Acupuncture: Is it an Effective Treatment?

Research shows that acupuncture may help reduce nausea and vomiting after surgery and chemotherapy. It can also ease some types of chronic pain. However, evidence about the value of acupuncture for other health issues is uncertain and researchers are only beginning to understand whether it can be helpful for various health conditions.

National Institutes of Health

The primary NIH organization for research on Acupuncture is theNational Center for Complementary and Integrative Health

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Acupuncture

Summary

Acupuncture has been practiced in China and other Asian countries for thousands of years. Acupuncture involves stimulating specific points on the body. This is most often done by inserting thin needles through the skin, to cause a change in the physical functions of the body.

Research has shown that acupuncture reduces nausea and vomiting after surgery and chemotherapy. It can also relieve pain. Researchers don't fully understand how acupuncture works. It might aid the activity of your body's pain-killing chemicals. It also might affect how you release chemicals that regulate blood pressure and flow.

NIH: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health