Contemporary Medical Acupuncture is a precise peripheral nerve stimulation technique, in which fine solid needles (acupuncture needles) are inserted into anatomically defined neurofunctional sites, and stimulated manually or with electricity for the therapeutic purpose of modulating abnormal activity of the nervous system and/or the endocrine, exocrine and immune systems, in pain syndromes, functional problems, and any diseases in which these modulatory mechanisms are available.
Acupuncture can be effective as a solitary treatment, or as an adjunct to other therapeutic interventions. The World Health Organization recognizes the use of acupuncture in the treatment of:
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Sports related injuries and other movement disorders
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Musculoskeletal pain problems: neck pain, shoulder pain, low back pain, joint pain
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Chronic pain: headaches, sciatica, osteoarthritis, neuritis and facial pain
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Digestive disorders: irritable bowel, constipation, diarrhoea and gastritis
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Menstrual and reproductive problems: dysmenorrhea, perimenopausal symptoms and infertility
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Urinary tract disorders: prostatitis and bladder dysfunction
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Respiratory problems: sinusitis, asthma, sore throat and recurrent respiratory tract infections
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Stress related problems: addictions and post-traumatic stress disorder