The main goal of acupuncture is to promote self-healing, encouraging the body to overcome pain or illness. There are channels that run along the body, like an energetic map. Acupuncture needles are used to stimulate certain points. In Western Medicine's attempt to explain how acupuncture works, some believe messages are sent along the central nervous system or fascia. The mechanism may be a bit of a mystery, but we do know acupuncture promotes blood flow, releases the body’s natural pain killers, relaxes muscles, and wakes up the parasympathetic nervous system to reduce stress. In very broad terms acupuncture relieves pain, reduces inflammation, and restores homeostasis.