5,000 years of clinical practice. A growing body of modern evidence. Here is what the research says.
Acupuncture has been practiced as a clinical healthcare system for over 5,000 years. What modern science has done is begin to explain why it works — mapping the neurological, biochemical, and circulatory mechanisms behind outcomes that practitioners have observed for millennia.
Leading research institutions, peer-reviewed journals, and government health agencies have now validated acupuncture across a wide range of conditions. The most significant recent milestone: Medicare — the federal insurance program for Americans 65 and older — now covers acupuncture for chronic low back pain, a direct acknowledgment of its clinical evidence base.
At AcuMed Clinic, Dr. Kitt brings both the clinical depth of a seasoned practitioner and the analytical rigor of a former research scientist to every treatment plan. The research below represents a fraction of the published literature supporting integrative care — selected for its relevance to the conditions we treat most.
Research by Condition
A systematic review published in the Spine Journal compared 32 studies on acupuncture for chronic low back pain. 25 of those studies provided data showing significantly favorable outcomes — with real acupuncture consistently outperforming sham controls.
— Spine Journal, Systematic Review
The Clinical Journal of Pain (2013) concluded that low back pain — the most common musculoskeletal problem in the world — can be effectively relieved by acupuncture with little to no adverse side effects.
— Clinical Journal of Pain, 2013
Medicare now covers acupuncture specifically for chronic low back pain (cLBP) in Original Medicare beneficiaries — a landmark recognition of acupuncture's clinical evidence base by the federal government's primary health insurer.
— Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
A Cochrane Review of 22 trials concluded that acupuncture not only relieves headache pain but can prevent migraines before they occur. The review found considerable evidence that acupuncture should be highly considered for migraine treatment and prevention alongside or instead of prophylactic medications.
— The Cochrane Review, 2016
A 2016 BMJ study on fibromyalgia patients found acupuncture to be effective in managing the chronic widespread pain associated with fibromyalgia — a condition that has historically been difficult to treat with conventional approaches.
— The BMJ, 2016
Clinical research from Henan University of TCM found acupuncture significantly improves sleep efficiency and sleep quality compared to controls, with long-term improvements sustained well beyond the treatment period.
— Henan University of TCM, Clinical Research
A 2016 Italian study of 190 breast cancer patients found acupuncture to be effective in managing treatment-related hot flashes and improving quality of life — without the adverse effects of additional pharmaceutical interventions.
— Italian Clinical Study, 2016
A 2016 study in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that a multiphasic acupuncture fertility protocol increased fertility awareness and improved overall well-being in women undergoing treatment.
— Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2016
The BMJ (2013) reported that acupuncture and moxibustion can increase IVF success rates and the number of viable pregnancies following failed embryo implantation — with no adverse side effects or contraindications.
— The BMJ, 2013
Research & Practice
“I spent 20 years in aerospace and defense research before dedicating my career to natural medicine. I bring the same standard of evidence-based thinking to every clinical decision I make.”
— Dr. Katrina “Kitt” Chojnicki-Hill, DAOM, AP
AcuMed Clinic is actively pursuing academic research partnerships with Five Branches University and Montreat College — with a federal clinical trial on acupuncture for chronic pain in Medicare beneficiaries planned for 2028.
AcuMed Clinic opens August 3, 2026 in Sarasota. We are pre-scheduling Founding Patients now — covered by BCBS, UHC, and VA Community Care from day one.