Is it okay for a Christian to participate in acupuncture / acupressure?

TL;DR:

Acupuncture is a medical procedure of using needles at nerve points. While Christians should avoid practices rooted in non-Christian philosophies like yin and yang, there’s no inherent sin in using acupuncture if it’s approached purely for physical health.

what does the bible say?

Acupuncture is the practice of placing needles at nerve points which connect to so-called "meridians" in the body, in order to stimulate blood flow and nervous system function. Acupressure does the same thing, but instead of using needles, the practitioner uses a hands-on technique similar to deep-tissue massage or structural integration therapy. Christians can consider acupuncture or acupressure if they view it as a medical treatment without engaging in the spiritual or philosophical aspects tied to its origins. The Bible calls believers to honor God with their bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19–20) and seek His wisdom in all decisions (James 1:5). While Christians should avoid practices rooted in non-Christian philosophies like yin and yang (Colossians 2:8), there’s no inherent sin in using acupuncture if it’s approached purely for physical health. Ultimately, each person should act according to their convictions, ensuring their choices align with God’s Word and faith (Romans 14:5–6).

from the old testament

Isaiah 45:5–7 reveals that God alone is sovereign over good and evil, rejecting dualistic forces.

from the new testament

Our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit; we need to care for it in a way that honors God (1 Corinthians 6:19–20).
First Timothy 4:4–5 reveals that everything created by God is good if received with thanksgiving.
James 1:5 says to seek God’s wisdom in decisions, this would include doing so about health practices.
Colossians 2:8 says to be cautious of practices rooted in non-Christian philosophies.
Romans 14:5–6 tells us to act according to our convictions, ensuring our decisions honor the Lord.
God’s nature is unchanging and purely good, with no variations or shadows (James 1:17).
God is light, and there is no darkness in Him. This is distinct from the false belief of yin and yang with its balance of good and evil (1 John 1:5).

implications for today

Acupuncture originated in China and rose out of a Chinese philosophy called Taoism. In Taoism, there are two forces or principles alive in the world. The first is the yin which is a negative, dark, feminine force, and the other is the yang, a bright, positive, masculine force. These two interact and balance one another, according to Taoism, and guide all living things. Acupuncture is practiced by followers of Taoism as an attempt to bring the yin and yang into balance within an individual's body. The ancient Chinese people who discovered acupuncture found relationships within the body, connections from one part to another, and found that if pressure or a needle was applied to a certain area of the body, it was possible to relieve pain or discomfort. It appears that God made the body to be interconnected. The fact that acupuncture works, and relieves pain, is evidence that someone discovered that interconnection.

Taoism assigned spiritual meaning to the practice of acupuncture, but that does not mean a Christian has to do the same thing. If a believer's conscience is not bothered (refer to Romans 14:1–23), the practitioner doesn’t practice their religion while performing the medical procedure, and the person receiving the treatment is not tempted to practice Taoism as a result of acupuncture, there is nothing in the Bible to suggest it is inherently sinful or evil to use acupuncture as a medical tool. "So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves" (Romans 14:22 NIV).

understand

Acupuncture can be considered a legitimate medical treatment for physical health, free from inherent sin if not tied to false spiritual practices.
Christians should honor God with their bodies and seek His wisdom in health decisions.
Christians should avoid practices that contradict biblical teachings and remain aware of what God’s Word says.

reflect

How do you personally feel about the use of acupuncture as a treatment option for physical health?
How can you ensure that your health decisions, including considering acupuncture, honor God and align with His teachings?
Have you ever faced a situation where you had to balance health choices with your faith? What did you learn from that experience?

engage

What specific biblical principles guide our understanding of practices like acupuncture?
How do we discern between medical practices that are beneficial and those that may conflict with our faith?
How can we support others in our community who are navigating similar questions about acupuncture and health decisions, encouraging them to seek God's wisdom?