Six acupuncture organizations have released an extensively referenced 20-page white paper that outlines the profession's value as an alternative to opioid medication for pain relief.
"Acupuncture's Role in Solving the Opioid Epidemic: Evidence, Cost-Effectiveness, and Care Availability for Acupuncture as a Primary, Non-Pharmacologic Method for Pain Relief and Management" is the product of a Joint Opioid Task Force established by the American Society for Acupuncture (ASA) and the Acupuncture Now Foundation (ANF). Other acupuncture organizations participating in the initiative include the American Alliance for Professional Acupuncture Safety (AAPAS, the American TCM Association (ATCMA), the American TCM Society (ATCMS) and the National Federation of TCM Organizations (NFTCMO).
Here are some of the major points emphasized in the white paper, each of which features extensive detail and supporting references (more than 100 overall):
"Acupuncture is an effective, safe, and cost-effective treatment for numerous types of acute and chronic pain. Acupuncture should be recommended as a first line treatment for pain before opiates are prescribed, and may reduce opioid use."
"Acupuncture's analgesic mechanisms have been extensively researched and acupuncture can increase the production and release of endogenous opioids in animals and humans."
"Acupuncture is effective for the treatment of chronic pain involving maladaptive neuroplasticity."
"Acupuncture is a useful adjunctive therapy in opiate dependency and rehabilitation."
"Acupuncture has been recommended as a first line non-pharmacologic therapy by the FDA, as well as the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in coping with the opioid crisis. The Joint Commission has also mandated that hospitals provide non-pharmacologic pain treatment modalities."
"Among most non-pharmacological managements for pain relief now available, acupuncture therapy is the most effective and specific for opioid abuse and overuse."
To review this important white paper in its entirety, click here.
Acupuncture can be highly effective in cases of nasal congestion so common in allergy presentations; so much so that I often treat such issues using acupuncture protocols alone. In cases of seasonal allergies with highly predictable causes such as obvious elevations of environmental allergens, I use a skeleton acupuncture prescription that can easily be fleshed out to target potential underlying patterns and effectively customized to the patient.
Low-level laser therapy is having a moment in acupuncture circles for good reason. With a growing body of research supporting its role in reducing inflammation, enhancing circulation and stimulating mitochondrial activity, more practitioners are exploring its application in fertility care. But in the nearly 20 years I’ve used laser therapy in clinical practice, I’ve seen a wide range of outcomes. It’s not because laser therapy doesn’t work. It’s because many of us don’t realize how much the details matter.
“Integrating Traditional East Asian Medicine Dietary and Herbal Therapies for Supporting Cancer Treatment and Survivorship in the West,”published in Perspectives on Integrative Medicine (2025), provides a detailed exploration of how traditional East Asian medicine (TEAM) can support cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation. This article summarizes findings from the two case reports included in the study.
