In the TWiN 45 podcast episode, hosts Vincent Racke and Jason Shephard discuss the unexpected scientific discoveries surrounding acupuncture, a traditional Chinese practice involving the insertion of needles into specific body points. 
Raised in Chinese culture, Jason shares his personal skepticism towards acupuncture until learning about a groundbreaking study published in the journal Nature, which documented the use of electroacupuncture to treat sepsis. The scientists in this study identified a nerve pathway through which the stimulation travels to the brain and back down to immune controlling organs, potentially providing a non-invasive alternative to vagal nerve stimulation for sepsis treatment. 
The speakers then delve into a 2014 study, exploring the relationship between acupuncture and the immune system, revealing that electrical stimulation at specific points can suppress the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, indicating an immunosuppressant effect. The mechanisms behind this immunomodulating effect are still being researched, but dopamine is a suspected key player.
While further exploration is necessary, isn’t the potential of non-invasive acupuncture as a therapeutic approach for various health conditions exciting?
