Relevant Research

The Society for Acupuncture Research (SAR), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 1993, moderates this column, with contributions from various authors. Its mission is “to advance patient by promoting scientific evaluation into acupuncture and allied therapies, as well as dissemination and implementation of these findings.” Other stated objectives include identifying the mechanisms underlying clinical effects; informing knowledge gaps and future research directions; and supporting the next generation of researchers, academic clinicians and educators. Learn more at https://www.acupunctureresearch.org.

Previous Articles

Electroacupuncture for Post-Stroke Motor Dysfunction: Restoring Neural Function
Simone Ormsby, BSc, BHSc, PhD
Sandro Graca, MSc, Lic TCM, FABORM
April 1, 2026 (Vol. 27, Issue 4)
Acupuncture and Moxibustion for IBS-D
Simone Ormsby, BSc, BHSc, PhD
Sandro Graca, MSc, Lic TCM, FABORM
February 1, 2026 (Vol 27, Issue 2)
Electroacupuncture for Early Urinary Incontinence After Prostate Surgery
Sandro Graca, MSc, Lic TCM, FABORM
January 1, 2026 (Vol 27, Issue 1)
Acupuncture and Diet for Type 2 Diabetes
Katharina Rhein, cand. med. Lic. Acupuncture
Sandro Graca, MSc, Lic TCM, FABORM
October 1, 2025 (Vol. 26, Issue 10)
Long COVID Response to Classical Chinese Medicine: A Case Series
Claudia Citkovitz, PhD, MS, LAc
August 1, 2025 (Vol. 26, Issue 8)
Acupuncture and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Enhancing Autonomic Regulation
Katharina Rhein, cand. med. Lic. Acupuncture
Sandro Graca, MSc, Lic TCM, FABORM
July 1, 2025 (Vol. 26, Issue 7)
Acupuncture and Knee OA: Unlocking the Analgesic Pathway
Multiple Contributors
June 1, 2025 (Vol. 26, Issue 6)
Electroacupuncture and Parkinson’s Disease: A New Mechanistic Insight
Simone Ormsby, BSc, BHSc, PhD
Sandro Graca, MSc, Lic TCM, FABORM
May 1, 2025 (Vol. 26, Issue 5)
Trending
Acupuncture & Acupressure
Open the Orifices: Point Combinations for Allergy Presentations
Open the Orifices: Point Combinations for Allergy Presentations

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.

Craig Williams, LAc, AHG
Lasers & Tens
The Laser Learning Curve for Light-Based Fertility Treatments
The Laser Learning Curve for Light-Based Fertility Treatments

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.

Marcy White, LAc, Dipl. Ac., MAc, CFMP
Evidence / Research / Science
TEAM Dietary and Herbal Therapies for Cancer Patients
TEAM Dietary and Herbal Therapies for Cancer Patients

“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.

John Chen, PhD, PharmD, OMD, LAc