Acupuncture, Herbs, or Both? How to Use Chinese Medicine for Better Results
One of the most common questions I hear from patients is:
“Do I really need herbs if I’m already getting acupuncture?”
It’s a great question—and the short answer is: it depends on your condition, your goals, and how deep the imbalance goes.
In Chinese medicine, acupuncture and herbal medicine are not competing therapies. They are traditionally used together, each playing a different but complementary role. Understanding how and when to use each one can help you get better, faster, and more lasting results.
Acupuncture and Herbs: Same Medicine, Different Tools
In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), acupuncture and herbs are considered two branches of the same medical system.
Think of it like this:
Acupuncture is an external method that works through the nervous system, muscles, fascia, and meridians.
Herbal medicine is an internal method that works through digestion, circulation, metabolism, inflammation, hormones, and immune function.
In China, patients rarely choose one or the other. A typical visit to a hospital or clinic often includes:
Acupuncture or bodywork
An herbal formula (tea, granules, or pills)
Lifestyle and dietary guidance
This combined approach is one reason Chinese medicine has been effective for thousands of years.
Why Acupuncture Is Practiced Differently in the U.S. Than in China
Many patients are surprised to learn that acupuncture in the United States looks quite different from how it is traditionally practiced in China. There isn’t one single explanation for this, but there are some important historical and cultural factors that help make sense of it.
When acupuncture was introduced to the U.S. in the 1970s, it entered a healthcare system that was already highly specialized, insurance-driven, and oriented around symptom relief. Western medicine was—and still is—organized into separate categories like internal medicine, pain management, physical therapy, and mental health. Acupuncture naturally found its place alongside physical therapies that people already understood, such as massage, chiropractic, and rehabilitation work.
Because of this, acupuncture in the U.S. evolved into a model that often emphasizes musculoskeletal pain, tight muscles, injuries, and localized symptoms. Treatments became shorter, more targeted, and focused on pain points and areas of tension. This approach can be extremely effective, especially for pain and acute conditions, but it represents only one slice of how Chinese medicine has traditionally been practiced.
In China, acupuncture developed as part of a complete medical system that includes herbal medicine, internal medicine, diet, and lifestyle therapy. Patients typically receive acupuncture as one component of a broader treatment plan, rather than as a stand‑alone modality. Herbs are commonly prescribed alongside acupuncture to address what’s happening internally while acupuncture helps regulate and move the body externally.
As Chinese medicine made its way into the U.S., herbal medicine was less familiar, more regulated, and harder to integrate into Western healthcare systems. Acupuncture, on the other hand, was visible, hands‑on, and easier for patients to understand and accept. Over time, it became the most accessible entry point into Chinese medicine.
This helps explain why acupuncture in the U.S. often feels similar to a physical therapy or bodywork session, while in China it functions as one tool within a much larger internal medicine framework. Neither approach is wrong—they simply reflect the systems in which they developed.
When Acupuncture Really Shines
Acupuncture is especially powerful for conditions involving structure, movement, and pain signaling, such as:
Neck, shoulder, and back pain
Sports injuries and overuse injuries
Headaches and migraines
Sciatica
Joint pain and stiffness
Acute pain or flare-ups
Acupuncture helps by:
Improving blood flow to tissues
Reducing inflammation and muscle tension
Regulating the nervous system
Improving range of motion and pain perception
That said, acupuncture is not only for musculoskeletal issues. It can also help with:
Stress and anxiety
Sleep issues
Digestive symptoms
Menstrual pain
Certain internal conditions
However, when a condition is chronic or systemic, acupuncture alone may not be enough to create deep, lasting change.
When Herbs Make a Big Difference
Herbal medicine excels at treating internal patterns—the root causes that develop over time.
Herbs are especially helpful for:
Chronic pain or inflammation
Digestive disorders (bloating, reflux, IBS, constipation)
Hormonal imbalances and menstrual irregularities
Fatigue and low energy
Emotional patterns tied to the body (stress eating, irritability, burnout)
Autoimmune or inflammatory conditions
Long-standing issues that “keep coming back”
Herbs work daily, not just during your appointment. They:
Modulate inflammation
Support digestion and nutrient absorption
Regulate hormones and stress response
Improve circulation and tissue repair
Address the pattern behind the symptoms
In many cases, herbs are what allow acupuncture to hold its effects longer.
Why Acupuncture Alone Sometimes Isn’t Enough
Acupuncture treatments typically happen once or twice per week. Herbs are taken every day.
If your body is dealing with:
Ongoing inflammation
Digestive weakness
Hormonal dysregulation
Emotional stress affecting physiology
…then relying on acupuncture alone can be like trying to steer a car without enough fuel.
You may feel temporary relief, but the underlying imbalance hasn’t fully shifted.
This doesn’t mean acupuncture isn’t working—it means the body needs internal support to keep up with the changes acupuncture initiates.
Using Acupuncture and Herbs Together
When acupuncture and herbs are used together, they tend to:
Reduce pain more effectively
Speed up recovery
Improve chronic conditions more deeply
Prevent relapse
Create more stable, long-term results
For example:
Acupuncture can relax tight muscles and calm the nervous system
Herbs can reduce internal inflammation and improve tissue healing
Or:
Acupuncture can move stagnant energy and blood
Herbs can strengthen digestion and prevent the stagnation from returning
This is why many patients notice that once herbs are added, their progress feels more consistent and sustainable.
Not Black and White—Just Personalized
It’s important to say this clearly:
Some people do great with acupuncture alone
Some people need herbs right away
Some start with acupuncture and add herbs later
Chinese medicine is not one-size-fits-all. Recommendations are based on:
How long you’ve had the condition
Whether symptoms are structural, internal, or both
Your stress levels, digestion, sleep, and energy
How your body responds to treatment
My goal is never to “add more” for the sake of it—but to choose the right tools to help your body heal efficiently.
The Takeaway
Acupuncture and herbal medicine are most powerful when they work together.
Acupuncture helps reset, move, and regulate
Herbs help rebuild, nourish, and stabilize
If you feel like acupuncture helps but doesn’t quite take you as far as you’d like, herbs may be the missing piece—not because anything is wrong, but because your body needs support between treatments.
If you’re curious whether herbs, acupuncture, or a combination makes the most sense for you, we can always discuss it during your visit.
Healing works best when we treat both the branches and the root.
