Prednisone is one of the 40 most prescribed drugs in the United States. In 2024 alone, roughly 10 million Americans were prescribed it.
If you live with an acute or chronic inflammatory condition like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, gout, or ulcerative colitis, prednisone can feel like a miracle drug. It calms the inflammation behind your pain, and it works fast. At least at first. Prednisone is a synthetic corticosteroid that mimics cortisol, a hormone your body makes naturally. Because the receptors it acts on are found in nearly every cell, its effects reach well beyond the inflamed joint or gut, which is why it can cause a long list of side effects throughout the body, especially with long term use.
Here’s prednisone’s downside.
Prednisone’s main benefit is taming inflammation. It does this by blocking the production of inflammatory chemicals in your cells and limiting the activity of certain immune cells. But that relief can be short-lived, because prednisone quiets inflammation without addressing what’s causing it. Dialing down the immune system can also slow your body’s ability to heal tissue damaged by inflammation and raise your risk of infection. And because prednisone acts like cortisol, your body’s main stress hormone, it keeps you in a kind of ongoing stress response. Over time that can raise blood sugar and shift where your body stores fat, often toward the midsection.
Here’s acupuncture’s upside.
Inflammatory conditions are one of the most common reasons people turn to acupuncture, and one of the areas where it’s been studied most. A World Health Organization review of clinical trials lists several inflammatory conditions acupuncture may help treat, including seasonal allergies (allergic rhinitis) and rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune condition. Researchers are also learning how it works. Studies, mostly in animal models so far, show that acupuncture helps regulate the immune cells involved in inflammation, including macrophages, granulocytes, mast cells, and T cells.
Two very different approaches.
One key difference between Chinese and Western medicine is how each one works. Acupuncture focuses on unblocking and promoting the flow of chi and blood, improving circulation so your body can reduce inflammation. Many synthetic drugs are designed to bind and block. Humira, for example, is an immunosuppressant commonly used for inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease. It binds to a protein called TNF-alpha so it can’t attach to its receptors on your cells and drive inflammation. Prednisone is often used in a similar way, to stop acute Crohn’s flare-ups.
Is Acupuncture right for you?
If you’re living with an acute or chronic inflammatory condition, acupuncture is worth considering as part of your care. Prednisone can deliver fast, short-term relief. Acupuncture takes the long view, working with your body to address the patterns underneath the inflammation. Many people use both together.
One important note: never stop or change your prednisone dose on your own. Coming off it too quickly can be dangerous, so talk with your prescribing doctor before making any changes.
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