“What conditions can be treated with acupuncture?”
I want to get acupuncture to relax but I know that acupuncture treats medical conditions as well. What conditions can be treated with acupuncture?
11 Answers
A sure thing about acupuncture is that it relaxes the person being treated. The second part of your question is very broad. I would have to write a book to answer you.
Be well, be confident, we can help.
Be well, be confident, we can help.
On a broader spectrum, it can treat any disease or disorder in the body. To name a few: pain, stress, anxiety, digestive/respiratory issues, neurological disorders, etc.
Acupuncture is to regulate brain activities; therefore, stress is also beneficial with acupuncture. If you go to https://www.who.int/ its website lists over 100 conditions that acupuncture can help. WHO = World Health Organization
The shorter answer would be what acupuncture CAN'T treat. About the only things I won't treat are an active heart attack or acute appendicitis. Remember, by some accounts, acupuncture is up to 5000 years old, and for most of that time was the only form of medicine being used in those countries. They pretty much figured out how to treat everything using needles, herbal formulas, and exercise. So call around and check with your local practitioners to see if they have had success treating whatever issues you have going. We all have our specialties, so call til you find someone who can address what's going on with you.
Hope this helps.
Hope this helps.
Acupuncture is part of the field of Chinese medicine, and Chinese medicine is a complete field of medicine that treats most every ailment. In the USA, we are limited to what we are legally allowed to treat based on the individual state laws on medicine. So, what an acupuncturist is "allowed to do" varies by different states. However, to answer your question a bit more directly, here is a list of issues that I have treated personally:
1. Headaches/migraines
2.Joint pain / muscle ache (any body area)
3. Abdominal issues such as indigestion, acid reflux, vomit/nausea, muscle cramp, etc
4. Digestive issues that relate to stomach, intestines or colon
5. Diverticulitis, anal hemorrhage, prolapsed anus, hemorrhoids
6. Menstrual issues, PMS, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, peri-menopausal syndrome, menopausal syndrome,
7. Itches, rashes, edema, eczema, dry skin, bleeding palms, etc.
8. Toothache, mouth sores, sore throat
9. Coughing, asthma, COPD, other respiratory issues
10. Colds, flu, allergy
11. Low energy, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia syndrome
12. Emotional disturbances, including anxieties, sadness, lack of direction in life, mood swings, etc.
13. Sleep issues, insomnia, hypersomnia, restless sleep, etc
14. Arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, knee pain, post surgery issues
15. Assist with smoking cessation, addiction to foods, addiction to flavors, assist with drug addictions
16. Elimination problems, ie loose stools, diarrhea, constipation, lower abdominal cramps, etc
17. Hyper sweating, parkinson's, Bell's Palsy, partial paralysis, deviated septum, poor memory, etc.
18. Visual issues, eye pains, pink eye,
19. Impotence, premature ejaculation, incontinence
20. scoliosis, muscle tears, tendon tears, sprained joints, frozen shoulder
Those are things I have personally helped people with and treated with great success. There are more, I'm sure, but these just came off the top of my head. There are issues friends of mine treat that I do not, such as infertility in men and women, anesthesia for child-birth or surgeries, infectious diseases, facial rejuvenation, cancers, weight loss, etc.
Again, it is a part of Chinese medicine, so it is a medical practice. Be sure to go to someone who is a fully trained Licensed Acupuncturist - do not go to someone who is a DC or MD who has taken some courses but someone who is a fully licensed acupuncturist trained in the medicine.
Good luck.
1. Headaches/migraines
2.Joint pain / muscle ache (any body area)
3. Abdominal issues such as indigestion, acid reflux, vomit/nausea, muscle cramp, etc
4. Digestive issues that relate to stomach, intestines or colon
5. Diverticulitis, anal hemorrhage, prolapsed anus, hemorrhoids
6. Menstrual issues, PMS, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, peri-menopausal syndrome, menopausal syndrome,
7. Itches, rashes, edema, eczema, dry skin, bleeding palms, etc.
8. Toothache, mouth sores, sore throat
9. Coughing, asthma, COPD, other respiratory issues
10. Colds, flu, allergy
11. Low energy, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia syndrome
12. Emotional disturbances, including anxieties, sadness, lack of direction in life, mood swings, etc.
13. Sleep issues, insomnia, hypersomnia, restless sleep, etc
14. Arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, knee pain, post surgery issues
15. Assist with smoking cessation, addiction to foods, addiction to flavors, assist with drug addictions
16. Elimination problems, ie loose stools, diarrhea, constipation, lower abdominal cramps, etc
17. Hyper sweating, parkinson's, Bell's Palsy, partial paralysis, deviated septum, poor memory, etc.
18. Visual issues, eye pains, pink eye,
19. Impotence, premature ejaculation, incontinence
20. scoliosis, muscle tears, tendon tears, sprained joints, frozen shoulder
Those are things I have personally helped people with and treated with great success. There are more, I'm sure, but these just came off the top of my head. There are issues friends of mine treat that I do not, such as infertility in men and women, anesthesia for child-birth or surgeries, infectious diseases, facial rejuvenation, cancers, weight loss, etc.
Again, it is a part of Chinese medicine, so it is a medical practice. Be sure to go to someone who is a fully trained Licensed Acupuncturist - do not go to someone who is a DC or MD who has taken some courses but someone who is a fully licensed acupuncturist trained in the medicine.
Good luck.
Acupuncture can treat, hypertension, high blood pressure, sinus congestion, diarrhea, stomachaches, sports injuries, PMS, arthritis, back and neck pain, headaches, migraines, dizziness, anxiety, stress, post stroke are some of the conditions it can treat. Come ones with Chinese herbal medicine and/or other modalities too.
The World Health Organization recognizes acupuncture's effectiveness for over 40 common disorders, such as: Ear, Nose, Throat, Respiratory Gastrointestinal, Circulatory, Urogenital, Gynecological, Muscoskeletal, Psychoemotional & Neurogenic Disorders.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), acupuncture treatment has proven effective in addressing many common health issues.
Upper-respiratory: Common Cold, Cough, Asthma, Bronchitis, Influenza
Uro-Genital /Gynecology: Pregnancy Support, Fertility, Irregular Menstruation, PMS, Menopause, OBGYN Disorders, Incontinence, Urinary Dysfunction, Prostate Dysfunction
Gastrointestinal: Diarrhea, Constipation, Ulcers, Acid Reflux, Colitis, Dysentery, Gastritis, Indigestion, IBS, Vomiting, Nausea, Poor Appetite, Gallstones
Cardiovascular: Heart Disease, Hyper-/Hypotension, Tachycardia
Immune Deficiency: Allergies, Chronic Fatigue, Lupus, HIV, Chemotherapy Support, Auto-immune Diseases
Mental / Emotional Health: Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, Panic Attacks, Memory Loss, Insomnia, OCD, PTSD, SAD, ADD/ADHD, Stress
Musculo-skeletal: Neck/back Pain, Headaches, Bursitis, Tendonitis, Fibromyalgia, Frozen Shoulder, Migraine, Tennis Elbow, Work/sports Injury, Arthritis, Sciatica, Sprain/strain, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Endocrine: Diabetes, Thyroid Disease, Hormonal Imbalances
Eyes, Ear, Nose and Throat: Tinnitus, Sore Throat, Tonsillitis, Canker Sore, Eye Disorders, Dental Pain, Toothache, Gingivitis
Neurology: Neuropathy, Bell’s Palsy, Stroke, Numbness, Pain, Paralysis
Addiction: Smoking Cessation, Chemical Dependency Treatment
Upper-respiratory: Common Cold, Cough, Asthma, Bronchitis, Influenza
Uro-Genital /Gynecology: Pregnancy Support, Fertility, Irregular Menstruation, PMS, Menopause, OBGYN Disorders, Incontinence, Urinary Dysfunction, Prostate Dysfunction
Gastrointestinal: Diarrhea, Constipation, Ulcers, Acid Reflux, Colitis, Dysentery, Gastritis, Indigestion, IBS, Vomiting, Nausea, Poor Appetite, Gallstones
Cardiovascular: Heart Disease, Hyper-/Hypotension, Tachycardia
Immune Deficiency: Allergies, Chronic Fatigue, Lupus, HIV, Chemotherapy Support, Auto-immune Diseases
Mental / Emotional Health: Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, Panic Attacks, Memory Loss, Insomnia, OCD, PTSD, SAD, ADD/ADHD, Stress
Musculo-skeletal: Neck/back Pain, Headaches, Bursitis, Tendonitis, Fibromyalgia, Frozen Shoulder, Migraine, Tennis Elbow, Work/sports Injury, Arthritis, Sciatica, Sprain/strain, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Endocrine: Diabetes, Thyroid Disease, Hormonal Imbalances
Eyes, Ear, Nose and Throat: Tinnitus, Sore Throat, Tonsillitis, Canker Sore, Eye Disorders, Dental Pain, Toothache, Gingivitis
Neurology: Neuropathy, Bell’s Palsy, Stroke, Numbness, Pain, Paralysis
Addiction: Smoking Cessation, Chemical Dependency Treatment
All kinds of illness can be treated by acupuncture treatment.
You've asked a great question, the problem is: the list of conditions which may be successfully treated with acupuncture is quite long. If I tried to type it all out here, I'd be sure to miss something. Instead, I like to list the conditions or occasions where acupuncture is not a good choice - it's much shorter.
Chinese medicine and acupuncture are not good choices if:
1. You have a severe, life threatening infection - either bacterial or viral. In this case, you need antibiotics and, potentially, hospital support.
2. You've been shot, stabbed, in a car accident, run over by a train or have otherwise sustained catastrophic physical damage. Conventional medicine excels in the preservation of life under these circumstances, go see a Chinese medicine practitioner after the doctors and surgeons have put you back together.
3. You have severe joint degradation to the point where you're in constant pain and every doctor you talk to says you need joint replacement. In these cases, Chinese medicine and acupuncture can help to manage your pain until you can get the joint replaced, but if the cartilage is gone, you're bone on bone and it's unlikely Chinese medicine is going to reverse the damage. Again, this is a case where you should probably have the surgery, then see a practitioner of Chinese medicine to help the healing time and rehab.
4. You have cancer. Chinese medicine has been shown in several studies to help manage the side-effects of chemotherapy - particularly pain, nausea and fatigue. Chinese medicine probably won't do anything for the cancer itself. My position on this is admittedly conservative, I know lots of other practitioners who will take on cancer patients that have stopped chemo and aren't seeing an oncologist. My personal rule is: I don't take cancer patients unless they're also see an oncologist and the oncologist is aware the patient is seeking my help.
For almost any other health condition, Chinese medicine and acupuncture can help. Acupuncture in particular, because we aren't introducing any substances in to the body, integrates quite well with conventional medicine. Studies often show the combination of acupuncture with pharmaceuticals gives better results than either method alone. Studies have also shown that acupuncture is almost always at least as good (sometimes better) as a pharmaceutical when tested head to head in a variety of conditions.
In order to get the best possible results, you need to make sure you're seeing a board certified and state licensed acupuncturist (in other words: someone who went to Chinese medical school and specializes in the practice of Chinese medicine).
Chinese medicine and acupuncture are not good choices if:
1. You have a severe, life threatening infection - either bacterial or viral. In this case, you need antibiotics and, potentially, hospital support.
2. You've been shot, stabbed, in a car accident, run over by a train or have otherwise sustained catastrophic physical damage. Conventional medicine excels in the preservation of life under these circumstances, go see a Chinese medicine practitioner after the doctors and surgeons have put you back together.
3. You have severe joint degradation to the point where you're in constant pain and every doctor you talk to says you need joint replacement. In these cases, Chinese medicine and acupuncture can help to manage your pain until you can get the joint replaced, but if the cartilage is gone, you're bone on bone and it's unlikely Chinese medicine is going to reverse the damage. Again, this is a case where you should probably have the surgery, then see a practitioner of Chinese medicine to help the healing time and rehab.
4. You have cancer. Chinese medicine has been shown in several studies to help manage the side-effects of chemotherapy - particularly pain, nausea and fatigue. Chinese medicine probably won't do anything for the cancer itself. My position on this is admittedly conservative, I know lots of other practitioners who will take on cancer patients that have stopped chemo and aren't seeing an oncologist. My personal rule is: I don't take cancer patients unless they're also see an oncologist and the oncologist is aware the patient is seeking my help.
For almost any other health condition, Chinese medicine and acupuncture can help. Acupuncture in particular, because we aren't introducing any substances in to the body, integrates quite well with conventional medicine. Studies often show the combination of acupuncture with pharmaceuticals gives better results than either method alone. Studies have also shown that acupuncture is almost always at least as good (sometimes better) as a pharmaceutical when tested head to head in a variety of conditions.
In order to get the best possible results, you need to make sure you're seeing a board certified and state licensed acupuncturist (in other words: someone who went to Chinese medical school and specializes in the practice of Chinese medicine).
Literally anything! Acupuncture is a complete and independent form of medicine that is capable of treating anything from colds to colitis to side effects from cancer medications. Most commonly, it's used to treat stress, pain, and used as preventative medicine.
