Fatigue: America’s most common health complaint — and how acupuncture can help
c of exhaustion
Fatigue is now the most common health complaint in the United States. According to the CDC, around 1 in 8 adults report feeling “very tired or exhausted” most days or every day.
👉 CDC MMWR report, 2024
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, long-term fatigue has become even more widespread. Millions of Americans are experiencing ongoing exhaustion, brain fog, and mood changes long after illness.
👉 CDC: Long COVID overview
Fatigue rarely exists on its own. It often overlaps with chronic pain, anxiety, depression, poor sleep, hormonal imbalance, and nervous system dysregulation — a web of mind-body interactions that make simple solutions hard to find.
What causes fatigue?
Fatigue can arise from multiple factors, including:
Chronic stress and overactivation of the nervous system
Immune or inflammatory responses after infection
Sleep disturbance and pain
Metabolic or hormonal imbalance
Emotional strain and burnout
In most cases, fatigue represents not one single problem, but a breakdown in the body’s natural ability to restore balance — a dynamic interplay between physical, emotional, and neurological health.
Where acupuncture fits in
Acupuncture has been used for centuries to support the body’s self-regulating systems. Modern research continues to uncover mechanisms that help explain its effects on fatigue and related symptoms.
1. Nervous system regulation
Studies show acupuncture can influence the autonomic nervous system — shifting the body out of a constant “fight or flight” state and into “rest and restore.” This helps normalize energy, sleep, digestion, and mood.
👉 Review: Acupuncture and autonomic regulation (PMC)
2. Improved circulation and energy metabolism
By promoting microcirculation and oxygen delivery, acupuncture may enhance cellular energy production — what traditional Chinese medicine describes as the movement of qi and blood.
3. Relief of pain, anxiety, and sleep disturbance
Acupuncture activates natural pain- and stress-relieving pathways in the brain, increasing endorphins and serotonin. These changes can ease physical discomfort and calm the mind — both essential in addressing chronic fatigue.
👉 NCCIH overview on acupuncture research
4. Evidence for fatigue and post-viral recovery
Clinical studies and systematic reviews have found that acupuncture can reduce fatigue levels and improve quality of life in people with chronic or post-infectious fatigue syndromes.
👉 Systematic review: Acupuncture for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (PMC, 2022)
Why this matters now
After years of heightened stress, illness, and social strain, many people are still feeling burnt out, ungrounded, and depleted. Addressing this kind of deep fatigue isn’t just about getting more rest — it’s about helping the body remember how to restore itself.
Acupuncture offers a safe, evidence-supported, and holistic way to encourage that recovery process. It works gently with the body’s own systems to restore balance, support resilience, and bring the nervous system back into a state of calm awareness.
About my clinic
I love running a $20–$50 sliding-scale acupuncture clinic designed to make care accessible to everyone!
If you’re struggling with fatigue, brain fog, or nervous system overwhelm, acupuncture can be a valuable ally in your recovery.
Be healthy,
Marc