09/25/2025
đ§ New Study: Acupuncture Shows Promising Results for Sciatica & Pinched Nerve Pain Relief
đ˘ Clinic Update
Weâre excited to share emerging clinical research confirming what many patients already feel: acupuncture may offer significant benefits for sciatica and pinched-nerve symptoms.
đ Key Research Insights
A recent randomized clinical trial of 216 patients with chronic sciatica due to herniated discs showed that acupuncture led to significantly greater pain reduction and improved function compared to sham acupuncture. The benefits persisted for up to 52 weeks.
JAMA Network
A 2023 meta-analysis in Frontiers in Neuroscience similarly found that acupuncture outperformed standard medical treatments in relieving sciatic symptoms, with favorable safety outcomes.
Frontiers
Mechanistic and animal studies suggest that electroacupuncture may reduce neuropathic pain by modulating inflammatory signaling pathways (e.g. ERK, p38MAPK) and upregulating GABA receptors, helping the nervous system recover from injury.
Frontiers
Some research indicates that targeted stimulation along the sciatic nerve trunk may yield a stronger analgesic effect than general acupuncture alone.
PMC
â
What This Means for You
If youâre struggling with leg pain, tingling, or nerve symptoms, acupuncture can:
Reduce pain intensity (often measured by VAS)
Improve functional mobility and quality of life
Offer sustained benefits over time
Have a favorable safety profile (few serious adverse events in clinical trials)