Can Acupuncture Influence the Gut Microbiome? By Pippa Glendon-Doyle

Over recent years, the gut microbiome has become a key focus in the wellness world—linked to everything from mood and metabolism to immunity. This raised a fascinating question: could acupuncture change the bacteria in your gut?

I explored this question in my review of the research which was recently published in The Journal of Chinese Medicine.

A Quick Refresher: What is the Gut Microbiome?

The gut microbiome is essentially your internal ecosystem—trillions of bacteria, viruses, and fungi that inhabit your digestive tract. Around 99% of these microbes live in your gut, influencing everything from how you digest food to how your immune system behaves. In fact, humans are only about 43% human cells—the rest are microbial!

What I Looked At

I searched through over 200 studies to find solid, human-based, randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that specifically measured how acupuncture might affect the gut microbiome. After rigorous filtering, just three RCTs met the criteria, focusing on acupuncture for Parkinson’s disease, Crohn’s disease, and simple obesity. Each study was assessed using international reporting standards (CONSORT and STRICTA) to ensure reliability and transparency.

What the Studies Showed

The findings indicated that acupuncture appears to modulate bacterial composition:

- Parkinson’s disease: Acupuncture led to changes in bacterial diversity, specifically a decrease in bacteria typically elevated in Parkinson’s patients and an increase in those that tend to be low.

- Crohn’s disease: Patients receiving acupuncture saw an increase in "good" bacteria that produce short-chain fatty acids (beneficial for gut health) and a decrease in inflammatory markers that lasted up to 36 weeks post-treatment.

- Obesity: Acupuncture boosted levels of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium—bacteria commonly found in probiotics—while reducing harmful Clostridium perfringens.

In all three studies, acupuncture seemed to balance bacterial composition, raising what was low and calming what was high, rather than simply increasing or decreasing everything across the board.

Does Acupuncture Change Your Gut Bacteria?

While there is not yet enough evidence to say acupuncture alters overall microbial diversity, there is a clear signal that it influences bacterial composition. This is exciting because it suggests acupuncture may work through complex biochemical pathways that modern medicine is only beginning to understand.

Which Acupuncture Points Were Used?

Although all three studies used different combinations of points, they all shared three common acupuncture points: ST36, Ren 12, and SP6.

Why It Matters for My Practice

If acupuncture can modulate gut bacteria, it opens up an entirely new way of understanding how it can help with conditions like inflammation, digestion, and even mood disorders. A sizeable proportion of my patients work in mental health settings and frequently come to me for support with digestive issues. It is helpful to be able to reference research that shows acupuncture could potentially benefit their gut microbiome alongside standard practices like probiotic supplementation.

Where We Go Next

To truly understand the mechanism, we need larger, more diverse studies using improved sampling methods and standardized acupuncture protocols. There are already some exciting new trials underway—on PCOS, chronic constipation, insomnia, and breast cancer-related fatigue—that may help connect the dots between the gut, the brain, and acupuncture.

Pippa Glendon-Doyle graduated from CCA in 2023 and runs a private acupuncture practice in Wandsworth, London. She can be found at https://www.pippagdacupuncture.co.uk/

Pippa Glendon-Doyle BA, MA, Lic. Ac, MBAcC