The World Health Organization List of Diseases That Benefit from Acupuncture

The World Health Organization Inter-regional Seminar drew up the following provisional list of diseases that lend themselves to acupuncture treatment. The list is based on clinical experience, and not necessarily on controlled clinical research.
Upper Respiratory Tract

  • Acute Sinusitis
  • Acute Rrhinitis
  • Common Cold
  • Acute Tonsillitis
Respiratory System
  • Acute Bronchitis
  • Bronchial Asthma (most effective in children and in patients without complicating diseases)
Disorders of the Eye
  • Acute Conjunctivitis
  • Central Retinitis
  • Myopia (in children)
  • Cataracts (without complications)
Disorders of the Mouth
  • Toothache (post-extraction pain)
  • Gingivitis
  • Acute and Chronic Pharyngitis
Gastro-intestinal Disorders
  • Spasms of Esophagus and Cardia
  • Hiccough
  • Gastroptosis
  • Acute and chronic gastritis
  • Gastric hyperacidity
  • Chronic duodenal ulcer (pain relief)
  • Acute duodenal ulcer (without complications)
  • Acute and chronic colitis
  • Acute bacillary dysentery
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Paralytic ileus
Neurological and Musculo-skeletal Disorders
  • Headache and Migraine
  • Trigeminal Neuralgia
  • Facial Palsy (early stage, i.e., within three to six months)
  • Pareses (following a stroke)
  • Peripheral Neuropathies
  • Sequelae of Poliomyelitis (early stage, i.e., within six months)
  • Meniere's Disease
  • Neurogenic Bladder Dysfunction
  • Nocturnal Enuresis
  • Intercosral Neuralgia
  • Cervicobrachial Syndrome
  • Frozen Shoulder
  • Tennis Elbow
  • Sciatica
  • Low Back Pain
  • Osteoarthritis

Source: Bannerman R H 1979 Acupuncture: the WHO View. World Health, December, p27-28.