Acupuncture and the VA’s Whole-Health Approach:

A New Direction in Veteran Pain Care

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently spotlighted acupuncture as part of a growing movement toward whole-health pain management.
In its October 2025 article, “Which Pain Therapy Is Best?”, the VA emphasized that there’s no single answer — but acupuncture is among the therapies showing real promise for veterans living with chronic pain, mobility issues, and stress-related conditions.

This recognition from one of the largest healthcare systems in the nation marks an important shift: pain management is no longer just about suppressing symptoms — it’s about restoring balance, function, and quality of life.

Why Veterans Are Turning to Acupuncture

Many veterans live with chronic pain from injuries, surgeries, or years of physical strain. Traditional medications can sometimes bring short-term relief but often come with side effects or dependency risks.
Acupuncture offers an alternative rooted in natural healing and evidence-based results.

Recent studies have shown that acupuncture can:

• Reduce chronic pain intensity (especially back, neck, and joint pain)
• Improve mobility and daily function
• Ease anxiety, depression, and sleep difficulties often linked with long-term pain
• Support emotional and nervous-system balance, helping patients feel calmer and more resilient

The VA now offers acupuncture in more than 80 % of its medical centers — a clear sign that integrative care is becoming part of mainstream veteran medicine.

The Science Behind the Needles

Acupuncture activates the body’s own repair mechanisms. By stimulating precise points on the body, it promotes circulation, releases endorphins, and helps regulate inflammation and stress hormones.
Recent NIH-funded trials have confirmed its benefits for chronic low-back pain and osteoarthritis — two of the most common conditions among veterans.

Serving Our Veterans at Mayflower Acupuncture

At Mayflower Acupuncture, we proudly serve veterans through referrals from the VA Department.
If you are enrolled in VA health care, you may be eligible to receive acupuncture treatments at our clinic through the VA Community Care Network (CCN).
Our team works directly with VA referral coordinators to make the process smooth and stress-free — so you can focus on healing, not paperwork.

Our treatments combine traditional acupuncture with complementary therapies such as cupping, moxibustion, herbal medicine, and therapeutic massage, creating a truly holistic experience.

For veterans, this approach can mean:

• Better sleep and less muscle tension
• Reduced reliance on medications
• Improved recovery from chronic pain or old injuries
• A renewed sense of balance, focus, and overall well-being

We honor your service — and we’re here to support your recovery journey with care that meets you where you are.

Your Path Toward Relief Starts Here

If you’re a veteran coping with chronic pain or stress, ask your VA provider about an acupuncture referral to Mayflower Acupuncture through the VA Community Care Network.
You can also contact our office for guidance on how to start the referral process.

Schedule your consultation HERE or call (860) 413-2118 to learn more about veteran-covered acupuncture care in Connecticut.

Sources

• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: Which Pain Therapy Is Best? (Oct 2025)

• National Institutes of Health (NIH): Acupuncture Treatment Improves Disabling Effects of Chronic Low Back Pain in Older Adults (Sept 2025)

• Medscape: Acupuncture Eases Chronic Low Back Pain, Boosts Physical Function (Sept 2025)