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.
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,
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
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
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].
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].
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]
A recent randomized clinical trial shows that manual acupuncture significantly reduces nasal inflammation and allergic symptoms in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR), while not altering Th1/Th2 immune balance. Seasonal allergic rhinitis is an IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reaction to airborne allergens such as pollen, causing nasal congestion, sneezing, rhinorrhea, and itching during specific times of the year.
A randomized controlled trial has demonstrated that manual acupuncture significantly improves embryo quality, two-pronuclei (2PN) fertilization rates, and cumulative pregnancy outcomes in women aged 35 to 42 undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). Conducted at the Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the study also revealed key metabolic pathway changes in follicular fluid after acupuncture, highlighting retinol, glycine-serine-threonine, and glycerophospholipid metabolism as
Acupuncture and herbs improve walking, gait, cognitive function, and urination control for a normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) patient. NPH is a neurological disorder characterized by the abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain’s ventricles, leading to their gradual enlargement, without an associated increase in CSF pressure. This condition primarily affects older adults and is often underdiagnosed, as its symptoms can mimic those
