World Health Organization evidence review

The World Health Organization (WHO) published a report listing 31 symptoms, conditions and diseases that have been shown in controlled trials to be treated effectively by Acupuncture.

  • Low back pain

  • Neck pain

  • Tennis elbow

  • Knee pain

  • Peri-arthritis of the shoulder

  • Sprains

  • Facial pain

  • TMJ

  • Headache

  • Dental pain

  • Rheumatoid arthritis

  • Induction of labor

  • Breech birth presentation

  • Morning sickness

  • Postoperative pain

  • Stroke

  • Essential hypertension

  • Primary hypotension

  • Renal colic

  • Leucopenia

  • Radiation/chemo reactions

  • Allergic Rhinitis

  • Hay fever

  • Biliary colic

  • Depression

  • Acute bacillary dysentery

  • Primary dysmenorrhea

  • Acute epigastralgia

  • Peptic ulcer

The report also contains three other lists :

  • Conditions showing therapeutic effect but needing more proof

  • Conditions with limited trials but worth trying

  • Conditions requiring specialist medical supervision

Title: Acupuncture: Review and Analysis of Reports on Controlled Clinical Trials
Publisher: World Health Organization
Publication: 2002

If you are searching for a particular condition which is not listed on the first list category with evidence of effectiveness, it’s possible that acupuncture could still help. Many people turn to acupuncture after trying other treatments and are surprised by its therapeutic effect.

Contact Nicola to discuss if acupuncture can help you.