The following is the World Health Organization’s (WHO) now-famous list of diseases, symptoms and conditions for which acupuncture has been proven to be an effective treatment:
Cardiovascular Disorders
- Essential hypertension
Neurological Disorders
- Cervicobrachial syndrome (neck & shoulder pain)
- Disc problems
- Facial palsy (early stage, within 3 to 6 months)
- Headache and migraine
- Intercostal neuralgia (chest wall pain)
- Meniere’s Disease
- Neurogenic bladder dysfunction
- Nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting)
- Paresis following stroke
- Peripheral neuropathies
- Trigeminal neuralgia (facial pain)
Musculo-skeletal Disorders
- Arthritis – rheumatoid & osteo
- Fibromyalgia
- “Frozen shoulder”, “tennis elbow”
- Localized traumatic injuries, sprains, strains, tendonitis, contractures
- Low back pain
- Muscle pain, swelling, stiffness and weakness
- Osteoarthritis
- Sciatica
- Work and sports related injuries
Respiratory System Disorders
- Acute bronchitis
- Acute rhinitis
- Acute sinusitis
- Acute tonsillitis
- Bronchial asthma
- Common cold
Disorders of the Eye, Ear, Nose & Mouth
- Acute and chronic pharyngitis
- Acute conjunctivitis
- Cataract (without complications)
- Central retinitis
- Gingivitis
- Myopia (in children)
- Toothaches, post extraction pain
Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Acute and chronic colitis
- Acute and chronic gastritis
- Acute bacillary dysentery
- Acute duodenal ulcer (without complication)
- Chronic duodenal ulcer (pain relief)
- Constipation
- Gastric hyperacidity
- Gastroptosis
- Diarrhea
- Hiccough
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Nausea and vomiting
- Paralytic ileus
- Spasms of esophagus and cardia
Gynecological Disorders
- Benign amenorrhea (loss of menstrual period)
- Benign irregular menstruation
- Menstrual cramps
- Infertility (Not WHO recognized. Clinical experience proves effective.)
- Menopause syndrome
- PMS
Psychological Disorders
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Hypersomnia
- Insomnia
- OCD
- PTSD
- Somatization disorder
Other
- Adverse reactions to chemotherapy or radiation
- Appetite suppression
- Withdrawal from street and pharmacological drugs