How might acupuncture reduce the feeling of pain according to one scientific explanation?

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Moxibustion — traditional Chinese medicine In moxibustion, or moxa treatment, small cones of an herb (typically *Artemisia moxa*) are burned on top of needles placed in designated points of the body, generally the same points as those used in acupuncture.

While traditional Chinese medicine explains the efficacy of acupuncture through the balancing of yin and yang and the free flow of qi, scientific research offers a different perspective on its pain-relieving mechanisms.12

One prominent scientific explanation suggests that acupuncture may reduce the sensation of pain by stimulating the release of endorphins. Endorphins are a group of naturally occurring opiate proteins found in the brain and nervous system that possess significant pain-relieving properties. By triggering the release of these substances, acupuncture may mimic the analgesic effects of narcotics, providing a physiological basis for the pain relief reported by patients.43