Eating disorders are among the most chronic and life-threatening psychiatric illnesses, with many affected individuals experiencing fatal outcomes. Recovery is often difficult because patients may fear changes to their bodies, struggle to relinquish control over eating and exercise, and live within a culture that reinforces disordered eating behaviors and unrealistic beauty ideals. As a result, harm reduction has increasingly been discussed as a necessary approach for individuals with long-term, chronic eating disorders. In this view, the goal is sometimes not complete recovery but rather medical stability and improved quality of life.

Never one to “give up” on people, I find myself somewhat resistant to the harm-reduction stance in eating disorder treatment. As a long-time researcher who has only recently transitioned into clinical work, I may still carry a sense of idealism, one that could, admittedly, soften with time.

In searching for innovative adjuncts to traditional care, some researchers have begun exploring complementary and alternative treatments, including acupuncture. Preliminary evidence suggests that acupuncture may induce a relaxation response that reduces anxiety and mitigates eating disorder symptoms. This emerging evidence led me to take a deeper look at how acupuncture might be integrated into care for individuals with persistent eating disorders.

How acupuncture works

According to acupuncturist Adriane Dourte, “It’s an endorphin response; the body reacts to the needles activating the skin level, which redirects blood and energy in the body.“ From a biomedical standpoint,researchers suggest that acupuncture stimulates peripheral nerves, sending signals to the brain and spinal cord. This stimulation triggers the release of endorphins, serotonin, and other neurotransmitters involved in pain and mood regulation. Functional MRI studies also indicate that acupuncture may alter activity in brain regions associated with emotional regulation and pain perception.

Although these explanations may feel abstract, they are not so different from the mechanisms proposed for psychotropic medications, which also act through changes in neurotransmitter activity and availability in the brain.

Why acupuncture for eating disorders?

Acupuncture may offer benefits for eating disorders because of its potential effects on stress, anxiety, appetite regulation, sleep, and general well-being, all of which can interfere with recovery. Qualitative studies and small clinical trials report that patients find acupuncture acceptable, calming, and grounding, which may enhance their ability to engage in psychotherapy and nutritional rehabilitation. Auricular (ear) acupuncture protocols, in particular, have been used to reduce anxiety and cravings and provide a low-burden coping tool.

Two acupuncturists I spoke with, Dourte and Jenna Ferraiolo, both emphasized that acupuncture should never replace evidence-based eating disorder treatment. Dourte explained, “Acupuncture is not magic; it works best in coordination with other medical treatments.” Ferraiolo noted that in traditional Chinese medicine, eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia are understood not just as physical conditions, but as imbalances affecting both body and spirit. Healing, from this view, is about restoring harmony rather than simply normalizing weight or appetite.

So, should eating disorder patients try acupuncture?

Current evidence remains limited but somewhat promising. A small number of studies suggest that adding acupuncture to standard multidisciplinary care may improve quality of life and reduce anxiety and perfectionism compared to standard care alone. However, the research base is heterogeneous and methodologically weak, meaning it is currently insufficient to recommend acupuncture as a standalone treatment.

Still, acupuncture appears to be a low-risk, potentially beneficial adjunct to evidence-based psychotherapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), along with medical and nutritional interventions. For those interested, it is essential to seek treatment from a licensed, experienced practitioner and to understand acupuncture as a complementary—not comprehensive—approach to eating disorder care.

• What Are Eating Disorders?
• Take our Disordered Eating Test
• Find a therapist to heal from an eating disorder

To find a therapist, visit the Psychology Today Therapy Directory.

References

Arcelus, J., Mitchell, A. J., Wales, J., & Nielsen, S. (2011). Mortality rates in patients with anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders. A meta-analysis of 36 studies. Archives of general psychiatry, 68(7), 724–731. https://doi.org/10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2011.74

Dourte, A. (2025, October 12). Personal communication regarding acupuncture and wellness. Acupuncture by Adriane. https://acupuncturebyadriane.com

Ferraiolo, J. (2025, October 13). Personal communication regarding acupuncture and wellness. Acacia Acupuncture and Wellness Center LLC, Media, PA. http://acacia-acupuncture.com

Fogarty, S., Harris, D., Zaslawski, C., McAinch, A. J., & Stojanovska, L. (2010). Acupuncture as an adjunct therapy in the treatment of eating disorders: a randomised cross-over pilot study. Complementary therapies in medicine, 18(6), 233–240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2010.09.006

Fogarty, S., Smith, C. A., & Hay, P. (2016). The role of complementary and alternative medicine in the treatment of eating disorders: A systematic review. Eating behaviors, 21, 179–188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2016.03.002

Landgren K, Bjarnadóttir HM, Friðjónsdóttir HS, Bernharðsdóttir J. Mental Health Service Users’ Experiences of Receiving Ear Acupuncture as a Complement in Psychiatric Care in ICELAND – A Qualitative and Quantitative Pilot Study. OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine 2025; 10(2): 018; doi:10.21926/obm.icm.2502018.

National Institutes of Health. (2023). Acupuncture: In depth. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/acupuncture-in-depth

Vickers, A. J., & Linde, K. (2014). Acupuncture for chronic pain. JAMA, 311(9), 955–956. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2013.285478