Scientific studies on the effectiveness of acupuncture and phytotherapy
MIGRAINE
A meta-analysis and systematic review suggest that acupuncture significantly reduces migraine frequency and intensity , and its effectiveness may be more effective than drug treatment, causing fewer side effects than medications.
FERTILITY
The effect of acupuncture on AMH is statistically significant, but small . A larger positive effect is observed in other indicators of ovarian function - antral follicle count (AFC) and FSH reduction.
The conclusion of the controlled study indicates that acupuncture not only increases ovulation frequency, but also reduces androgen levels, improves hormonal balance, and helps regulate the menstrual cycle in women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).
Regulation of the immune system through cytokines may help prevent or correct primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), and anti-inflammatory herbs may affect the activity of cytokines (IL, TNF-α, IFN-γ, VEGF, TGF-β, etc.), thereby improving ovarian function and fertility rates.
IVF / ART
A meta-analysis of 27 randomized clinical trials and over 6,000 patients showed that acupuncture can increase the chance of clinical pregnancy in an IVF cycle by about 21%.
A 2025 study showed that the overall clinical pregnancy rate was 26% higher in the acupuncture group, and in certain protocols the results were even better - for example, when acupuncture was used during the preparation period for assisted reproduction (ART), the clinical pregnancy rate increased by about 50%, and when the procedures were used over a longer period (before and during the IVF cycle), the rate increased by as much as 71%.
Research data suggests that acupuncture and phytotherapy may be a useful adjunct to improve the results of assisted reproductive technology (IVF).
ENDOMETRIOSIS
A clinical trial was conducted in Shanghai in 1980 , in which traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) herbs were used to treat endometriosis.
156 women with endometriosis were divided into 3 groups based on their TCM diagnoses and were assigned herbal formulas accordingly. According to the study, 82% of women experienced a reduction or complete resolution of their symptoms, while 18% experienced no effect or the improvement was short-lived and disappeared after discontinuation of the herbal formula.
AMENORRHEA
Prolactin is a hormone secreted by the pituitary gland. Elevated prolactin can be one of the causes of amenorrhea. Acupuncture helps to reduce prolactin levels.
CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME
A study has shown that acupuncture not only reduces symptoms, but also improves nerve conduction and causes neuroplastic changes in the brain.
IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME (IBS)
Acupuncture significantly reduced the severity of IBS symptoms compared to sham acupuncture, with more than double the improvement on the IBS-SSS scale.
CHRONIC PAIN
Acupuncture effectively reduces chronic pain and its effect is significantly greater than the placebo effect .
A BBC video excerpt shows how acupuncture changes brain activity, particularly in areas of pain perception, using MRI.