What Conditions Respond to Acupuncture?

Acupuncture successfully treats a wide variety of disorders.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends and lists over 100 diseases that acupuncture can treat effectively. The following is a partial list of the most common ailments which respond well to acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine.

  • acne

  • anxiety

  • arthritis

  • asthma

  • back pain

  • Bell’s palsy

  • Breech Pregnancy

  • bronchitis

  • bursitis

  • cancer

  • cerebral palsy

  • colds

  • colitis

  • constipation

  • deafness

  • depression

  • diabetes

  • diarrhea

  • dizziness

  • earaches

  • eczema

  • endometriosis

  • flu

  • fibroids

  • hair loss

  • hay fever

  • headache

  • hemorrhoids

  • hepatitis

  • herpes

  • high blood pressure

  • high FSH levels

  • hip pain & injury

  • hypoglycemia

  • impotence

  • indigestion

  • infertility

  • insomnia

  • irregular menses

  • irritable bowel syndrome

  • menopause

    • Hot Flashes

    • Night Sweats

    • Lowered Bone Density

    • Decreased Sexual Drive

    • Heart Palpitations

    • Dizziness

    • Weight Gain

  • menstrual cramps

  • migraines

  • morning sickness

  • nausea

  • neuralgia

  • knee pain & injury

  • pain

  • pelvic inflammatory disease

  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

  • poor eyesight

  • premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

  • psoriasis

  • ringing in the ears (tinnitus)

  • sciatica

  • sinus infection

  • smoking cessation

  • sore throat

  • sprains

  • stiff neck

  • stroke

  • tendonitis

  • trigeminal neuralgia

  • ulcers

  • vaginitis

  • weight loss

We are hesitant to list specific disorders as we have done. This is because Traditional Oriental Medicine focuses primarily on the person, and secondarily on the illness. TCM, as a system of diagnosis and treatment, usually views your symptoms, the main complaint for which you seek treatment, as a ‘branch’ expression of an underlying or ‘root’ imbalance. Doctors of TCM in China and Registered TCM practitioners in Ontario use specific diagnostic principles and techniques to understand and ultimately treat the root imbalance in the person seeking treatment.

Once it is understood what the root imbalance is, a treatment plan is prescribed to address both the root and the branch. In certain circumstances, symptoms may be so severe that at least at the outset, they must be the exclusive focus of the treatment. However, the goal of TCM is to treat both the root and branch in the same session. Often the practitioner will make lifestyle suggestions in addition to an acupuncture treatment. These lifestyle suggestions aim to treat the root imbalance.

Most of our patients are very well informed about their disorders, at least in terms of Western medicine. They understand all patients with the same diagnosis will receive the same treatment. However, this is where TCM often diverges from Western medicine. Different root imbalances can produce the same symptoms or patient complaints. So, for example, five patients with infertility, or even more specifically endometriosis, may all present themselves with the same symptoms or Western Medical diagnosis. However, by Chinese medical diagnosis, the patients may be found to have five distinct root imbalances hiding behind the same symptomatic expression. According to TCM, these five patients would all receive very different treatment, despite the fact that the symptoms for which they seek treatment all appear to be the same.

For further reading on the subject of acupuncture we recommend the book “Acupuncture for Everyone”, by Dr. Ruth Kidson. This book is available for sale in our clinic, or by phone at 416-532-9094 or email. We can arrange to have a copy delivered to you.

Many insurance companies cover a portion of the cost of acupuncture. Be sure to check with your plan administrator for details.

Our acupuncture and TCM treatments help resolve a wide array of health disorders. Book Your Appointment Today

Jonah Arnold