
Emma Murphy
Acupuncture
Dublin, IE
A traditional practice commonly used to support pain management, stress regulation, and overall wellbeing.
Quick answer
Acupuncture is a traditional healing practice that involves the precise insertion of fine needles into specific points on the body. It is commonly used for managing chronic low back pain, migraines, and anxiety, and may support stress regulation and sleep improvement. The evidence base for acupuncture is growing, with moderate strength evidence supporting its use in pain management and migraine prevention.
What Acupuncture is commonly used for
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Background
Acupuncture originated in China over 3,000 years ago as part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Ancient practitioners observed that stimulating certain points on the body could relieve pain and treat various conditions. The practice is based on the concept of Qi (pronounced "chee") - vital life energy that flows through pathways called meridians. When Qi flow is blocked or imbalanced, illness occurs.
The Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine), written around 300 BCE, first documented acupuncture points and techniques. Over centuries, the practice spread throughout Asia and evolved into various styles including Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese acupuncture.
Acupuncture came to the West in the 1970s, gaining widespread attention after New York Times journalist James Reston wrote about receiving acupuncture for post-surgical pain in China. Since then, thousands of studies have explored its mechanisms and effectiveness, leading to its integration into mainstream healthcare in many countries.
The practice
Acupuncture involves inserting fine needles into specific points on the body to stimulate nerve fibres and trigger neurochemical responses. Needle stimulation activates nerve endings that release endogenous opioids, serotonin, and dopamine, providing analgesia and mood regulation; simultaneously, it activates the parasympathetic nervous system to lower cortisol and reduce systemic inflammation. Regular treatment may modulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and reduce central sensitisation — the heightened pain signalling seen in chronic pain conditions — whilst local needle placement stimulates collagen synthesis and releases myofascial tension in affected tissues.
A typical first acupuncture session lasts 60-90 minutes and begins with a comprehensive consultation.
Initial Consultation (20-30 minutes):
The practitioner asks detailed questions about your health history, current symptoms, sleep, digestion, stress levels, and lifestyle. In TCM-style acupuncture, they may examine your tongue and take your pulse at multiple points on your wrist - diagnostic techniques used to assess your body's balance.
Treatment (30-45 minutes):
You'll lie on a comfortable treatment table, usually fully clothed except for areas being needled. The practitioner inserts very thin needles (much finer than injection needles) into specific points. Most people feel minimal discomfort - perhaps a slight pinch or tingling sensation.
Typically 5-20 needles are used. Once inserted, you rest quietly for 20-40 minutes. Many people find this deeply relaxing and may even fall asleep. Some practitioners use gentle heat (moxibustion), electrical stimulation, or other complementary techniques.
After Treatment:
The practitioner removes the needles (painless) and may provide lifestyle or dietary recommendations. You might feel relaxed, energized, or slightly tired. Effects often improve over multiple sessions.
Follow-up Sessions:
Usually 45-60 minutes. Chronic conditions typically require 6-12 sessions over several weeks, while acute issues may respond in 2-4 sessions.
Mechanisms
The biological and psychological processes proposed to underlie how Acupuncture is thought to work.
Needle stimulation at acupuncture points activates A-delta and C nerve fibres, triggering release of endogenous opioids (beta-endorphin, enkephalin), serotonin, and dopamine. This is the primary analgesic mechanism and explains documented pain reduction across multiple conditions.
Acupuncture activates the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing sympathetic tone. This lowers cortisol, decreases heart rate variability dysregulation, and reduces systemic inflammation — the mechanism underpinning its effects on anxiety, IBS, and stress-related conditions.
Repeated acupuncture treatment modulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, reducing chronic cortisol dysregulation. This is particularly relevant in burnout, adrenal fatigue, and anxiety disorders where the stress response system has become dysregulated.
Evidence Assessment
Moderate EvidenceAcupuncture has a growing evidence base, with the strongest support for pain management, migraine prevention, and post-operative nausea. Evidence for anxiety, sleep, and digestive conditions is promising but more variable. Broader claims beyond symptom management are not supported by high-quality evidence.
Questions
Suitability
Based on clinical use and available research. Evidence varies by condition and individual response.
Reduces migraine frequency and intensity by modulating trigeminovascular pathways
Regulates the nervous system and reduces cortisol levels through specific point stimulation
Reduces joint inflammation and pain through neuromodulatory pathways
Reduces local muscle tension and inflammation in cervical and upper trapezius tissue
Stimulates pain-modulating pathways and reduces inflammation in affected tissues
Evidence-based support for chemotherapy-related nausea, fatigue and pain
Modulates central pain processing and promotes endorphin release
Regulates hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis and improves hormonal balance
May support thyroid function and immune modulation in autoimmune thyroiditis
Acupuncture is a traditional healing practice involving the precise insertion of fine needles into specific points on the body.
These conditions have insufficient or varying evidence. Acupuncture may be explored alongside conventional care at practitioner discretion.
Related
Based on the conditions Acupuncture is used to support, practitioners commonly work with people experiencing these symptoms:
Needle insertion creates micro-trauma that stimulates local collagen synthesis, releases myofascial tension, and improves local circulation. This accounts for its musculoskeletal effects independent of systemic neurochemical mechanisms.
Chronic pain conditions involve central sensitisation — amplified pain signalling in the dorsal horn. Acupuncture inhibits this through segmental and supraspinal mechanisms, reducing the heightened pain response in conditions like fibromyalgia and chronic headache.
Evidence varies by condition and individual response. This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
Reduces pelvic floor muscle tension and visceral hypersensitivity
Addresses hormonal and inflammatory drivers of acne through systemic regulation