Benefits of Acupuncture for Immunity and Chronic Pain

When Energy Flows, Health Grows

For centuries, acupuncture has been used to support healing, ease pain, and restore balance in the body. Today, modern research in neuroscience and immunology is beginning to explain what traditional Chinese medicine has known for thousands of years. Acupuncture can have profound effects on both the mind and body.

Acupuncture and Your Nervous System

How does it help?

One of the most exciting areas of research shows how acupuncture affects the brain and nervous system.

Studies using MRI scans reveal that acupuncture can calm areas of the brain linked to

stress, pain, and inflammation, while also activating the body’s healing and restorative responses.

This shift helps the nervous system into a calmer, more balanced state. Over time, this may:

Reduce pain sensitivity

Improve sleep quality

Bring greater emotional clarity and resilience

Supporting Immunity and Reducing Inflammation

When the body is under stress or facing chronic illness, the immune system can become unbalanced. Acupuncture has been shown to help regulate immune responses,  strengthening them when needed or calming them when inflammation is too high.

This is why acupuncture is often sought for immune-related issues such as:

Digestive and gut health: IBS, food sensitivities, or stress-related digestion problems

Metabolic imbalances: fatigue, sluggish energy, or difficulty with weight regulation

Autoimmune conditions: when the immune system becomes overactive, leading to inflammation or pain

Post-viral or chemotherapy recovery: to help the body regain strength and resilience

In short, acupuncture doesn’t just mask symptoms; it supports your body in finding balance again.

The Advantage of Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) looks at health as a dynamic balance between body, mind, and environment.

Instead of focusing only on symptoms, it considers the root causes, such as stress, emotional strain, or long-term imbalances.

This holistic view can offer patients something unique:

A personalised approach 

Techniques that support both prevention and recovery

A way to reconnect with the body’s natural rhythm and self-healing ability

How Can I Support You

In both private clinic and hospital settings, I work with people facing a wide range of challenges, from chronic pain, muscle tension, and sciatica, to fatigue, autoimmune conditions, IBS, metabolism issues, and the side effects of cancer treatment.

My approach combines traditional Chinese medicine with a strong respect for your body’s natural systems, especially the nervous, immune, and digestive systems, which often interact more closely than we realise.

Each approach is tailored to you, aiming not only to relieve discomfort but to help you feel stronger, calmer, and more balanced in your daily life.

References

1. Zijlstra FJ, et al. Anti-inflammatory actions of acupuncture. Mediators Inflamm. 2003.

2. Kavoussi B, Ross BE. The neuroimmune basis of anti-inflammatory acupuncture. Integr Cancer Ther. 2007.

3. Langevin HM, et al. Mechanical signaling through connective tissue: a mechanism for the therapeutic effect of acupuncture. FASEB J. 2006.

4. Napadow V, et al. The brain circuitry associated with acupuncture-induced analgesia. Hum Brain Mapp. 2005.

5. Chae Y, et al. fMRI study of acupuncture: activation of the limbic system. Neurosci Lett. 2003.