Acupuncturists are obsessed with circulation. And for good reason. Improving circulation is central to acupuncture’s ability to heal the body. Many conditions and improvements in overall health come from acupuncture’s ability to improve and influence circulation.
Circulation is important in so many conditions. The circulatory system is the foundation of the body’s ability to heal. I think that it is a particularly important aspect of the treatment for healing skin diseases and antiaging techniques. Also, circulation is key for the healing of soft tissue injuries such as herniated disc and tendonitis. This is because we need blood to get to an injured area to bring nutrients to the injured part of the body.
Traditionally, acupuncture is thought to stimulate the body’s circulation of qi and blood throughout the body. This is both in the area of the needling as well as along the acupuncture meridians. The meridians interconnect parts of the body and deep down to the internal organs which is why acupuncture treatment can work to heal many different diseases.
In this article I will review research about how acupuncture effect on circulation is one of the major mechanisms in it’s healing affect for many skin conditions as well as helping to heal many chronic injuries.
Table of Contents
Circulation and Skin Health
Using acupuncture can help increase circulation to your skin. During a treatment we may see temporary reddening around the needle, a sign of increased blood flow to the area, helping to rejuvenate the skin. Studies have shown that low-frequency electroacupuncture significantly increases microcirculation, which stimulates the healing process.¹
Circulation is essential for maintaining healthy skin, since it delivers oxygen and nutrients to the cells while removing waste products. When circulation is poor, the skin may appear dull, dry, and uneven, and fine lines and wrinkles may become more pronounced. Increasing circulation also works alongside two other mechanisms to support skin health: reducing inflammation, and stimulating the production of collagen and elastin, the proteins that give skin its structure and elasticity. As we age, production of these proteins naturally declines, leading to wrinkles and sagging skin, which is why facial rejuvenation acupuncture specifically targets these mechanisms for cosmetic benefit.
Circulation also plays a documented role in healing skin wounds more broadly. A 2024 pilot study found that acupuncture produced a statistically significant improvement in microcirculation at the edges of chronic, non-healing wounds in patients with diabetes and peripheral artery disease.² While that study looked at a different population than most cosmetic applications, it reinforces the same underlying mechanism: better circulation to the skin supports the body’s own repair process.
This combination of increased circulation, reduced inflammation, and collagen stimulation is why acupuncture is used for a range of skin conditions, from rosacea and melasma to general skin aging and tone.
Circulation and Healing from Injury
Circulation is just as central to healing soft tissue injuries such as herniated discs and tendonitis. This is because the body needs blood to reach an injured area to bring in the nutrients and repair cells needed for healing, and many of these tissues (like spinal discs and tendons) naturally have limited blood flow to begin with, which is part of why they’re slow to heal on their own.
Increasing circulation brings more nutrients to the tissue, which in turn supports the structural rebuilding of the tissue itself. In an animal model of tendon healing, acupuncture was shown to increase the diameter and improve the organization of collagen fibrils during the repair process, indicating a strengthening of the tendon’s structure as it heals.³
A trigger point, a hyperirritable spot in a muscle that causes pain and tension both in that specific muscle and in the surrounding area, is a common feature of many soft tissue injuries. Acupuncture is helpful in releasing trigger points, breaking up tight areas, and getting fresh blood and oxygen to the affected muscle. Research on dry needling has shown a significant increase in both blood flow and oxygen saturation at the treated point.⁴
Nitric oxide and local circulation
Acupuncture has been shown to increase nitric oxide, an important messenger molecule that plays a vital role in protecting the body against inflammation. It also plays an important role in localized blood circulation, encouraging increased blood flow to muscles and tissues by increasing blood vessel dilation. In a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study, acupuncture significantly increased nitric oxide levels in the treated arm, and this correlated directly with increased local blood flow.5 Stimulating nitric oxide is one of the many reasons acupuncture is helpful in treating injuries.
Cupping
Cupping increases blood flow to promote cell regeneration and helps the body get rid of toxins. It can help relieve pain, heal muscle strains, and improve circulation of the skin. It’s also used to release trigger points in the muscles and tendons, loosen fascia, and release congestion, and it’s often used by athletes to recover from strenuous training or competition.
Feel Better, Get Acupuncture
Circulation is one of the most consistent threads running through acupuncture’s ability to heal the body. Whether it’s bringing nutrients to a slow-healing injury, supporting healing in the skin, or delivering oxygen to a trigger point, better blood flow is often the mechanism behind the results patients notice.
If you’re to support your body’s natural ability to heal itself by improving circulation through acupuncture may help. Please call us at 212.319.5757 to make your appointment, or you can schedule your appointment online.
References:
- Gagliardi V, Gagliardi G, Ceccherelli F, Lovato A. Effect of low- and high-frequency auricular stimulation with electro-acupuncture on cutaneous microcirculation: a cross-over study in healthy subjects. Medicines (Basel). 2023;10(2):17.
- Valentini J, Sigl M, Dunckel C, Krisam J, Amendt K, Greten HJ. Can acupuncture increase microcirculation in peripheral artery disease and diabetic foot syndrome? A pilot study. Front Med (Lausanne). 2024;11:1371056.
- de Almeida MS, de Freitas KM, Oliveira LP, et al. Acupuncture increases the diameter and reorganisation of collagen fibrils during rat tendon healing. Acupunct Med. 2015;33(1):51-57.
- Cagnie B, Barbe T, De Ridder E, Van Oosterwijck J, Cools A, Danneels L. The influence of dry needling of the trapezius muscle on muscle blood flow and oxygenation. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2012;35(9):685-691.
- Tsuchiya M, Sato EF, Inoue M, Asada A. Acupuncture enhances generation of nitric oxide and increases local circulation. Anes.th Analg 2007;104(2):301-307.
