Acupuncture and its ability to restore and maintain immune homeostasis.

This article focuses on the bidirectional regulatory effects of acupuncture on immune homeostasis, a balanced immune state crucial for protecting the host from pathogens while preventing pathological self-reactivity. It reviews evidence that acupuncture can both enhance immunity in immunosuppressive conditions such as cancer by promoting natural killer (NK) and CD8+ T cell activity, and suppress overactive immune responses in autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis by restoring balances among T helper cell subsets (Th1/Th2, Th17/Treg) and macrophage polarization (M1/M2). The neurophysiological mechanisms underlying these effects involve specific acupuncture points activating distinct neural pathways, including the vagal–adrenal and sympathetic–splenic axes, with electroacupuncture intensity influencing immune outcomes. The article proposes acupuncture as a safe, non-invasive therapeutic modality capable of restoring immune homeostasis and serving as a potential adjunct in treating diverse immune-related disorders.