Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a technique of inserting fine needles into specific points in the body with the aim of relieving pain and for therapeutic reasons. According to acupuncture theory, these acupuncture points lay along meridians along which qi, a kind of vital energy, is said to flow.
According to the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture (2004), acupuncture may be considered as a complementary therapy for the conditions in the list below:
Headache (migraine and tension-type) (14)
Vertigo (Meniere disease), tinnitus, acute and chronic pain control
Allergic sinusitis
Anesthesia for high-risk patients or patients with previous adverse responses to anesthetics
Anorexia
Anxiety, fright, panic
Arthritis/arthrosis
Bursitis, tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome
Certain functional gastrointestinal disorders (nausea and vomiting, esophageal spasm, hyperacidity, irritable bowel)
Cervical and lumbar spine syndromes
Constipation, diarrhea
Drug detoxification
Dysmenorrhea, pelvic pain
Frozen shoulder
Idiopathic palpitations, sinus tachycardia
In fractures, assisting in pain control, edema, and enhancing healing process
Muscle spasms, tremors, tics, contractures
Neuralgias (trigeminal, herpes zoster, postherpetic pain, other)
Paresthesias
Persistent hiccups
Plantar fasciitis
Post-traumatic and post-operative ileus
Premenstrual syndrome
Selected dermatoses (urticaria, pruritus, eczema, psoriasis)
Sequelae of stroke syndrome (aphasia, hemiplegia)
Seventh nerve palsy
Severe hyperthermia
Sleep disorders
Sprains and contusions
Temporo-mandibular joint derangement, bruxism
Urinary incontinence, retention (neurogenic, spastic, adverse drug effect)
Weight Loss