Acupuncture Efficacy and Indications

 

Acupuncture has been continuously and widely used as a primary medical modality for over 4,000 years in the most populous civilization on earth (China and its sphere of East Asian cultural influence).  It consists of the insertion of fine needles into the body at specific points shown to be effective in the treatment of specific health problems. There are over 1,000 known points of which approximately 200 are commonly used.

 

Ancient and modern acupuncture texts and collective clinical experience include differential diagnosis and treatment protocols for the full spectrum of illnesses and injuries known to humankind.

 

With the current concerns for evidence based medical treatment, acupuncture has become the subject of over 1,000 published clinical trials, accessible in databases such as PubMed and the National Library of Medicine. Over 100 literature reviews and meta-analyses are now also available at the same sources.

 

Electro-acupuncture, uses a Tens unit, which is a small machine which gives an electrical stimulation to points selected by the TCM practitioner. Acupuncture has been studied and sanctioned by the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to treat the following problems as well as some not listed on this list.

 

Allergic rhinitis (including hay fever)

Asthma   

Dental pain

Depression (including depressive neurosis, and post-stroke)

Dysmenorrhea

Facial pain and spasm

Fascitis, myofascial pain

Fibromyalgia

Gastritis

Headache

Hypertension

Knee pain

Leukopenia

Low back pain

Morning sickness/pregnancy nausea

Nausea & vomiting reactions to radiotherapy or chemotherapy,  

Neck pain

Periarthritis of Shoulder

Post-operative pain

Rheumatoid arthritis  

Sciatica

Sprain

Stroke

Temporo-mandibular joint dysfunction