New scientific evidence shows that acupuncture has the ability to benefit iron levels in the blood. A new study concludes that acupuncture upregulates serum ferritin and decreases TIBC (total iron 
Acupuncturebinding capacity). Ferritin is an intracellular protein that stores, releases and transports blood iron. TIBC is a lab test that measures the body’s ability to bind iron with transferrin, iron-binding blood plasma glycoproteins. TIBC is high in patients with iron deficiency anemia because the liver produces increased levels of transferrin to maximize use of remaining iron stores.
In a randomized-controlled trial, researches applied acupuncture to sixty white rabbits at acupuncture point ST36 (Zusanli, Leg Three Measures). The rabbits underwent food restriction and blood draws to simulate a blood deficiency condition that lowered serum ferritin and raised TIBC. Acupuncture was administered every other day for a total of 10 times. Serum ferritin and TIBC were measured using radioimmunoassay. Both on day 17 of the study and during a follow-up exam 32 days after completion of the study, the rabbits receiving acupuncture showed significantly higher levels of serum ferritin and lower TIBC than the control group.
Reference:
Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2012 Feb;37(1):41-5. Effect of lifting-thrusting reinforcing-reducing manipulations of acupuncture on serum ferritin content and total iron binding capacity in blood-deficiency syndrome rabbits. Xu M, Xu AP, Sui MH. Changsha Municipal Hospital of Chinese Medicine, China.
