19/05/2026
A May 2026 article from National Geographic explores how acupuncture may produce real, measurable effects throughout the body. Researchers say the tiny needles can stimulate connective tissue, activate immune cells, release natural pain-relieving chemicals like adenosine and serotonin, and even change activity in brain regions linked to pain and emotion. Advanced imaging studies are also showing how these effects ripple through the nervous system, helping explain why acupuncture may ease pain for some patients.
Your body has a built-in painkiller system. Acupuncture may switch it on.