
Acupuncture is one of the oldest and most commonly used medical techniques in the world. The term "acupuncture" refers to a family of procedures involving stimulation of anatomical points on the body by a variety of techniques. The technique that has been most studied scientifically involves the penetrating of the skin with thin, solid, metallic needles that are manipulated by the hands or by electrical stimulation.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the World Health Organization (WHO), acupuncture has proven effective in the treatment of many common problems, including: Addictions, Anxiety, Arthritis, Asthma, Back Pain, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Colitis, Constipation, Depression, Diarrhea, Digestive Problems, Dizziness, Facial Palsy/Tics, Fertility Problems, Fibromyalgia, Headache (including migraine), High Blood Pressure, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Menopause, Menstrual Irregularities, Nausea (including morning sickness), Osteoarthritis, Pain (in general), Reproductive Problems, Sciatica, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Sinusitis, Sleep Disturbances, Stress and Tennis Elbow (lateral epicondylitis).
Complementary medicine is a group of diverse medical and healthcare systems, practices and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine. Complementary medicine, such as acupuncture, is used together with conventional medicine. The list of what is considered to be complementary medicine changes continually, as those therapies that are proven to be safe and effective become adopted into conventional healthcare and as new approaches to healthcare emerge.
