Acupuncture has been practised for thousands of years, yet the question of exactly how it works is still being explored.

Traditional Chinese Medicine describes acupuncture in terms of Qi (often translated as vital energy) and the meridian pathways through which it flows. Modern research, meanwhile, investigates how acupuncture interacts with the nervous system, the brain and other physiological processes.

Are these two ways of understanding the body entirely separate, or might they offer different perspectives on the same complex system? I believe there is still much to discover.

What happens in the body during acupuncture?

When an acupuncture needle is inserted and gently stimulated, it activates sensory nerve endings in the skin and underlying tissues. These signals communicate with the spinal cord and brain, influencing how the body processes pain and responds to stimulation.

Research suggests that acupuncture may influence several processes, including:

• Pain regulation: Acupuncture can influence the nervous system’s processing of pain and the activity of the body’s own pain-modulating chemicals, including endorphins.

• The stress response: Acupuncture may influence the autonomic nervous system, which helps regulate functions such as heart rate, digestion and the body’s response to stress.

• Muscle activity: Depending on the technique used, acupuncture can influence muscle tension, sensitivity and neuromuscular activity.

• Local circulation and tissue responses: Needle stimulation can produce local physiological responses, including changes in blood flow. Researchers are continuing to investigate how these responses relate to clinical outcomes.

We don’t yet have a complete explanation of all the mechanisms involved. What we do know is that acupuncture can have measurable effects on the body, and research continues to improve our understanding of them.

Acupuncture and the nervous system

One of the aspects of acupuncture I find particularly interesting is its interaction with the nervous system.

Our nervous system constantly responds to what is happening inside and around us. It helps us adapt to physical demands, process emotional experiences and regulate essential functions such as sleep, digestion and recovery.

When we experience prolonged stress, the body can spend too much time in a heightened state of alertness. This may contribute to muscle tension, disturbed sleep, digestive symptoms and increased sensitivity to pain.

Acupuncture may help modulate some of these responses and support a shift towards a more relaxed physiological state.

This is one reason I see acupuncture as more than simply a way to address an individual symptom. It can also be an opportunity to support the body’s ability to regulate and adapt.

A whole-body approach

I believe acupuncture works on several levels, and that our current understanding is still evolving.

My approach combines traditional acupuncture principles with contemporary knowledge of anatomy, neuroscience and musculoskeletal function. Rather than focusing only on where a symptom appears, I consider the wider picture: your health history, lifestyle, physical patterns and individual needs.

The aim is not simply to relieve a symptom temporarily, but to support better regulation, ease discomfort and improve your overall function and wellbeing.

Your body is a complex, interconnected system. Acupuncture offers one way of working with that complexity.