In 1982, Sir William Osler, known as the father of modern medicine, listed acupuncture as a treatment for low back pain in his text, ‘The Principles and Practice of Medicine’. The World Health Organization (WHO) lists approximately 40 conditions treated by acupuncture alone or as an adjunctive therapy. In the US, and in our clinic, it is most often used for pain relief, especially low back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain and headaches.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 1997 published a consensus statement concluding acupuncture was also promising for treatment of post operative pain, post dental pain, and nausea secondary to chemotherapy. They also determined that it may be useful in:
- Fertility
- Stroke rehabilitation
- Fibromyalgia
- Osteoarthritis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Asthma