Japanese Acupuncture: A Gentle Approach Informed by Experience and Research
Japanese Acupuncture: A Gentle Approach Informed by Experience and Research
If someone told me that inserting very fine needles into the body and burning an herb called moxa on or near the body could help with pain, stress, headaches, digestion, sleep or anxiety, I would want evidence too.
The short answer is yes, there is scientific evidence supporting acupuncture. However, the reality is more complicated than simply saying “it works” or “it doesn’t work”.
I have practised acupuncture for 19 years. I initially completed a Bachelor of Health Science (Traditional Chinese Medicine) at UTS, and I still find it fascinating how often patients report improvements in both their symptoms and overall well-being after treatment.
My Training in Japanese Acupuncture
After graduating from UTS, I spent 6 years studying Japanese acupuncture in Japan under my teacher, who still practises in Tokyo today. Patients are often surprised by how gentle Japanese acupuncture can be, as finer needles and more subtle techniques are generally used.
My training in Japan focused heavily on palpation, pulse diagnosis, constitutional treatment, abdominal diagnosis (hara), and classical Japanese moxibustion. Treatment is highly individualised rather than formulaic.
I am also completing a PhD related to moxibustion and analytical chemistry, which reflects my ongoing interest in both traditional practice and scientific research.
What Does Research on Acupuncture Say?
Many people try acupuncture only after other approaches have not fully helped.
Research supports acupuncture for conditions including chronic musculoskeletal pain, headaches and migraines, stress, anxiety and sleep issues. This also reflects what I commonly observe in the clinic.
One challenge with acupuncture research is that two patients with migraines may receive completely different treatments depending on their constitution, pulse, abdominal findings, stress levels, sleep, digestion, and overall presentation. Scientific studies prefer standardised treatments that can be repeated exactly across large groups of people, and acupuncture does not always fit neatly into that model.
Medicine has often observed clinical effects before fully understanding the underlying mechanisms.
Current research explores possible mechanisms involving:
- Nervous system regulation
- Pain modulation pathways
- Endorphin release
- Blood flow changes
- Effects on the autonomic nervous system
Based on the scientific evidence available and my own clinical experience, I believe acupuncture has measurable effects for many people. The research still does not fully capture everything that happens in practice. Like many treatments, acupuncture may not work for every condition or every person. If you are curious about acupuncture, the best approach may be to experience it for yourself and decide.
At Ilan’s Acupuncture in Marrickville, I use a gentle Japanese acupuncture approach tailored to the individual, incorporating acupuncture, moxibustion and traditional diagnostic methods to support each person’s overall health and well-being.
