A review by authors at the Sheba Medical Center in Israel, has assessed the clinical evidence for acupuncture for autoimmune conditions. They drew on data from randomised controlled trials, systematic reviews and meta-analyses published between 2000 and 2023. They note that the standard treatment of autoimmune and autoimmune rheumatic diseases often includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids and disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, which may involve considerable side-effects.
The review finds that acupuncture demonstrates significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects in models of rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis and psoriasis, by modulating inflammatory cytokines and affecting T cells and macrophages. Clinical studies support the efficacy of acupuncture in managing autoimmune disease symptoms such as pain, inflammation and fatigue, with specific benefits for rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, Crohn’s disease and Sjogren’s syndrome. The safety of acupuncture, as assessed among tens of thousands of treatments, is considered to be very high, with an extremely low rate of adverse effects.
The authors conclude that acupuncture presents a promising treatment option, offering symptom relief with minimal risks.
(Acupuncture therapy in autoimmune diseases: A narrative review. Autoimmunity Reviews, 31 January 2025.)