Current Research on Acupuncture From the NIH/WHO 

Information from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) on the use and efficacy of acupuncture.

The NIH Consensus Statement on Acupuncture

In 1997 the U.S. National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland published a Consensus Statement on the use and effectiveness of Acupuncture.  In part, it reads:

"Acupuncture as a therapeutic intervention is widely practiced in the United States. While there have been many studies of its potential usefulness, many of these studies provide equivocal results because of design, sample size, and other factors. The issue is further complicated by inherent difficulties in the use of appropriate controls, such as placebos and sham Acupuncture groups. However, promising results have emerged, for example, showing efficacy of Acupuncture in adult post-operative and chemotherapy nausea and vomiting and in post-operative dental pain. There are other situations such as addiction, stroke rehabilitation, headache, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, myofacial pain, osteoarthritis, low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and asthma where Acupuncture may be useful as an adjunct treatment or an acceptable alternative or be included in a comprehensive management program. Further research is likely to uncover additional areas where Acupuncture interventions will be useful. " 

The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of:

• Neurologic and Musculoskeletal Disorders

• Headache and Migraine

• Trigeminal Neuralgia

• Facial Paralysis due to stroke

• Pareses following Stroke

• Peripheral Neuropathies

• Early stage sequelae of Poliomyelitis

• Meniere's Disease

• Neurogenic Bladder

• Nocturnal Enuresis

• Intercostal Neuralgia

• Cervicobrachial Syndrome

• Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis)

• Tennis Elbow

• Sciatica

• Low Back Pain

• Osteoarthritis

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

• Knee and Back Pain

• Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue

• Sports Injuries and Pain

Mental and Emotional Disorders:

• Stress

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Insomnia

 Upper Respiratory Tract:

• Acute Sinusitis

• Acute Rhinitis

• Acute Tonsillitis

• Common Cold and Flu

Respiratory Tract:

• Bronchial Asthma

• Acute Bronchitis

Eye Disorders:

• Acute Conjunctivitis

• Central Retinitis Myopia (children)

• Cataracts

Mouth/Oral Disorders:

• Toothache

• Post-Extraction Pain

• Gingivitis

• Acute and Chronic Pharyngitis

Gastrointestinal Disorders:

• Hiccough

• Acute or Chronic Gastritis

• Heartburn/Gastric Hyperacidity

• Acute and Chronic Colitis

• Acute and Chronic Duodenal Ulcer

• Constipation

• Diarrhea

• Paralytic Ileus

• Esophageal Spasm

Reproductive, Gynecological and Genitourinary Conditions

• Infertility

• Impotence

• Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

• Amenorrhea

• Dysmennorhea (painful period)

• Spotting and excessive bleeding/heavy flow

• Incontinence

• Prostatitis