Acupuncture in Portland, Maine

Acupunture is an ancient medical therapy that activates the body’s ability to heal and regulate itself. By stimulating specific points on the body with fine, sterile needles, acupuncture helps restore physiological balance and support overall health.

What is Acupuncture?

Research has shown that acupuncture points are areas of the body with a high concentration of nerve endings, blood vessels, and connective tissue. These points function as key sites of neurological activity, helping to conduct the body’s natural bioelectrical signals. When stimulated, they trigger specific biochemical responses in the muscles, spinal cord, and brain—activating the body’s innate healing mechanisms and supporting both physical and emotional well-being.

By promoting the circulation of bodily fluids such as blood and lymph, acupuncture decreases pain and inflammation, speeds healing and recovery, and activates the parasympathetic nervous system. Often, the strategy behind acupuncture is to create flow, movement, or circulation through the body or a particular area of the body. For example, a practitioner may strategize to gather the body’s resources (qi & blood) to an area of deficiency or poor circulation. The goal is to harmonize and create a balanced ecosystem in the body.

Common Conditions We Treat with Acupuncture

If you’re struggling with a health concern not listed below, please don’t hesitate to reach out! This is not a comprehensive list of conditions Chinese medicine can treat.

  • Pain & Musculoskeletal Injuries (Back, Neck, Shoulder, Joint)

  • Women's Health & Fertility

  • Stress Patterns & Sleep

  • Digestive Issues

  • Allergies & Immune Support

  • Longevity & Wellness

What To Expect During an Acupuncture Session

Treatments are designed to address the root cause(s) as well as the symptom(s) of a pattern. Your first session begins with a thorough consultation to understand your medical history and goals. Based on discussion, a personalized treatment plan is developed, which may include acupuncture & bodywork (& herbal medicine as needed). Depending on your specific needs, treatment may also include adjunct therapies such as cupping or moxibustion (heat therapy).

What are the Benefits of Acupuncture?

When used for internal medical conditions, acupuncture is known to stimulate the release of endorphins, reduce the number of pro-inflammatory markers in the body, and also affect the level of pain-modulating neurotransmitters at various sites along the nociceptive pathways. It also promotes endocrine system harmony, enhances circulation and immune function, and promotes central nervous system calmness.

How Acupuncture Works

  • Promotes Central Nervous System Balance - when used to calm the body and mind, acupuncture triggers the release of neurotransmitters, which leads to relaxation and a parasympathetic response.

  • Increases Blood Flow - acupuncture and dry needling increase blood flow to targeted areas, which promotes faster healing.

  • Speeds Healing - acupuncture and dry needling activate the body’s natural healing mechanisms.

  • Reduces Pain - acupuncture and dry needling reduce inflammation central and peripheral pain sensitization, which reduces pain.

  • Local Twitch Response (LTR) - in sports acupuncture and dry needling specific treatments, the needle may release a trigger point or muscle knot and cause an involuntary muscle twitch or contraction that ultimately unwinds and lengthens muscle fibers, enhances circulation, and improves mobility.

Acupuncture is a safe, effective alternative therapy that involves the insertion of thin, sterile, single-use needles into specific areas of the body, depending on one’s health concern(s). It’s one of the many facets of Chinese medicine, dating back over 2,000 years. Acupuncture needles are inserted at specific points on the body to modulate muscle tone, stimulate blood & qi circulation, and bring about a natural immune response. Activating an acupuncture point or tender area (ashi point) through needling allows access to specific layers beneath the skin to initiate positive physiological change.

 Acupuncture FAQs

  • Yes! Acupuncture is a minimally invasive, safe approach to treating injury and illness, offering an excellent alternative to standard medical care. Acupuncture is a holistic, stand-alone treatment modality, although it is often combined with other physical therapy techniques such as massage, cupping, moxibustion, medical percussion, and manual traction.

  • It’s common for acupuncture points to be placed on the arms and legs or near the site of pain or discomfort. The practitioner may also locate acupuncture points on the front and back of the body as well as the head and face.

  • Depending on a person’s condition at the time of treatment, the number of acupuncture points used will vary from person to person and from treatment to treatment.

  • During treatments, acupuncture needles may be inserted and retained for various amounts of time, depending on the individual case, to allow the body’s musculoskeletal and nervous systems to unwind.

    In acupuncture sessions geared towards internal medicine, acupuncture points may be inserted and retained to promote relaxation.

    In dry needling sessions geared towards musculoskeletal issues, needles are often retained briefly while the practitioner pinpoints myofascial trigger points; needles are then removed and generally followed by a medical massage and manual traction.