu YW, Lien TH.Latrogenic pneumothorax during acupuncture: Case report.Medicina (Kaunas). 2023;59(6):1100. doi:10.3390/medicina59061100Hsieh HT, Chou HJ, Wu PY, Lin SK.Bleeding risk after acupuncture in patients taking anticoagulant drugs: a case control study based on real-world data.Complement Ther Med. 2023;74:102951. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2023.102951Breastcancer.org.Acupuncture.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Johns Hopkins Medicine.Acupuncture.Harvard Health Publishing.Relieving pain with acupuncture.Li YW, Li W, Wang ST, et al.The autonomic nervous system: a potential link to the efficacy of acupuncture.Front Neurosci. 2022;16:1038945. doi:10.3389/fnins.2022.1038945Wang H, Yang G, Wang S, Zheng X, Zhang W, Li Y.The most commonly treated acupuncture indications in the United States: a cross-sectional study.Am J Chin Med. 2018;46(7):1387-1419. doi:10.1142/S0192415X18500738Shin BC, Lim KT.Acupuncture for cosmetic use: a systematic review of prospective studies.J Cosmet Med. 2018;2(2):76-84. doi:10.25056/JCM.2018.2.2.76Lim TK, Ma Y, Berger F, Litscher G.Acupuncture and neural mechanism in the management of low back pain-An update.Medicines (Basel). 2018;5(3):63. doi:10.3390/medicines5030063Vickers AJ, Vertosick EA, Lewith G, et al.Acupuncture for chronic pain: update of an individual patient data metaanalysis.J Pain. 2018;19(5):455-474. doi:10.1016/j.jpain.2017.11.005Zhu J, Arsovska B, Kozovska K.Acupuncture treatment in osteoarthritis.Int J Recent Sci Res. 2020;11(02):37471-37472. doi:10.24327/ijrsr.2020.1102.5116Tedesco D, Gori D, Desai KR, et al.Drug-free interventions to reduce pain or opioid consumption after total knee arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis.JAMA Surg. 2017;152(10):e172872. doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2017.2872Zhu J, Arsovska B, Kozovska K.Acupuncture treatment in osteoarthritis.Int J Recent Sci Res. 2020;11(02):37471-2. doi:10.24327/IJRSRSmith CA, Armour M, Lee MS, Wang LQ, Hay PJ.Acupuncture for depression.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;3(3):CD004046. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004046.pub4Grant S, Colaiaco B, Motala A, et al.Acupuncture for the treatment of adults with posttraumatic stress disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis.J Trauma Dissociation. 2018;19(1):39-58. doi:10.1080/15299732.2017.1289493Yang XY, Yang NB, Huang FF, Ren S, Li ZJ.Effectiveness of acupuncture on anxiety disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.Ann Gen Psychiatry. 2021;20(1):9. doi:10.1186/s12991-021-00327-5Motlagh FE, Ibrahim F, Rashid RA, Seghatoleslam T, Habil H.Acupuncture therapy for drug addiction.Chin Med. 2016;11:16. doi:10.1186/s13020-016-0088-7Linde K, Allais G, Brinkhaus B, et al.Acupuncture for the prevention of episodic migraine.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;2018(4). doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001218.pub3Kim SA, Lee SH, Kim JH, et al.Efficacy of acupuncture for insomnia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Am J Chin Med. 2021;49(5):1135-1150. doi:10.1142/S0192415X21500543Yun L, Liqun W, Shuqi Y, Chunxiao W, Liming L, Wei Y.Acupuncture for infertile women without undergoing assisted reproductive techniques (ART): a systematic review and meta-analysis.Medicine (Baltimore). 2019;98(29):e16463. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000016463Coyle ME, Stupans I, Abdel-Nour K, et al.Acupuncture versus placebo acupuncture for in vitro fertilisation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Acupunct Med. 202;39(1):20-29. doi:10.1177/0964528420958711Feng J, He H, Wang Y, et al.The efficacy and mechanism of acupuncture in the treatment of male infertility: a literature review.Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2022;13:1009537. doi:10.3389/fendo.2022.1009537Jia W, Wang C, Yin Y.Acupuncture for oligospermia and asthenozoospermia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Medicine (Baltimore). 2021;100(48):e27816. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000027816Hsieh PC, Yang MC, Wu YK, et al.Acupuncture therapy improves health-related quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2019;35:208-218. doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2019.02.016von Trott P, Oei SL, Ramsenthaler C.Acupuncture for breathlessness in advanced diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis.J Pain Symptom Manage. 2020;59(2):327-338.e3. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2019.09.007Yan Y, López-Alcalde J, Zhang L, Siebenhüner AR, Witt CM, Barth J.Acupuncture for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Cancer Med. 2023;12(11):12504-12517. doi:10.1002/cam4.5962Martin CS, Deverman SE, Norvell DC, Cusick JC, Kendrick A, Koh J.Randomized trial of acupuncture with antiemetics for reducing postoperative nausea in children.Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2019;63(3):292-297. doi:10.1111/aas.13288Zhou Q, Wei S, Zhu H, et al.Acupuncture and moxibustion combined with cupping for the treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia: a meta-analysis.Medicine (Baltimore). 2021;100(31):e26785. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000026785National Institutes of Health.De qi sensation.Uğurlu FG, Sezer N, Aktekin L, Fidan F, Tok F, Akkuş S.The effects of acupuncture versus sham acupuncture in the treatment of fibromyalgia: a randomized controlled clinical trial.Acta Reumatol Port. 2017;42(1):32-37.Chan MWC, Wu XY, Wu JCY, Wong SYS, Chung VCH.Safety of acupuncture: overview of systematic reviews.Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):3369. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-03272-0National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Acupuncture: what you need to know.Chiu WS, Lu YW, Lien TH.Latrogenic pneumothorax during acupuncture: Case report.Medicina (Kaunas). 2023;59(6):1100. doi:10.3390/medicina59061100Hsieh HT, Chou HJ, Wu PY, Lin SK.Bleeding risk after acupuncture in patients taking anticoagulant drugs: a case control study based on real-world data.Complement Ther Med. 2023;74:102951. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2023.102951Breastcancer.org.Acupuncture.

Johns Hopkins Medicine.Acupuncture.

Harvard Health Publishing.Relieving pain with acupuncture.

Li YW, Li W, Wang ST, et al.The autonomic nervous system: a potential link to the efficacy of acupuncture.Front Neurosci. 2022;16:1038945. doi:10.3389/fnins.2022.1038945

Wang H, Yang G, Wang S, Zheng X, Zhang W, Li Y.The most commonly treated acupuncture indications in the United States: a cross-sectional study.Am J Chin Med. 2018;46(7):1387-1419. doi:10.1142/S0192415X18500738

Shin BC, Lim KT.Acupuncture for cosmetic use: a systematic review of prospective studies.J Cosmet Med. 2018;2(2):76-84. doi:10.25056/JCM.2018.2.2.76

Lim TK, Ma Y, Berger F, Litscher G.Acupuncture and neural mechanism in the management of low back pain-An update.Medicines (Basel). 2018;5(3):63. doi:10.3390/medicines5030063

Vickers AJ, Vertosick EA, Lewith G, et al.Acupuncture for chronic pain: update of an individual patient data metaanalysis.J Pain. 2018;19(5):455-474. doi:10.1016/j.jpain.2017.11.005

Zhu J, Arsovska B, Kozovska K.Acupuncture treatment in osteoarthritis.Int J Recent Sci Res. 2020;11(02):37471-37472. doi:10.24327/ijrsr.2020.1102.5116

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Zhu J, Arsovska B, Kozovska K.Acupuncture treatment in osteoarthritis.Int J Recent Sci Res. 2020;11(02):37471-2. doi:10.24327/IJRSR

Smith CA, Armour M, Lee MS, Wang LQ, Hay PJ.Acupuncture for depression.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;3(3):CD004046. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004046.pub4

Grant S, Colaiaco B, Motala A, et al.Acupuncture for the treatment of adults with posttraumatic stress disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis.J Trauma Dissociation. 2018;19(1):39-58. doi:10.1080/15299732.2017.1289493

Yang XY, Yang NB, Huang FF, Ren S, Li ZJ.Effectiveness of acupuncture on anxiety disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.Ann Gen Psychiatry. 2021;20(1):9. doi:10.1186/s12991-021-00327-5

Motlagh FE, Ibrahim F, Rashid RA, Seghatoleslam T, Habil H.Acupuncture therapy for drug addiction.Chin Med. 2016;11:16. doi:10.1186/s13020-016-0088-7

Linde K, Allais G, Brinkhaus B, et al.Acupuncture for the prevention of episodic migraine.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;2018(4). doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001218.pub3

Kim SA, Lee SH, Kim JH, et al.Efficacy of acupuncture for insomnia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Am J Chin Med. 2021;49(5):1135-1150. doi:10.1142/S0192415X21500543

Yun L, Liqun W, Shuqi Y, Chunxiao W, Liming L, Wei Y.Acupuncture for infertile women without undergoing assisted reproductive techniques (ART): a systematic review and meta-analysis.Medicine (Baltimore). 2019;98(29):e16463. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000016463

Coyle ME, Stupans I, Abdel-Nour K, et al.Acupuncture versus placebo acupuncture for in vitro fertilisation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Acupunct Med. 202;39(1):20-29. doi:10.1177/0964528420958711

Feng J, He H, Wang Y, et al.The efficacy and mechanism of acupuncture in the treatment of male infertility: a literature review.Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2022;13:1009537. doi:10.3389/fendo.2022.1009537

Jia W, Wang C, Yin Y.Acupuncture for oligospermia and asthenozoospermia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Medicine (Baltimore). 2021;100(48):e27816. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000027816

Hsieh PC, Yang MC, Wu YK, et al.Acupuncture therapy improves health-related quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2019;35:208-218. doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2019.02.016

von Trott P, Oei SL, Ramsenthaler C.Acupuncture for breathlessness in advanced diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis.J Pain Symptom Manage. 2020;59(2):327-338.e3. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2019.09.007

Yan Y, López-Alcalde J, Zhang L, Siebenhüner AR, Witt CM, Barth J.Acupuncture for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Cancer Med. 2023;12(11):12504-12517. doi:10.1002/cam4.5962

Martin CS, Deverman SE, Norvell DC, Cusick JC, Kendrick A, Koh J.Randomized trial of acupuncture with antiemetics for reducing postoperative nausea in children.Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2019;63(3):292-297. doi:10.1111/aas.13288

Zhou Q, Wei S, Zhu H, et al.Acupuncture and moxibustion combined with cupping for the treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia: a meta-analysis.Medicine (Baltimore). 2021;100(31):e26785. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000026785

National Institutes of Health.De qi sensation.

Uğurlu FG, Sezer N, Aktekin L, Fidan F, Tok F, Akkuş S.The effects of acupuncture versus sham acupuncture in the treatment of fibromyalgia: a randomized controlled clinical trial.Acta Reumatol Port. 2017;42(1):32-37.

Chan MWC, Wu XY, Wu JCY, Wong SYS, Chung VCH.Safety of acupuncture: overview of systematic reviews.Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):3369. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-03272-0

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Acupuncture: what you need to know.

Chiu WS, Lu YW, Lien TH.Latrogenic pneumothorax during acupuncture: Case report.Medicina (Kaunas). 2023;59(6):1100. doi:10.3390/medicina59061100

Hsieh HT, Chou HJ, Wu PY, Lin SK.Bleeding risk after acupuncture in patients taking anticoagulant drugs: a case control study based on real-world data.Complement Ther Med. 2023;74:102951. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2023.102951

Breastcancer.org.Acupuncture.

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