How does Acupuncture Work?
The Science and Wisdom Behind Acupuncture with Dr Keri Krieger
If you’ve ever had acupuncture at Chevron Island Health Studio, you’ll know that a session is much more than just lying on a table with fine needles. It’s often a beautifully grounding and educational experience.
You’ll chat all things yin and yang, Qi, the Shen, and how your body is functioning from a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective. Many of our clients say they leave their appointments not only feeling better, but with a deeper understanding of how their body works—and how to care for it more intentionally.
But even after a calming treatment filled with nourishing conversation, it’s completely understandable for someone to ask:
“But how is it working?”
Let’s unpack that—because the answer is both ancient and modern.
A Medicine with History, Backed by Science
Acupuncture is one of the oldest continually practiced medical systems in the world, with a written history stretching back over 2,000 years. In TCM, health is seen as the dynamic balance of energy—known as Qi—flowing through pathways in the body called meridians. When this flow is disrupted or blocked, symptoms or illness can arise.
By inserting ultra-fine, sterile needles into specific points on these meridians, acupuncture seeks to restore harmony in the body. Each point has its own unique function, whether that’s calming the nervous system, improving digestion, regulating hormones, or supporting mental and emotional wellbeing.
While this energetic model might sound unfamiliar to the Western ear, modern research is catching up to what practitioners like Keri see every day in clinic: acupuncture works—and we now have growing scientific data to explain why.
Acupuncture: No Longer “Alternative”
“While acupuncture enjoys high-level clinical evidence for dozens of conditions, translating trial research into official medical guidelines can take time,” says a major review published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
In a landmark bibliometric analysis, researchers looked at 27 years of official medical guidelines from around the world—including those published by government health bodies, national medical associations, and specialist groups.
They found 2,189 positive recommendations for acupuncture across 204 different health conditions, with the majority of guidelines coming from North America, Europe, and Australasia.
That’s a staggering body of support, and it highlights a significant shift: acupuncture is no longer being viewed as fringe or alternative—it’s being recognised as a mainstream treatment, recommended by leading medical institutions globally.
You can explore this further at evidencebasedacupuncture.org, a trusted resource that compiles up-to-date research for both practitioners and the public.
How Does It Work? A Blend of Mechanisms
Modern studies suggest acupuncture has a wide range of effects on the body:
Nervous system modulation: Acupuncture stimulates sensory nerves in the skin and muscles, triggering the release of endorphins (your body’s natural painkillers), and helping to regulate the autonomic nervous system. This is part of why many people feel so calm and clear-headed after a session.
Improved circulation and tissue healing: Needling specific points promotes blood flow, reduces inflammation, and supports cellular repair. It’s now used in sports medicine and injury recovery by elite athletes and physiotherapists alike.
Hormonal and immune system regulation: Acupuncture can help balance the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (the body's stress response system), as well as support immune function—making it helpful for everything from PMS to post-viral fatigue.
Healing That Goes Beyond the Physical
From a TCM perspective, acupuncture doesn’t just treat symptoms—it seeks to treat you. Your constitution, your emotional landscape, your patterns of sleep, digestion, and energy—all of it is taken into account.
And this is where our treatments really shine.
As an AHPRA-registered Doctor of Chinese Medicine with decades of clinical experience, Keri doesn’t just needle points—she creates space. A space where you can be seen, supported, and gently guided back into balance using the wisdom of an ancient system and the insight of modern science.
Whether you’re navigating hormonal shifts, chronic stress, fatigue, pain, or simply want to feel more connected to your body, acupuncture is a powerful ally—and it’s more relevant than ever.
Ready to feel how acupuncture works—on every level?
Book in to see Keri today and experience the support of an integrative approach backed by tradition and science.
For more research-backed information, visit evidencebasedacupuncture.org
Birch S, Lee MS, Alraek T, et al. (2018). Overview of Treatment Guidelines and Clinical Practical Guidelines That Recommend the Use of Acupuncture: A Bibliometric Analysis. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. doi:10.1089/acm.2018.0092