A 4,000-year-old practice, recognized for modern pain care.
Acupuncture works with the body's energy pathways to ease pain and restore balance, and it's backed by more research than you'd think.
How it helps
Acupuncture uses needles, cupping, sound, gentle electrical stimulation, essential oils, or touch along the body's energy channels to bring it back into balance and activate its natural healing process. The NIH and WHO both recognize it as a primary treatment for acute and chronic pain. It can ease inflammation, release the body's own pain-relieving chemicals (like endorphins and enkephalins), improve blood flow, and calm the nervous system into deep relaxation.
How to find one
Most states license acupuncturists, requiring a master's-level education and national certification. Ask people you trust for referrals, and make sure the practitioner's philosophy feels right for you before committing.
Marta Vergara, L.Ac.
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