When the Body’s Peacemakers Falter: How Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine Support Immune Regulation
Introduction
The 2025 Nobel Prize in Medicine recognised a discovery that reframed our understanding of immunity. Researchers Mary Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi were honoured for their work on regulatory T cells (Tregs), the immune system’s “peacemakers.”
Tregs prevent the body from attacking itself by moderating inflammation and maintaining immune tolerance. When this regulation fails, autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease develop.
This modern discovery aligns remarkably with the long-standing principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which views health as a dynamic state of internal regulation rather than constant battle. Both frameworks recognise that when the body’s systems lose coordination, self-repair falters.
The Immune System Through a TCM Lens
In TCM, autoimmune disease is not seen as one isolated pathology. It reflects systemic disharmony across multiple functional networks — the Spleen, Liver, and Kidney systems are commonly implicated. When digestion weakens, or when chronic stress and exhaustion accumulate, inflammatory factors arise internally.
The treatment goal is to restore regulation by supporting the body’s ability to correct itself. Acupuncture and herbs are chosen to address not only inflammation, but also the physiological terrain that allows it to persist: fatigue, digestive weakness, disrupted sleep, poor circulation, or unresolved emotional stress.
When qi is moving correctly, the immune system’s “traffic” flows efficiently and self-tolerance is maintained.¹
¹ In this context, qi refers to the movement of blood, oxygen, nutrients, and immune cells through the body — the vital circulation that sustains all tissues.
Acupuncture and Immune Modulation
Recent research suggests acupuncture can modulate immune activity through several physiological pathways.
It influences macrophage behaviour, promoting a shift from inflammatory to reparative subtypes.
It modulates transcription factors such as NF-κB, reducing the expression of inflammatory cytokines.
It interacts with the neuro-immune axis, altering sympathetic tone and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal signalling, which in turn regulates systemic inflammation.
Clinical studies on rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and allergic conditions show improvements in fatigue, pain, and quality of life, along with measurable changes in immune markers.
In clinical practice, these mechanisms manifest less as laboratory shifts and more as functional gains: a client sleeping through the night for the first time in years, reduced morning stiffness, or renewed appetite. Acupuncture’s greatest contribution is restoring rhythm — physiological and emotional — so that the immune system can self-regulate.
Chinese Herbal Medicine and Synchronised Immunity
Chinese herbal medicine operates through synergy rather than single compounds. Each formula combines herbs with complementary actions to regulate inflammation, support digestion, and restore strength.
In experimental studies, herbs within formulas such as Ermiao San have been shown to regulate dendritic cell maturation and reduce antigen presentation.
Formulas like Bojungikki-tang are under investigation for improving immune resilience and quality of life in chronic and cancer-related fatigue.
Many classic tonics, including Astragalus and Codonopsis, influence cytokine balance and promote repair.
The aim is modulation rather than stimulation — supporting the body’s adaptive capacity while avoiding overstimulation of an already reactive immune system. The key lies in matching the correct formulation to the individual’s constitution and disease stage.
Clinical Illustration: Crohn’s Disease and Chronic Fatigue
A 40-year-old woman with Crohn’s disease presented with severe fatigue and low appetite following surgery. She was considering immunosuppressant therapy but preferred to explore an integrative approach first. Her consultant approved collaborative care with acupuncture and herbal medicine.
Treatment focused on restoring digestive strength, supporting circulation, and improving sleep. Over six weeks she regained enough energy to walk to her horse paddock. By five months she was riding again and managed a two-week family holiday without medication.
Her improvement reflected the re-establishment of regulation, not suppression. Fatigue, appetite, and mood improved as systemic function normalised. Her outcome underscores the role of TCM as a supportive modality that enhances quality of life while complementing conventional care.
Integration with Western Medicine
Clients on immunosuppressants or biologics often experience side effects that reduce adherence or quality of life. Acupuncture and herbal medicine can complement these therapies by improving digestion, sleep, and emotional stability, thereby supporting better treatment tolerance.
Collaboration between TCM practitioners and medical specialists is essential. Transparent communication ensures safety and allows clients to benefit from both systems of care. TCM is not an alternative to evidence-based medicine but a partner that addresses areas conventional care often overlooks — fatigue, stress load, and digestive repair.
Limitations and the Need for Further Research
While acupuncture’s immunomodulatory effects are well documented in preclinical models, human studies remain limited. Herbal research faces similar challenges: variable formulations, differing quality standards, and difficulty in isolating active compounds.
Nonetheless, the conceptual overlap between immune regulation and TCM’s restoration of harmony suggests a shared biological foundation. Modern science is beginning to translate what classical physicians observed: when circulation, nutrition, and rest are restored, inflammation subsides naturally.
Conclusion
The Nobel recognition of regulatory T cells highlights a truth familiar to TCM for centuries — that health depends on regulation, not suppression.
By improving circulation, digestion, and stress physiology, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine help the body restore its own balance. For clients with autoimmune diseases, this can mean not just symptom relief, but renewed participation in life.
Integrative medicine thrives where both traditions meet: grounded in evidence, guided by physiology, and always centred on the person in front of us.
References (2023–2025):
Vickers AJ et al. Acupuncture for Chronic Pain: Update of an Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis. J Pain. 2023.
Li X et al. Acupuncture’s Immunomodulatory Effects via the Neuro-Immune Axis. Front Immunol. 2023.
Zhang Y et al. Ermiao San Regulates Dendritic Cell Activation in Rheumatoid Arthritis Models. Phytomedicine. 2024.
Kim S et al. Bojungikki-tang and Immune Function in Cancer Supportive Care: Systematic Review. Integr Cancer Ther. 2024.
Sakaguchi S et al. Regulatory T Cells and Immune Tolerance. Nat Rev Immunol. 2025.