Healing Applications of Acupuncture

Acupuncture is best known for the control of pain. However, acupuncture can treat a wide variety of common and uncommon disorders. The following is a list of disorders that can be treated by acupuncture (World Health Organization data):

Respiratory

	Acute Sinusitis
	Acute rhinitis
	Common cold
	Acute tonsillitis
	Acute bronchitis
	Bronchial asthma

Eye

	Acute conjunctivitis (pinkeye)
	Nearsightedness (in children)
	Cataract (without complications)

Mouth

	Toothache, post extraction pain
	Gingivitis (gum disease)
	Acute and chronic pharyngitis

Gastrointestinal Disorders

	Hiccups
	Gastritis
	Gastric Hyperacidity
	Ulcers
	Colitis
	Constipation
	Diarrhea
	Paralytic ileus

Neurological and Musculoskeletal Disorders

	Headache and migraine
	Trigeminal neuralgia
	Paralysis following stroke
	Meniere's disease
	Neurogenic bladder dysfunction
	Nocturnal enuresis (bed wetting)
	Intercostal neuralgia (pain in the ribs)
	Cervicobrachial syndrome (pain radiating from neck to arm)
	Frozen shoulder or Tennis elbow
	Sciatica
	Low back pain
	Osteoarthritis

In the United States, acupuncture is used frequently for the treatment of chronic pain conditions such as arthritis, bursitis, headache, athletic injuries, and posttraumatic and post surgical pain. It is also used for treating chronic pain associated with immune function dysfunction such as psoriasis (skin disorders), allergies, and asthma. Acupuncture is also found to be effective for the treatment of mind-body disorders such as anxiety, chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, hypertension, insomnia, PMS, menopausal symptoms, and depression. Some modern application of acupuncture is in the treatment of disorders such as alcoholism, addiction, smoking, and eating disorders.