Conditions Treated
The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) recognizes acupuncture as an effective treatment for a wide range of conditions. According to NCCAOM and research from organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), acupuncture can help with the following conditions. Note this list is not exhaustive.
Pain Management
- Acute pain
- Arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
- Chronic pain (back, neck, hip, joint pain, etc.)
- Complex Regional Pain syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Headaches and migraines
- Post-surgical pain
- Sciatica
- Sports injuries
Musculoskeletal Conditions
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Frozen shoulder
- Muscle pain, weakness, or cramping
- Plantar fasciitis
- Tennis elbow
- TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder)
Neuro Conditions
- Adult ADHD
- ALS1
- Alzheimer’s 2
- Aphasia
- Bell’s palsy
- Brain fog
- Mild Cognitive Impairment
- Multiple sclerosis3
- Neuropathy
- Parkinson’s4
- Stroke recovery
- Tinnitus
- Traumatic brain injury and concussions
- Trigeminal neuralgia
Stress & Mental Health
- Anxiety and depression
- Chronic stress and fatigue
- Insomnia and sleep disorders
- PTSD
Digestive Disorders
- Acid reflux (GERD)
- Bloating and nausea
- Constipation and diarrhea
- IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
Women’s Health & Fertility
- Endometriosis
- Fertility support (natural conception & IVF support)
- Hormone balance
- Menopause symptom relief
- Menstrual irregularities (PMS, cramps, heavy periods)
- PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)
- Pregnancy-related issues
Men’s Health & Fertility
- Erectile dysfunction and impotence
- Fertility support
- Hormone balance
- Low sperm count
Respiratory & Immune Support
- Allergies
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- Frequent colds and weakened immune function
- Sinusitis
Cardiovascular & Metabolic Conditions
- Circulation issues
- Diabetes support
- Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism5
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Resources
1 Sudhakaran P. (2017). Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: An Acupuncture Approach. Medical acupuncture, 29(5), 260–268. https://doi.org/10.1089/acu.2017.1241
2 Yin, W., & Lv, G. (2021, August 28). American Association for Anatomy – Wiley Online Library. Acupuncture Therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease. https://anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ar.24780
3 Khodaie, F. et al. (2022). Acupuncture for multiple sclerosis: A literature review. Multiple sclerosis and related disorders, 60, 103715. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2022.103715
4 Zhao, Y., Zhang, Z., Qin, S., Fan, W., Li, W., Liu, J., Wang, S., Xu, Z., & Zhao, M. (2021). Acupuncture for Parkinson’s Disease: Efficacy Evaluation and Mechanisms in the Dopaminergic Neural Circuit. Neural plasticity, 2021, 9926445. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/9926445
5 Wang, X., Li, Y., Xie, H., Dai, Z., Ma, L., Zhu, X., & Zhan, T. (2024). Effect of acupuncture on Hashimoto thyroiditis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine, 103(9), e37326. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000037326