Acupuncture for Peripheral Neuropathy: Relief From Pain, Tingling, and Numbness

If you’re living with peripheral neuropathy, you know how exhausting it can be. Burning feet that keep you awake at night. Numbness in your toes. Tingling in your hands. Maybe you’re even having difficulty walking because you can’t quite feel the ground beneath you.

The modern medicine solutions for neuropathy are abysmal, I’ll just come right out and say it.

Gabapentin?

Did it work for you? I think I can answer that, based on what my patients have told me.

But you kept taking it because…what else are you going to do?

Plus, the fear of what might happen if you stopped taking it…

I’m Dr. Lisa Mascall, a licensed acupuncturist and NCCAOM Board-Certified herbalist.

I treat all types of peripheral neuropathy, including diabetic, chemotherapy-induced, and idiopathic neuropathy (meaning nobody has identified the cause).

And the results I see in my clinic can be phenomenal.

Does Acupuncture Really Work for Peripheral Neuropathy?

Yes—many research studies have shown that acupuncture can improve peripheral neuropathy symptoms—the burning, the pain, the exhaustion that is ultimately a result of constant pain.

A 2024 systematic review examined 33 randomized controlled trials involving 2,027 patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Researchers found improvements in neuropathy symptoms, pain, and quality of life with acupuncture-related treatments.

Another 2024 systematic review examining painful diabetic neuropathy found that acupuncture could reduce pain and improve nerve conduction velocity—a measurement of how well electrical signals travel through nerves.

That’s particularly interesting because we’re not simply talking about patients reporting less pain. Researchers are also measuring changes in nerve function and quality of life.

The Problem With Gabapentin Nobody Is Talking About

Gabapentin is one of the medications commonly prescribed for nerve pain. But it doesn’t repair damaged nerves. It primarily attempts to reduce the sensation of pain.

And emerging research raises some uncomfortable questions about its long-term use.

A 2025 study published in Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine examined more than 26,000 matched adults with chronic low back pain.

Researchers found that patients receiving six or more gabapentin prescriptions had a 29% higher incidence of dementia and an 85% higher incidence of mild cognitive impairment compared with those who weren’t prescribed the medication.

That’s WILD.  And I cannot believe it is still being prescribed at alarming rates.

Why My Approach to Neuropathy Is Different

Here’s something I think is frequently missed: the cause of your neuropathy doesn’t necessarily tell me how to treat it.

Two patients can develop neuropathy after the exact same chemotherapy treatment—and have completely different Chinese medicine diagnoses, or root diagnoses.

One may have Blood deficiency, a lack of the body’s nourishing resources. Another may have Blood stasis, meaning impaired movement and circulation. Others may show patterns involving Qi (functional energy), Kidney energy, or Jing (the body’s deeper constitutional reserves).

These are traditional Chinese medicine concepts, not Western laboratory diagnoses.

This is why I don’t use a standard acupuncture protocol for everyone with neuropathy.

I fully diagnose each patient and develop an individualized treatment strategy using acupuncture + customized Chinese herbal formulas.

Diagnosis is everything.

It’s what differentiates my practice from acupuncturists who simply treat the Western diagnosis, and I believe it’s a major reason I see the results I do.

My patients report improvements in burning pain, tingling, numbness, sleep, and walking confidence—even in patients who have struggled for years—but most importantly, QUALITY OF LIFE is improved!

Pain Doesn’t Have to Be Your New Normal

I am often flabbergasted by how people NORMALIZE daily pain.

PAIN IS NOT NORMAL

I often say that pain is optional.

You can have a life without it.

If you’re living with peripheral neuropathy, I’d love to talk with you about what’s possible.

Book your free in-person consultation or schedule your first visit by using the BOOK YOUR FREE CONSULTATION button in the top right hand corner of this page… See you in clinic 🙂