Nowadays, more people are looking for ways to ease pain and discomfort. For those with chronic pain, acupuncture is a treatment option for a range of physical and mental issues. It can work well on its own, but there’s growing interest in how acupuncture and CBD might work together. Could they boost each other’s effects on pain relief? This article looks at how CBD and acupuncture might combine to support healing.
What is acupuncture?
The word acupuncture comes from the Latin root “acu,” meaning needle, combined with puncture. It’s a complementary medical practice that uses very thin needles inserted into the skin at specific points thought to lie along energy pathways in the body.
Acupuncture comes from traditional Chinese medicine, which describes more than 2,000 points connected by channels called meridians. Practitioners believe that life energy flows through these channels, and when that flow is blocked, health problems can result. By inserting needles at certain points, acupuncture aims to restore balance and improve health.
Paul Kempisty, a licensed acupuncturist with a master’s in traditional Oriental medicine, explains that each needle creates a tiny, mostly painless injury that signals the body to respond. That response can include stimulating the immune system, increasing blood flow, helping tissue heal, and altering pain signals.
How does acupuncture work?
Acupuncture is thought to stimulate the central nervous system, which then releases chemicals into the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. These chemical changes may trigger the body’s natural healing processes and support physical and emotional well-being.
Research from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggests acupuncture can help with conditions such as addiction, asthma, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, headaches, low back pain, menstrual cramps, myofascial pain, nausea from chemotherapy or anesthesia, osteoarthritis, post-surgery dental pain, stroke recovery, and tennis elbow. While it doesn’t help everyone, acupuncture may also be useful for a range of digestive, emotional, eye-ear-throat, gynecological, musculoskeletal, neurological, and respiratory issues.
What to expect in a session
Acupuncture uses hair-thin, solid metal needles inserted into the skin and often moved gently by hand or stimulated with mild electrical currents. Needles are placed to produce a sense of pressure or a dull ache; sometimes they are warmed. Sessions usually aim to leave people feeling more relaxed, energized, and balanced. Most people experience little pain and few complications, but incorrect needle placement can cause pain or more serious problems.
That’s why it’s important to see a qualified, credentialed practitioner who follows proper sterilization and safety rules. In the U.S., the FDA regulates acupuncture needles, requiring good manufacturing practices and single-use sterility standards.
Other ways to stimulate acupuncture points include friction, heat (moxibustion), electromagnetic pulses, pressure (acupressure), and suction (cupping). Sessions may last 60–90 minutes, though the needle work itself often takes about 30 minutes.
CBD in Chinese medicine
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is becoming more popular as a potential health aid. Hemp has a long history in China—cultivated there for thousands of years—and parts of the cannabis plant have been used in traditional Chinese medicine. Hemp seeds are known for their laxative properties, and the flowers tend to have higher levels of CBD and THC, the psychoactive compound.
The ancient Chinese emperor Shen Nung, often called the father of Chinese medicine, listed hemp among the 50 essential healing herbs in early medical texts.
CBD and acupuncture
Early research suggests CBD and acupuncture may complement each other, since both aim to restore balance in the body. CBD supports the endocannabinoid system, helping the body stay in a stable, balanced state (homeostasis). Acupuncture may also influence the body’s natural endocannabinoid activity.
Both CBD and acupuncture can affect levels of adenosine, a chemical linked to reduced inflammation and pain relief. CBD can raise adenosine to fight inflammation, while acupuncture may increase the body’s tolerance for pain. Together, they might boost the endocannabinoid system and help with physical pain, mood issues, effects of anesthesia, seizures, and spasms. Research is still limited, though, and scientists are exploring how meridians and the endocannabinoid system might connect.
Aftercare following acupuncture could benefit from CBD products like topical creams and lotions to soothe the skin, or calming options such as CBD tea or CBD gummies from Naturecan. While both practices are generally safe when used correctly, check with your doctor if you have concerns. Personal recommendations from friends and family can help, but professional advice is important.
Final thoughts
There are promising links between acupuncture and CBD, though responses vary and more research is needed. Both can be useful options for people with chronic pain and may help improve mood, mental and physical health, and overall wellbeing. As research continues, we may see more ways CBD is woven into traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture practice. For those seeking balance or relief, adding CBD could enhance the effects of acupuncture and support a more holistic approach to healing.
Author’s bio
Valentina Soldatkina is a freelance copywriter who mainly writes about CBD, health, wellness, beauty, travel, and food. When she’s not writing, Valya spends time with her dog, reads, cooks, and catches up with friends and family.