“There is sufficient evidence of acupunctures value to expand its use into conventional medicine.” – National Institute of Health, 1997 Consensus on Acupuncture

Acupuncture has been used as a health care modality for over 3,000 years. Practitioners of this ancient medical practice have experienced clinical success with a variety of health issues. Today, acupuncture is receiving wide acceptance as a respected, valid and effective form of health care.

Over the last few decades, research has been conducted seeking to explain how acupuncture works and what it can and cannot treat. This research was reviewed and summarized by the National Institute of Health in 1997. The NIH consensus suggests that acupuncture “may activate the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland, resulting in a broad spectrum of systemic effects. Alteration in the secretion of neurotransmitters and neurohormones, and changes in the regulation of blood flow, both centrally and peripherally, has been documented. There is also evidence of alterations in immune functions produced by acupuncture.”

According to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, 51% of medical doctors understand the efficacy and value of acupuncture, and medical doctors refer patients to acupuncturists more than any other alternative care provider.

Evidence also points to positive clinical trials that “include addiction, stroke rehabilitation, carpal tunnel syndrome, osteoarthritis, and headaches.” The Consensus also mentions that acupuncture treatment may be helpful for other conditions such as asthma, postoperative pain, myofascial pain and low back pain.

• Acupuncture & Fertility
  J Fertility and Sterility, 2002 April:77(4):721-4
• Acupuncture & Insomnia
  The effects of acupuncture therapy on insomnia, J Adv Nurs., 2003 Nov:44(4):375-84. J Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2002 Dec: 22 (4):276-77
• Acupuncture & Gastritis
  J Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2003 Dec:23(4):278-79
• Acupuncture & Shoulder Periarthritis & Neck Pain
  J Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2003 Sept:23(3):201-02.C.Witt, et al. Acupuncture for patients with chronic neck pain. Pain, Vol 125 issue 1-2, 98-106.
• Acupuncture & Fibromyalgia
  Society for Acupuncture Research-Tenth Annual Symposium 2003:29. Taragino, RA., et al. Curr Pain Headache Rep., 2002 Oct: (5): 379-83
• Acupuncture & Blood Pressure
  J Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2003 Mar:23(1):49-0
• Electro-Acupuncture & immune Function During Chemotherapy
  J Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2002 Mar:22(1):21-3,Mori, H., et. al., Neurosci Lett., 2002 Mar. 1:320(1-2):21-4
• Acupuncture & Chronic Migraine
  Vickers AJ, et al. BMJ, 2004 Mar. 27:328(7442) Cephalgia, Nov.:1999
• Acupuncture & Depression
  Soc. for Acupuncture Research-Tenth Annual Symposium 2003: J Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2004 Sep:24(3):172-6
• Acupuncture & Allergies
  J Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1993 Dec:13(4):243-8, XueCC,et al. Med J Aust., 2007 Sep 17:187(6):337-41
• Acupuncture & Morning Sickness
  Acu. and Electro-Therapeutics Research 1990:15(3-4):211-5
• Acupuncture & Asthma
  J Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1998 Mar.:18(1):27-0.J Alt. Comp. Med., 2003 Oct.:9(5):659-0.
• Acupuncture & Arthritis
  Annals of Internal Medicine, Dec. 21, 2004:141 (12)901-910