WHO indications
Diseases and disorders that can be treated with acupuncture
The diseases or disorders for which acupuncture therapy has been tested in controlled clinical trials reported in the recent literature can be classified into four categories as shown below.
1. Diseases, symptoms or conditions for which acupuncture has been proved-through controlled trials-to be an effective treatment:
Adverse reactions to radiotherapy and/or chemotherapAllergic rhinitis (including hay fever)Biliary colicDepression (including depressive neurosis and depression following stroke)Dysentery, acute bacillaryDysmenorrhoea, primaryEpigastralgia, acute (in peptic ulcer, acute and chronic gastritis, and gastrospasm)Facial pain (including craniomandibular disorders)HeadacheHypertension, essentialHypotension, primaryInduction of labourKnee painLeukopeniaLow back painMalposition of fetus, correction ofMorning sicknessNausea and vomitingNeck painPain in dentistry (including dental pain and temporomandibular dysfunction)Periarthritis of shoulderPostoperative painRenal colicRheumatoid arthritisSciaticaSprainStrokeTennis elbow
2. Diseases, symptoms or conditions for which the therapeutic effect of acupuncture has been shown but for which further proof is needed:
Abdominal pain (in acute gastroenteritis or due to gastrointestinal spasmAcne vulgarisAlcohol dependence and detoxificationBell’s palsyBronchial asthmaCancer painCardiac neurosisCholecystitis, chronic, with acute exacerbationCholelithiasisCompetition stress syndromeCraniocerebral injury, closedDiabetes mellitus, non-insulin-dependentEaracheEpidemic haemorrhagic feverEpistaxis, simple (without generalized or local disease)Eye pain due to subconjunctival injectionFemale infertilityFacial spasmFemale urethral syndromeFibromyalgia and fasciitisGastrokinetic disturbanceGouty arthritisHepatitis B virus carrier statusHerpes zoster (human (alpha) herpesvirus 3)HyperlipaemiaHypo-ovarianismInsomniaLabour painLactation, deficiencyMale sexual dysfunction, non-organicMénière diseaseNeuralgia, post-herpeticNeurodermatitisObesityOpium, cocaine and heroin dependenceOsteoarthritisPain due to endoscopic examinationPain in thromboangiitis obliteransPolycystic ovary syndrome (Stein-Leventhal syndrome)Postextubation in childrenPostoperative convalescencePremenstrual syndromeProstatitis, chronicPruritusRadicular and pseudoradicular pain syndromeRaynaud syndrome, primaryRecurrent lower urinary-tract infectionReflex sympathetic dystrophyRetention of urine, traumaticSchizophreniaSialism, drug-inducedSjögren syndromeSore throat (including tonsillitis)Spine pain, acuteStiff neckTemporomandibular joint dysfunctionTietze syndromeTobacco dependenceTourette syndromeUlcerative colitis, chronicUrolithiasisVascular dementiaWhooping cough (pertussis)
3. Diseases, symptoms or conditions for which there are only individual controlled trials reporting some therapeutic effects, but for which acupuncture is worth trying because treatment by conventional and other therapies is difficult:
ChloasmChoroidopathy, central serousColour blindnessDeafnessHypophreniaIrritable colon syndromeNeuropathic bladder in spinal cord injuryPulmonary heart disease, chronicSmall airway obstruction
4. Diseases, symptoms or conditions for which acupuncture may be tried provided the practitioner has special modern medical knowledge and adequate monitoring equipment:
Breathlessness in chronic obstructive pulmonary diseasComaConvulsions in infantsCoronary heart disease (angina pectoris)Diarrhoea in infants and young childrenEncephalitis, viral, in children, late stageParalysis, progressive bulbar and pseudobulbar
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