What can be treated with acupuncture

What diseases can be treated with acupuncture?

In 1979, the WHO listed 43 conditions that can be effectively treated with acupuncture. These include

-ENT conditions (laryngitis, sinusitis, flu, etc.)

- Ophthalmology (conjunctivitis, cataracts, etc.)

- Pneumology (e.g. tracheitis, asthma)

- Stomatology (e.g. pain after tooth extraction, gingivitis)

- Neurology (headaches, stress, migraines, neuralgia, etc.)

- Muscle and bone diseases (pain, tendonitis, sciatica, etc.)

- Gastroenterology (e.g. gastritis, acidity, constipation, diarrhea, colopathy)

In clinical practice, the list cannot be limited to these conditions, which is why in 2002 the WHO added 28 for which acupuncture is likely to be effective. This list is based on controlled clinical studies in the scientific literature. These include

- Side effects of radiotherapy/chemotherapy

- Allergic rhinitis

- Depression (including depressive neurosis and post-stroke depression)

- Hypo/hypertension

- Pregnancy: nausea, breech baby, induction of labor (delivery)

In France, the Haute Autorité de Santé recognizes the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of chronic pain for rheumatoid arthritis, nausea during pregnancy, chronic daily headaches, as a complement to smoking cessation, or for chronic low back pain.

A number of university hospitals, in particular Nîmes and Strasbourg, have acupuncture consultations in their obstetrics departments.

After a period of denigration, acupuncture is becoming increasingly popular throughout the world. Numerous scientific studies demonstrating its effectiveness continue to be published.