In reviewing previous and current acupuncture and ASD studies, we speculate that acupuncture may improve the behavioral symptoms of autism by directly up-regulating the level of OT in the hypothalamus and perhaps further promoting the synthesis, recruitment, and release of endogenous cannabinoid AEA, 5-HT, DA by increasing the level of OT in the key regions of the regulatory reward system in the brain (Figure 1). Here, OXT is linked to autism.