FAQ

The honest answer is that the mechanisms aren't fully established, and the research is still evolving. Current thinking focuses on a few pathways: acupuncture appears to influence serotonin and dopamine activity in the brain, may help regulate the body's stress-response system (which governs cortisol), and has been linked to increased levels of BDNF — a brain protein associated with the brain's ability to adapt and form new connections. A 2024 meta-analysis of animal model studies published in Frontiers in Neuroscience found that acupuncture significantly raised both BDNF and serotonin levels compared to controls. These are plausible mechanisms, but translating them from lab models to individual clinical outcomes is not straightforward.