Introduced to the United States during the Nixon era, acupuncture was initially viewed as a fringe modality in American health care. For two decades, it remained a niche practice, primarily due to language barriers faced by Chinese practitioners.
However, as more Americans trained in this ancient art, acupuncture spread and gained acceptance. Steeped in thousands of years of Chinese medical tradition, acupuncture involves needling specific points on the body to reduce pain, boost energy and immunity, decrease stress and stimulate the body’s natural healing processes. By removing stagnation of qi, or life force energy, acupuncture enhances circulation, reduces inflammation and signals the brain to activate healing cells in areas of illness or injury. Whether addressing physical, mental or emotional imbalances, acupuncture aims to restore health on all levels.
Jane Matthews, licensed acupuncturist and master of science in Oriental medicine at Jane Matthews Acupuncture, and Chad Houfek, licensed acupuncturist and herbalist of Charleston Community Acupuncture, agree that acupuncture is increasingly embraced by mainstream medicine, driven by a blend of anecdotal success and research-backed results.
Matthews’ path to acupuncture began with her own health challenges.
“I always wanted to practice medicine and was a competitive long-distance runner through college. After overtraining and two knee surgeries, I faced health challenges that Western doctors couldn’t repair. I found healing through acupuncture, leading me to pursue acupuncture as a career,” she shared.
Matthews understands the importance of optimal performance. “As an athlete, I get the need to feel and perform at one’s best. I work with athletes and others to help them achieve their health goals and do what they love,” she said.
Houfek champions acupuncture’s effectiveness for pain relief as well, whether you’re an athlete or not, and values acupuncture over prescription pain medication.
“Acupuncture is one of the most effective treatments around for soft tissue pain. There’s nothing better than putting the needle in the right place for an inhibited muscle,” he explained. “Much of my practice is for pain relief because it works so well. People don’t want to take heavy drugs anymore, especially older people who’ve been taking a variety of pills for whatever reason. They’re sick of it and want to try something more natural.”
Acupuncture isn’t just for pain management. Matthews and Houfek use acupuncture to treat various conditions, including supporting the immune and nervous systems.
For example, our immune systems have various mechanisms helping our body battle infections. Different types of cells communicate with each other using signaling molecules known as cytokines. Acupuncture can stop a cascade of these exaggerated immune responses known as a cytokine storm.
As with anything in nature, balance is essential. Too much of a good thing – in this case, cytokines – creates an overload of inflammation and harms instead of heals. “Research shows that an acupuncture point, Stomach 36, also known as ST36, decreases a body’s cytokine storm when electrically stimulated, stopping the storm effectively,” Houfek noted.
This isn’t just Houfek’s opinion. In 2021, the National Institutes of Health compiled 69 studies to determine the anti-inflammatory actions of acupuncture, specifically at ST36, and classified the changes of inflammatory mediators. The studies found acupuncture at ST36 had clinical benefits, relieving inflammation through several mechanisms: vagus nerve activation, toll-like receptor signaling and more.
“Acupuncture has a powerful effect on the regulation of the immune and nervous systems. Many people aren’t fully relaxed and never get into that parasympathetic relaxed state,” Houfek said. “Patients often leave sessions saying they’ve never felt so relaxed.”
Matthews, emphasizing the holistic effects of acupuncture, has had the same experience with patients. “After three or four treatments, people generally feel benefits. Some come for pain relief, and, after realizing their whole body feels better, they keep coming.”
“In acupuncture, the idea is that your body has everything it needs to heal. We need a way to stimulate that release,” Houfek explained. “Research supports this belief, illustrating that free adenosine increases around a needle insertion point, acting as a sedative, analgesic and vasodilator.”
One study showed that the adenosine concentration significantly increased during treatment and remained elevated for 30 minutes after the acupuncture session.
Matthews highlighted the limitations of modern medicine, noting that 50% of modern medicine has failed many of her patients. “Acupuncture allows me to take my time and address the whole body,” she said. “Our holistic approach is a key aspect of acupuncture, looking at the entire body rather than just treating symptoms.”
Matthews also noted that acupuncture can be utilized preventively. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of preventive care became clear. I work with individuals with compromised immune systems, using antiviral herbs and other methods to rebuild their energy and stave off the illness. Education about acupuncture’s benefits is crucial,” she explained.
Matthews’ experiences abroad helped shape her understanding of acupuncture’s potential. “In China and Japan, acupuncture is used for everything. During my internship in Vietnam, I saw a paralyzed 16-year-old walk again within months. It was inspiring and opened my eyes to the effectiveness of daily acupuncture treatments,” she recalled.
Houfek’s practice thrives on referrals that, he says, prove the effectiveness of acupuncture. “My practice is all word of mouth. Between evidence and changing minds in the medical community, many doctors refer patients, patients refer other patients. You only get those sorts of referrals if what you’re doing works. It’s great because it’s not ‘us against them.’ It’s truly integrative medicine, and that’s how it should be,” he said.
“The mind-set toward acupuncture is changing. There’s research from Johns Hopkins and the Mayo Clinic. I see a future where acupuncture is integrated into standard care, with insurance coverage and more medical doctors referring patients,” Matthews predicted.
After 22 years in practice, Matthews continues to learn and grow. “I still learn something new every day. I love helping people who come to me as a last resort, addressing their whole health rather than just a specific diagnosis,” she said.
“We’re bioelectric organisms. Acupuncture maps, with 95% accuracy, the electricity and nutrients through the body to stimulate release, open and help direct blood flow and lymphatic fluid,” Houfek said. “I know it’s true. Evidence is piling up to prove what acupuncturists have always known,” he laughed.
Practitioners such as Matthews and Houfek are at the forefront of this shift, demonstrating the profound impact of acupuncture on our health. Their dedication to education, accessibility and integrative care highlights the potential for acupuncture to play a significant role in the future of health care. With ongoing research and increasing integration into standard care, acupuncture is poised to become a cornerstone of preventive and therapeutic medicine, offering hope and healing to many.
By Amy Gesell
