Acupuncture speeds recovery and improves outcomes in ICU patients: Study finds - Video

What if ancient healing techniques could help modern medicine's most fragile patients recover faster? A new review published in Frontiers in Neurology suggests that acupuncture—a 3,000-year-old therapy—may play a promising role in improving the recovery of intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Researchers examined recent studies exploring how acupuncture can reduce dependence on sedatives and painkillers, ease inflammation, and boost gut and muscle function in critically ill patients.

Even with advanced life support and precise monitoring, many ICU survivors face lasting health obstacles such as weakness, delirium, chronic pain, and poor digestion. ICU-acquired weakness (ICU-AW), for instance, affects up to half of all patients and can lead to slow recovery and longer hospital stays. Standard treatments often rely on drugs like opioids and benzodiazepines, which can relieve symptoms but risk causing respiratory depression, delirium, or dependence.

Acupuncture involves inserting fine needles at specific body points to stimulate nerves and trigger the release of natural painkillers such as endorphins. In the ICU, techniques like electroacupuncture (EA) and transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) are gaining attention. The review summarizes studies showing that acupuncture can improve pain control and sedation quality, helping patients wean off ventilators sooner and reduce their overall ICU stay.

Preliminary findings also suggest benefits beyond pain relief. Acupuncture may help restore muscle function and prevent ICU-AW by improving blood flow and reducing oxidative stress. Some studies show it can even reduce delirium by balancing neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine, supporting sleep and cognitive recovery. Equally notable are its gut-related effects—acupuncture can ease constipation, reduce diarrhea linked to tube feeding, and promote healthier gut microbiota.

Mechanistically, acupuncture activates the body’s vagus nerve and “cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway,” dampening harmful inflammation while boosting tissue repair and immune balance. Though larger, well-controlled clinical trials are still needed, researchers see enormous potential in integrating acupuncture into critical care.

REFERENCE: Li, P. et al. (2026) Acupuncture for ICU patients: Evidence, mechanisms, and implementation challenges. Frontiers in Neurology. 16, 1711600. doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2025.1711600. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1711600/full