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Tag: clinical research

research on the effects of meditation

Data Over Doubt: Change Your Mind, Change Your Body

Written by Michelle Wendt on . Posted in About Us, Meditation, Mindfulness, Pain, Pain Relief, Recovery, Research, Stress, Tools, Wellness.

What if changing your mind could measurably change your body?
A fascinating 2025 study published in Communications Biology, a Nature Portfolio journal, examined what happened inside the brain and bloodstream after an intensive 7-day mind-body retreat incorporating meditation, mind-body education, and healing practices.
Researchers didn’t just ask participants how they felt. They used fMRI brain imaging, proteomics, metabolomics, microRNA analysis, and cellular testing to look for measurable biological changes. And they found them.
After the retreat, researchers observed:
• Changes in brain connectivity during meditation
• Increased activity in pathways associated with BDNF and neuroplasticity
• Changes in endogenous opioid pathways—the body’s own pain-modulating system
• Alterations in tryptophan metabolism, which is involved in serotonin biology
• Changes in inflammatory and anti-inflammatory signaling
• Increased cellular energy metabolism in laboratory testing
• Greater neurite growth when nerve cells were exposed to participants’ post-retreat plasma
That last finding is especially fascinating.
Blood collected after the retreat promoted significantly greater growth of neuron-like projections in cultured cells than blood collected before the retreat.
Translation: The mind-body connection isn’t just a woo-woo philosophy.
Intensive mind-body practices were associated with measurable changes in the brain, bloodstream, cellular signaling, metabolism, and pathways involved in neuroplasticity.
This doesn’t prove that meditation alone caused these changes… the study was small, had no matched control group, and several mind-body interventions were used together. But it gives us something remarkable to investigate:
Our internal experience may have biological consequences that reach far beyond how we feel.
Your thoughts aren’t happening separately from your body. Your brain is part of your body. And science is getting increasingly sophisticated at measuring the conversation between the two.
Learn how to tap into your brain-body connection by booking a consultation for our Back-To-Balance Meditation Program (ideal for beginners!) by calling 512-686-0777.
Clinic research on Acupuncture for Primary Ovarian Insufficiency

Data Over Doubt: Acupuncture for Premature Ovarian Insufficiency

Written by Michelle Wendt on . Posted in Acupuncture, Assisted Fertility, Fertility, Infertility, Pregnancy, Research, Women.

Data Over Doubt: Acupuncture for Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI)

When a woman is told she has Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI), she’s often told what she’s losing:
  • Time
  • A first or second or third biological child
  • Options to grow a family
But emerging research suggests there may be more to the story.
A systematic review article published in the journal Frontiers of Endocrinology examined 13 randomized controlled trials involving 775 women and found acupuncture significantly improved several markers of ovarian function in women with POI.
Researchers found:
  • Lower levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
  • Higher levels of estradiol (E2)
  • Increased anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH)
  • Improved overall treatment effectiveness
The strongest results were seen when acupuncture was combined with Chinese herbal medicine and hormone replacement therapy.
Translation: This isn’t about turning back the biological clock.
It’s about helping the body make the most of the function that remains and giving women more tools, more support, and more hope as they navigate a difficult diagnosis.
No, acupuncture is not a replacement for reproductive endocrinology or hormone therapy.
But the research continues to suggest it can be a powerful complementary approach working alongside conventional medicine to support the body’s natural physiology. Because women deserve more than being told, “There’s nothing else we can do.” They deserve options.
Learn more about our holistic approach to Premature Ovarian Insufficiency by setting up a fertility consultation with Dr. Michelle Wendt, L.Ac, DACM. Contact us at 512-686-0777 to get started!
Chronic Migraine systematic review and meta-analysis

Data Over Doubt: Acupuncture Improves Migraine and Quality of Life in Patients With Migraine

Written by Michelle Wendt on . Posted in Acupuncture, Headache, Migraine, Research.

Data Over Doubt: Acupuncture Improves Migraine and Quality of Life in Patients With Migraine

The real cost of having a migraine isn’t measured in a pain score of 8 or above. It’s measured in canceled plans, missed moments, and living your life around the fear of the next attack.
A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis examined 23 randomized controlled trials involving 2,295 patients and found acupuncture significantly improved both migraine symptoms and quality of life.
Researchers found:
• Shorter migraine duration
• Fewer migraine attacks
• Fewer migraine days per month
• Improved daily functioning
• Better emotional well-being
Acupuncture outperformed sham acupuncture and, in some quality-of-life measures, performed better than medication alone.
Translation: This isn’t just about reducing pain.
It’s about helping people get back to work, spend time with family, make plans without fear, and live without constantly waiting for the next migraine to strike.
No, acupuncture isn’t a magic bullet. But the research continues to show it can be a powerful tool for reducing migraine burden and improving quality of life. Because the goal isn’t just fewer migraines, it’s getting your life back.
Dr. Michelle Wendt, L.Ac, DACM discovered acupuncture after suffering from chronic migraines for years. Meet with her for a one-on-one new patient consultation to step into your next era of migraine recovery. Call 512-686-0777 or book online!
Graphic representation of research on acupuncture and fatigue

Data Over Doubt: Acupuncture and moxibustion for chronic fatigue syndrome

Written by Michelle Wendt on . Posted in Acupuncture, Fatigue, Research.

Data Over Doubt: Acupuncture and moxibustion for chronic fatigue syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is not “just being tired.”

It’s a complex condition that can affect energy production, cognition, sleep, pain levels, and quality of life in profound ways.

A systematic review & network meta-analysis analyzing 51 randomized controlled trials involving 3,473 patients found acupuncture and moxibustion significantly improved chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms compared to other treatments.

Research Citation: Fang Y, Yue BW, Ma HB, Yuan YP. Acupuncture and moxibustion for chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2022 Aug 5;101(31):e29310. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000029310. PMID: 35945779; PMCID: PMC9351926.

Researchers found:

• Acupuncture and moxibustion showed higher overall effectiveness
• Combined acupuncture + moxibustion performed especially well for fatigue severity scores
• Traditional Chinese Medicine therapies consistently demonstrated strong outcomes across major indicators

Translation:
This isn’t about temporarily boosting energy.

It’s about supporting the systems involved in fatigue, recovery, inflammation, sleep, and nervous system function.

Many people with chronic fatigue feel dismissed because their labs don’t fully explain how exhausted they are. The research continues to suggest there may be another layer worth paying attention to.

Learn more about how acupuncture + moxibustion can boost your energy production by booking a consultation with Dr. Michelle Wendt, LAc, DACM.

A graphic with information about a clinical study

Data Over Doubt: Effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on the immune function of patients with malignant tumors

Written by Michelle Wendt on . Posted in Acupuncture, Research.

Data Over Doubt: Effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on the immune function of patients with malignant tumors

Your immune system is not separate from your treatment.
It *is* the treatment.

Research citation: Wang Y, Sui B, Zhang Y, Fang L, Xie Y, Fang Y and Wang R (2025) Effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on the immune function of patients with malignant tumors: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front. Immunol. 16:1583522.

A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis (33 studies, 2,600+ patients) published in the Frontiers of Immunology: Cancer Immunity and Immunotherapy, found that acupuncture and moxibustion may:

• Increase key immune cells (CD3+, CD4+, NK cells)
• Improve immune balance (CD4/CD8 ratio)
• Enhance anti-tumor response
• Support better overall prognosis in cancer patients

Translation:
Acupuncture isn’t just symptom relief.
It actively supports how the body fights disease.

This is where Chinese Medicine and modern immunology start speaking the same language.

Is more research needed? Always.

Support the body.
Strengthen the system.
Change the outcome.

Get started with our science-informed care by calling 512-686-0777 💙