Acupuncture is used for a wide variety of health reasons.
Based on traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture has been used for thousands of years around the world. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), the practice became widely known in the United States in the early 1970's. Proponents of acupuncture believe it positively impacts energy pathways that Chinese medicine contends are key to good health. Scientific evidence exists that acupuncture effectively deals with several health-related issues.
Back Pain
In the U.S., acupuncture may be best known for treating back pain. J. D. Bartleson, M.D., of Mayo Clinic, reports that several studies confirm acupuncture can relieve chronic back pain and help sufferers better cope on a daily basis. Bartleson notes that scientists are unsure exactly how acupuncture helps back pain. He points out that, in numerous research studies, acupuncture produced the same results as "sham acupuncture." Sham acupuncture occurs when a practitioner merely taps a toothpick at the same points where an acupuncture needle is stuck. Both methods have shown efficacy in treating back pain, suggesting that acupuncture might work with just minimal insertion of needles.
Other Types of Pain
Mayo Clinic says that acupuncture is used to treat several other types of pain, including headaches, migraines, labor pain and menstrual cramps. After a review of a large body of acupuncture research, the World Health Organization (WHO) concluded that the ancient practice effectively treats migraines and tension headaches, relative to sham acupuncture and other types of treatments.
Neurological Disorders
WHO's review revealed that acupuncture effectively treats the aftereffects of stroke. The WHO does question how much of the impact you can attribute to acupuncture and how much is attributable to the natural healing that tends to take place after a stroke. Acupuncture also shows promise in enhancing neurological recovery after a coma and treating insomnia.
Respiratory Disorders
Acupuncture, states the WHO, has been shown to be more effective in treating allergic rhinitis than antihistamine drugs. It also produces fewer side effects. Though the WHO contends that it should not replace antibiotic therapy, acupuncture helps deal with the symptoms of tonsillitis. A strong body of evidence proves the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of bronchial asthma. While acupuncture does not cure the ailment, it has a high success rate in relieving symptoms, at least for short time periods.
Digestive Disorders
Acupuncture performs significantly better than injections of anisodamine or morphine plus atropine in the treatment of the pain associated with diseases of the stomach, including peptic ulcers. A large body of evidence, claims the WTO, touts the positive impact of acupuncture for relating various types of nausea and vomiting, including morning sickness and chemotherapy-related illness.
Mental Health
The WHO states that mental health practitioners are making increased use of acupuncture. Acupuncture has a track record of documented success in treating depression. The WHO reports that it actually trumps psychotherapy when it comes to addressing competition stress syndrome. Mixed evidence exists regarding the impact of acupuncture on attempts to get people to stop smoking or drinking excessively.
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