Acupuncture News and Research

MRI Confirms Acupuncture Improves Brain Microstructure in Traumatic Brain Injury

A randomized controlled trial conducted at Xi’an Jiaotong University demonstrated that acupuncture significantly reduced postconcussion symptoms (PCS) in patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and improved white matter microstructure as measured by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). DTI is an advanced form of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that measures the diffusion, or movement, of water molecules in brain tissue. Unlike conventional MRI, which shows anatomical structure, DTI can detect microstructural changes in white matter tracts by mapping how water diffuses along axons. The study confirmed both short-term and long-term efficacy, establishing acupuncture as the only intervention in the trial to produce durable clinical and radiological benefits [1].

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Herbs for H. pylori Eradication & Ulcer Healing

A randomized controlled trial in adults with peptic ulcer and confirmed Helicobacter pylori infection found that adding the Chinese herbal regimen Anweiyang capsule and Ban Xia Xie Xin Tang to standard quadruple therapy significantly increased H. pylori eradication rates, improved ulcer healing, and reduced serum inflammatory biomarkers over four weeks compared with standard therapy alone [1].

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Acupuncture CEU Webinar: Acupuncture for the Immune System & Pain Relief 8-17-25

Date: Sunday, August 17, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM Pacific Time

Join us for a 4-hour CEU/PDA-accredited live Zoom event that dives deep into two essential areas of clinical care:

• Modern research-backed acupuncture points for the immune system
  
• Special treatments for Long COVID and chronic viral infections
• Pain relief acupuncture supported by modern research

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Summer Top 3 Acupuncture in the News

This summer’s acupuncture research highlights clinically relevant developments in allergic rhinitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, and anxiety-related insomnia. Each study demonstrates how precise acupuncture protocols can produce measurable results, with clear procedural guidance for practitioners.

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Acupuncture Regulates Biochemical Signaling to Alleviate Depression

Acupuncture stimulation at acupoints GV20 and Yintang significantly alleviated depression-like behavior in a chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model of depression in rats, according to a 2025 review conducted by researchers at Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The results demonstrated that EA upregulated brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), TrkB, and tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) expression in both the hippocampus and the dorsal raphe nuclei, enhancing neuroplasticity and behavioral recovery in stress-induced depressive states [1].

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Acupuncture Resolves Cervical Dystonia with Head Tilt

In a detailed case report, acupuncture treatment for a 37-year-old woman with idiopathic cervical dystonia led to complete resolution of a rightward head and neck tilt of approximately 90 degrees. The report documents two distinct courses of acupuncture treatment, after which the patient’s head position returned to neutral, muscle spasticity in the left sternocleidomastoid muscle visibly decreased, and symptoms of anxiety and depression were alleviated [1].

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Acupuncture Enhances Fertility Outcomes in Women with PCOS

A rigorously designed randomized, single-blind, sham-controlled clinical trial conducted at Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, provides clinically actionable evidence that acupuncture significantly improves ovulation rates, pregnancy outcomes, and endometrial receptivity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The study enrolled 134 infertile patients diagnosed with PCOS and confirmed a statistically significant increase in reproductive outcomes with acupuncture as an adjunct to letrozole therapy [1].

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Acupuncture Reduces Fatigue & Inflammation in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

A randomized controlled trial demonstrated that acupuncture based on the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory of “brain–kidney interaction” significantly improved fatigue, sleep quality, and inflammatory cytokine profiles in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) [1].

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Acupuncture Reduces Anxiety For Insomnia Patients: Neuroendocrine Mechanisms Confirmed

Acupuncture significantly reduces anxiety and depression symptoms in patients with chronic insomnia. Biochemical data from a randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial reveals reduced serum cortisol and increased serotonin levels, suggesting neuroendocrine modulation as a primary mechanism of action [1].

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Herbs Alleviate Stress-Induced Intestinal Dysmotility and Inflammatory Damage

A study conducted by researchers at Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and published in Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy demonstrates that Si Ni San (四逆散), a classical Chinese herbal formula, effectively mitigates intestinal dysmotility, inflammation, and mucin secretion dysfunction in chronic stress-induced bowel disturbance. [1]

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