Leading up to my online CEU course on Jing and nurturing life practices (
2 hours of CEUs for FREE, sign up here
), I sat down with scholar and Chinese medicine practitioner Dr. Phil Garrison to discuss Jing (Essence) and the less discussed Jing Shen.
PCOM-NY faculty member Jeremy Pulsifer was featured cooking a healing soup to treat a cough on PCOM alumna Jill Blakeway’s show “Grow Cook Heal”. Check it out!
And at #7: the Power of Placebo, featuring Ted Kaptchuk–Pacific Symposium 2013’s keynote speaker and a longtime PCOM associate!
“ 32 - Because joining a ragtag band of fellow travellers, cooks and guides as I trekked back from La Ciudad Perdida in Colombia reminded me of the joy of sharing your journey with others.”
In 404 CE, the first foreign medicine was imported into Japan from Korea, which has been deduced as being mostly herbal in nature.
During this time, waves of migration from the Korean peninsula brought Chinese technology and writings to the island nation. It was through these transplants that the native Japanese learned of Chinese medicine and acupuncture. As passageways between China and Japan became more open, the first formal introduction of acupuncture in Japan occurred in 562 by a Chinese monk name Zhi Cong. He made the trek across the Sea of China east and brought with him medical treatises on herbal medicine and acupuncture meridians including the Mingtang tu, also known as the Illustrated Manual of Channels, Collaterals, and Acupuncture Points.
Thanks to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation for honoring Pacific College for our support for the important work they do. And thanks to Dr. Jeff Poplarski who makes it all possible.
David Rich Sol, Dean of Asian Holistic Health and Massage of PCOM’s Chicago campus, talks extensively about this method to reduce pain and tension.
Acupuncture for Diabetes and Blood Sugar Balance
Living with diabetes often means recalibrating daily routines, from the way one eats and sleeps to the rhythm of exercise and rest. In Australia, where roughly 1.5 million people are estimated to be living with diabetes and the National Diabetes Services Scheme supports hundreds of thousands of registrants, the search for supportive therapies that work alongside mainstream care has never felt more relevant. Many Australians already turn to acupuncture through clinics in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, often as part of a broader interest in holistic health traditions. Within Chinese medicine, the management of what was classically called "wasting and thirsting" disorder has a long lineage, predating modern blood glucose monitors by centuries.
Acupuncture, the insertion of fine sterile needles into specific points on the body, is used by practitioners of Chinese medicine to influence the flow of qi and blood and to regulate organ function. Modern research has begun to explore how these traditional point selections might intersect with endocrine pathways involved in glucose metabolism, insulin sensitivity and inflammatory balance. For people seeking complementary ways to support their wellbeing alongside diet, exercise and prescribed medication, acupuncture offers a non-pharmaceutical option that some find useful for symptom relief and quality of life.
The conversation about blood sugar regulation through acupuncture is not framed as a replacement for medical care. Registered Australian practitioners working under professional bodies such as the Australian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association generally encourage collaboration with GPs, endocrinologists and diabetes educators. The aim is to integrate supportive strategies into a whole-person framework, respecting both biomedical evidence and the centuries of clinical observation embedded in Chinese medical tradition.
How acupuncture influences glucose metabolism
From a biomedical perspective, several physiological mechanisms have been proposed for the way acupuncture may affect blood sugar regulation. Stimulation of specific points, particularly those along the Stomach, Spleen and Pancreas meridians, has been associated in animal and small clinical studies with changes in insulin secretion, improved insulin sensitivity and modulation of inflammatory markers. Some researchers suggest that needle stimulation influences the autonomic nervous system, shifting the balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic activity in ways that can affect hepatic glucose output.
In Chinese medicine, diabetes-type presentations are commonly framed through patterns such as Stomach heat, Spleen qi deficiency, and Kidney yin deficiency. Each pattern carries a different set of acupuncture points and herbal strategies. A practitioner treating someone with persistent thirst, hunger and fatigue may focus on points like Sanyinjiao (SP6), Zusanli (ST36) and Yinlingquan (SP9), while a different pattern emphasising night sweats, low back soreness and dry mouth might draw on Taixi (KI3) and Zhaohai (KI6). The point selection is individualised rather than formulaic, a hallmark of the tradition.
Beyond glucose-specific mechanisms, many people notice broader effects from regular treatment: calmer sleep, easier digestion, less reactive hunger and steadier energy through the day. These changes matter in diabetes management because blood sugar is influenced by stress hormones, sleep quality, the gut microbiome and physical activity. Acupuncture's reputation for regulating these supporting systems makes it a logical candidate for inclusion in a comprehensive lifestyle plan.
What the research says about acupuncture and type 2 diabetes
The research base on acupuncture and type 2 diabetes has grown steadily over the past two decades, though it remains uneven in quality and scale. Several meta-analyses have reported modest improvements in fasting blood glucose and HbA1c when acupuncture is added to standard care, while other reviews have highlighted methodological concerns and called for larger, more rigorous trials. The mixed picture is familiar across complementary medicine research, where blinding is difficult and individualised treatments resist standardisation.
Australian researchers have contributed to this conversation. Studies conducted through university clinics in Melbourne and Adelaide, alongside collaborations with Chinese medicine teaching hospitals, have explored acupuncture for diabetic peripheral neuropathy, a complication marked by tingling, numbness and pain in the hands and feet. Point protocols in these studies often include Baxie (Extra points) and lower limb points such as Zusanli (ST36) and Sanyinjiao (SP6), aiming to improve local circulation and nerve function.
It is important to read this evidence with the same critical eye one would apply to any therapeutic modality. Acupuncture should not be seen as a cure for diabetes, nor should it replace insulin or oral hypoglycaemic medication. What the evidence does suggest is that acupuncture may serve as a useful adjunct, particularly for symptoms that conventional medicine finds difficult to address: persistent fatigue, mood disturbance, neuropathy discomfort and the slow grind of living with a chronic condition.
| Common acupuncture points used in diabetes care | Traditional function | Typical clinical application |
|---|---|---|
| Zusanli (ST36) | Strengthens Stomach and Spleen qi, harmonises digestion | General fatigue, poor appetite, postprandial blood sugar spikes |
| Sanyinjiao (SP6) | Nourishes Spleen and Liver, regulates blood | Hormonal balance, sleep disturbance, menstrual irregularities |
| Yinlingquan (SP9) | Resolves dampness, supports Spleen transformation | Fluid retention, sluggish digestion, metabolic heaviness |
| Taixi (KI3) | Tonifies Kidney yin, anchors yang | Night sweats, lower back soreness, long-term yin deficiency |
| Zhongwan (RN12) | Regulates the Middle Jiao, harmonises the Stomach | Upper abdominal fullness, bloating, erratic glucose readings |
| Yishu (Extra point) | Empirical point for pancreas function | Specific glucose regulation support in classical texts |
Integrating acupuncture with conventional diabetes care in Australia
Australia's healthcare landscape offers a useful frame for thinking about integration. General practitioners coordinate most diabetes care, supported by practice nurses, diabetes educators and credentialed specialists. The Medicare Benefits Schedule covers GP management plans and team care arrangements, which can include referrals to allied health practitioners. While acupuncture is not currently subsidised under Medicare for diabetes specifically, private health fund rebates are common through Extras cover, and many Australians access treatment in community clinics from Brisbane to Hobart.
Practical integration starts with clear documentation. A registered acupuncturist should take a full medical history, including current medications, blood glucose monitoring patterns and any complications such as retinopathy or neuropathy. This information guides point selection and helps identify situations where acupuncture may need to be modified, for example during active infection, in pregnancy, or alongside anticoagulant therapy.
Communication between the acupuncturist, the GP and the diabetes educator is often the missing piece. Sharing treatment notes, observing trends in blood glucose readings around acupuncture sessions, and discussing any changes in symptoms helps the whole team respond to what is or is not working. Many Australians find that this collaborative approach gives them a stronger sense of agency in a condition that can otherwise feel overwhelming.
The emotional side of living with diabetes
Diabetes is not only a metabolic condition. The daily discipline of monitoring, the social discomfort of food choices, the worry about long-term complications and the financial cost of management all take an emotional toll. Australian surveys consistently report higher rates of anxiety and depression among those living with diabetes compared to the general population, and mental health support is increasingly recognised as a core part of comprehensive care.
Chinese medicine has long framed the relationship between emotional state and organ function, with particular emphasis on the Liver's role in regulating the smooth flow of qi. When that flow becomes constrained, frustration, irritability and a sense of being stuck may arise, with downstream effects on digestion, sleep and energy. Acupuncture points such as Taichong (LR3), Neiguan (PC6) and Yintang (Extra point) are often selected for their calming and regulating influence. For readers interested in how these emotional patterns intersect with Chinese medical thought more broadly, an exploration of Using Chinese Medicine to Support Mental Health and Anxiety offers a useful extension of these ideas.
Sleep is a particular concern for those managing blood sugar, and the two-way relationship is well documented: poor sleep raises blood glucose, and elevated glucose disrupts sleep. Acupuncture has been studied for insomnia in various populations, with protocols often incorporating Anmian (Extra point), Shenmen (HT7) and Sanyinjiao (SP6). Improvements in sleep quality, even modest ones, can ripple outward into better food choices, more consistent movement and a more stable mood across the day.
What to expect from an acupuncture treatment plan
A first appointment will usually run longer than follow-ups, often 60 to 90 minutes, and includes a detailed intake covering the main complaint, medical history, lifestyle, sleep, digestion and emotional state. Tongue and pulse diagnosis, traditional assessment methods in Chinese medicine, provide additional information that shapes the treatment strategy. The acupuncturist will explain the proposed point selection, the likely sensations during needling and any aftercare advice.
Most acupuncture protocols for diabetes support involve a course of weekly treatments for an initial period of six to ten weeks, followed by a review and adjustment of frequency. Some people choose to continue with monthly maintenance sessions over a longer horizon, particularly during periods of stress, seasonal change or new health challenges. The cumulative nature of treatment reflects how Chinese medicine conceptualises the body as a system that benefits from sustained recalibration rather than one-off interventions.
For Australians exploring acupuncture for the first time, verifying practitioner registration with the Chinese Medicine Board of Australia is an essential step. Registered practitioners meet national standards for education, hygiene and professional conduct. Many also pursue further study in specific areas such as fertility, oncology support or chronic disease management. Among the international voices shaping contemporary practice, practitioners like Jill Blakeway have contributed to public-facing education about how acupuncture fits into modern healthcare conversations.
Choosing to add acupuncture to a diabetes management plan is a personal decision, ideally made in conversation with the treating GP and the broader care team. The goal is not to step outside mainstream medicine but to widen the circle of support, drawing on a tradition with deep historical roots and a growing body of contemporary research. For many Australians living with diabetes, that wider circle makes the daily work of self-management feel less solitary and more sustainable.