The TCM view
Traditionally, acupuncture is described as regulating the flow of Qi and Blood through channels (meridians) to restore balance among the body's systems. This is a traditional explanatory framework that guides point selection.
Treatments
Acupuncture
The foundation of care at Seven Medicine. Every treatment plan starts with acupuncture; other therapies are added only when they suit you.
What it is
About acupuncture
Acupuncture involves placing very fine, sterile, single-use needles at specific points on the body. Points are chosen based on your Traditional Chinese Medicine pattern, your symptoms and your goals, and refined from visit to visit.
What to expect
Sessions are about an hour. After a check-in, needles are placed and you rest for 20–40 minutes in a quiet, warm room. Most people feel a brief pinch or a dull, heavy sensation at insertion, then deep relaxation. Many fall asleep.
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How it works: TCM and medical explanations
The medical view
Research suggests needling stimulates nerves in skin and muscle; signals travel to the spinal cord and brain and can engage the body's own pain-modulating systems, including endogenous opioids. Mechanisms aren't fully understood, and part of the effect in trials comes from non-specific factors such as expectation and the care setting.
Often part of care for
Where it fits
- Women's health & fertility support
- Pregnancy & postpartum
- Pain & headaches
- Stress, anxiety & sleep
- Digestive concerns
- Nausea
Safety
Serious side effects are rare when performed by a trained, licensed practitioner. Minor bruising, soreness or brief lightheadedness can occur. Tell us if you take blood thinners, have a bleeding disorder or a pacemaker, or are pregnant.
An illustrated look at a course of care
Illustrative treatment journey
- Area of discomfort
- Fine needles at selected points
- Tension eases over the course of care
Treatment response varies. Your care plan is based on your symptoms, assessment and response over time. This is an illustration, not a medical image.
Research
What the research says
We summarize the highest-quality research we can find — systematic reviews, Cochrane reviews, guidelines and large trials — including results that don't favor acupuncture. You deserve the full picture.
Reviewed October 2026. Research describes groups of people, not guarantees for any individual. Explore the research →
Chronic pain
The largest analysis to date pooled individual data from 39 high-quality trials and more than 20,000 patients with back, neck, joint, headache and shoulder pain. Acupuncture outperformed both sham acupuncture and no acupuncture; the advantage over sham was small, the advantage over usual care larger, and benefits largely persisted for up to a year. The authors concluded referral for acupuncture is a reasonable option for chronic pain.
2 sources
- [1]Vickers AJ, Vertosick EA, Lewith G, et al. Acupuncture for Chronic Pain: Update of an Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis. J Pain. 2018;19(5):455-474. PubMed 29198932 (opens in a new tab) · DOI 10.1016/j.jpain.2017.11.005 (opens in a new tab)· individual patient data meta-analysis
- [2]MacPherson H, Vertosick EA, Foster NE, et al. The persistence of the effects of acupuncture after a course of treatment: a meta-analysis of patients with chronic pain. Pain. 2017;158(5):784-793. PubMed 27764035 (opens in a new tab) · DOI 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000747 (opens in a new tab)· individual patient data meta-analysis
Migraine prevention
A 2016 Cochrane review of 22 trials found acupuncture reduces how often migraines occur, appearing at least similarly effective to preventive medications with fewer side-effect dropouts. Its advantage over sham acupuncture was small.
1 source
- [1]Linde K, Allais G, Brinkhaus B, et al. Acupuncture for the prevention of episodic migraine. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;2016(6):CD001218. PubMed 27351677 (opens in a new tab) · DOI 10.1002/14651858.CD001218.pub3 (opens in a new tab)· Cochrane systematic review
Safety
Large prospective studies support a good safety record. A UK survey of about 32,000 treatments found no serious adverse events; a German study of more than 229,000 patients found 8.6% reported a side effect, most often minor bleeding or bruising. Serious complications are rare but real, which is why training, sterile single-use needles and careful technique matter.
4 sources
- [1]White A, Hayhoe S, Hart A, et al. Adverse events following acupuncture: prospective survey of 32 000 consultations with doctors and physiotherapists. BMJ. 2001;323(7311):485-6. PubMed 11532840 (opens in a new tab) · DOI 10.1136/bmj.323.7311.485 (opens in a new tab)· prospective survey
- [2]Witt CM, Pach D, Brinkhaus B, et al. Safety of acupuncture: results of a prospective observational study with 229,230 patients and introduction of a medical information and consent form. Forsch Komplementmed. 2009;16(2):91-7. PubMed 19420954 (opens in a new tab) · DOI 10.1159/000209315 (opens in a new tab)· prospective observational study
- [3]Chan MWC, Wu XY, Wu JCY, et al. Safety of Acupuncture: Overview of Systematic Reviews. Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):3369. PubMed 28611366 (opens in a new tab) · DOI 10.1038/s41598-017-03272-0 (opens in a new tab)· overview of systematic reviews
- [4]National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), National Institutes of Health Acupuncture: Effectiveness and Safety. NCCIH website (nccih.nih.gov). 2022. Source (opens in a new tab)· government resource
How acupuncture may work
Needling stimulates nerves in skin and muscle; those signals reach the spinal cord and brain and can engage the body's own pain-modulating systems, including endogenous opioids. Imaging shows measurable brain effects. Mechanisms are not fully understood, and some benefit in trials comes from non-specific effects such as expectation, attention and the care setting.
3 sources
- [1]Kaptchuk TJ Acupuncture: theory, efficacy, and practice. Ann Intern Med. 2002;136(5):374-83. PubMed 11874310 (opens in a new tab) · DOI 10.7326/0003-4819-136-5-200203050-00010 (opens in a new tab)· narrative review
- [2]Zhang ZJ, Wang XM, McAlonan GM Neural acupuncture unit: a new concept for interpreting effects and mechanisms of acupuncture. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:429412. PubMed 22474503 (opens in a new tab) · DOI 10.1155/2012/429412 (opens in a new tab)· narrative/theoretical review
- [3][No authors listed] (NIH Consensus Development Conference) NIH Consensus Conference. Acupuncture. JAMA. 1998;280(17):1518-24. PubMed 9809733 (opens in a new tab)· NIH consensus statement
FAQ
Acupuncture questions
How deep do the needles go?
Usually just a few millimeters to a couple of centimeters, depending on the point and the area of the body.
Are the needles reused?
Never. Seven Medicine uses sterile, single-use, disposable needles.
Still have questions?
or call(507) 258-7771