What conditions can acupuncture help with?
Acupuncture is clinically effective for a wide range of conditions because it regulates the nervous system, reduces inflammation, improves circulation, restores hormonal balance, and enhances communication between the brain and body.
At our Denver acupuncture clinic, we commonly treat:
Pain and musculoskeletal conditions: back pain, neck pain, knee pain, sciatica, shoulder injuries, rotator cuff issues, arthritis, TMJ dysfunction, tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and both acute and chronic sports injuries.
Neurological and stress-related conditions: migraines, tension headaches, neuropathy, anxiety, chronic stress, emotional dysregulation, sleep issues such as insomnia or frequent waking, and nervous system dysregulation associated with trauma or burnout.
Hormonal and fertility concerns: menstrual irregularities, PMS, PMDD, PCOS, hypothalamic amenorrhea, perimenopause symptoms, menopausal transitions, low ovarian reserve, unexplained infertility, and support during IVF, IUI, or medicated cycles. Hormone-related symptoms such as mood swings, breast tenderness, and irregular cycles also respond well.
Digestive and metabolic disorders: BS, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, SIBO, food sensitivities, acid reflux, gut-brain axis dysregulation, sluggish digestion, metabolic dysfunction, insulin resistance, and chronic fatigue related to mitochondrial or adrenal imbalance.
Immune and inflammatory conditions: autoimmune tendencies, chronic inflammation, post-viral recovery, recurrent infections, allergic responses, and lingering fatigue or systemic symptoms associated with immune dysregulation.
This wide therapeutic range is possible because acupuncture improves communication between the nervous, endocrine, digestive, and immune systems, helping the body recalibrate and heal in a coordinated, systemic way.
Additional FAQs
Can acupuncture treat chronic pain better than medication?
For many patients, yes. Research shows acupuncture outperforms NSAIDs and opioids for long-term pain relief without the negative side effects.
Does acupuncture help chronic inflammation?
Yes. Acupuncture is highly effective for reducing chronic inflammation by regulating immune signaling, improving microcirculation, decreasing inflammatory cytokines, and shifting the body out of chronic sympathetic (fight-or-flight) activation. Many inflammatory conditions—such as arthritis, tendonitis, migraines, gut inflammation, chronic pain, and fatigue—improve as acupuncture restores balance to the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems.
At our Denver clinic, patients with long-standing inflammation often notice improved pain levels, reduced flare-ups, better digestion, and increased energy as their system recalibrates.
Can acupuncture help with long COVID or post-viral fatigue?
Yes. Acupuncture supports long COVID and post-viral recovery by improving mitochondrial function, enhancing microcirculation, regulating the autonomic nervous system, reducing inflammation, and supporting immune recalibration. Many long COVID symptoms—fatigue, shortness of breath, chest tightness, headaches, insomnia, brain fog, and dysautonomia—respond well to acupuncture’s ability to rebalance the body’s healing systems.
Acupuncture also helps stabilize the HPA axis (stress response), which is often disrupted after viral illness, and supports improved sleep, digestion, and energy production—key factors in recovery.
Does acupuncture help autoimmune disease flares?
Yes. Acupuncture is not a cure for autoimmune disease, but it significantly reduces flare frequency and severity by calming inflammatory pathways, regulating immune system overactivity, improving detoxification, and supporting the gut–immune connection. Patients with conditions such as Hashimoto’s, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, lupus, IBD, and autoimmune-induced pain often experience meaningful symptom relief.
Because acupuncture reduces stress load, modulates cytokines, and supports digestion and mitochondrial energy, it helps stabilize the underlying terrain that contributes to autoimmune flares.
Does acupuncture help conditions caused by stress or trauma?
Yes. Acupuncture regulates the vagus nerve and calms hyperactive stress pathways.
Related Questions
→ Does acupuncture hurt?
→ Is acupuncture safe?
→ How quickly will I feel better?
→ How many acupuncture sessions will I need?