World Health Organization
World Health Organization

World Health Organization

The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes acupuncture and the ability of traditional Eastern medicine of common disorders that can be treated, otherwise supported.

The WHO is a leader when it comes to, for example, global health issues, establishing norms, standards and policies, and providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends.

Twenty years ago, the WHO presented a list of conditions that can be treated with acupuncture and traditional Eastern medicine, and this list expands as studies are done:

Ear, nose and throat disorders
Toothache, pain after tooth extraction, inflamed gums, acute or chronic earache, acute forehead and sinusitis, acute rhinitis, hay fever, runny nose and acute tonsillitis.

Respiratory disorders
Colds and flu, acute and chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma (in children and adults if uncomplicated), acute and chronic laryngitis (inflammation of the larynx or vocal cord inflammation).

Skin
Perspiration problems, itching, dry skin, eczema, acne, cold sores, shingles, psoriasis, boils, ulcers.

Gastrointestinal disorders
Spasm of the throat and diaphragm, hiccups, reduced stomach function, acute or chronic gastric inflammation, acid stomach or heartburn, chronic duodenal ulcer, acute or chronic colon inflammation, acute and chronic diarrhea, acute bacillary dysentery, nausea and vomiting, constipation and bowel valve problems.

Color illustration of the anatomy of the human eye and related structures (right eye, from above)

Eye disorders
Acute eye inflammation, central retinitis, myopia (in children) and cataracts without complications.

Neurological and muscle disorders
Headache, migraine, trigeminal neuralgia, facial paralysis (within the first 3-6 months), numbness and paralysis after a stroke, peripheral neuritis, neurological bladder dysfunction, bedwetting, intercostal neuralgia, neck pain, frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, sports injuries, sciatica, low back pain, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, bursitis, clenched jaws and jaw joint problems.

Gynecological disorders
Painful menstruation, PMS, infertility, menopausal complaints, excessive menstrual periods, absence of menstruation, morning sickness, delayed delivery, prolonged delivery, painful contractions, mastitis, acute and chronic vaginitis, white flush, uterine fibroids, sensitive breasts.

Stress disorders
Insomnia, anxiety, heart palpitations and hypertension.

Internal complaints
Anemia, colderness, circulation problems, high blood pressure, low blood pressure, thyroid disorders, diabetes, obesity.

The above are only the disorders identified by the WHO, or significant research treated by acupuncture. Eastern medicine, including internal and external herbal medicines, remedial massage therapy, kinetic therapy (Qi Gong) and Eastern nutritional therapy, treat these disorders and much more. In addition, Eastern medicine not only tries to treat the disease, but also to improve health and vitality. It increases the immune system, increases energy, helps maintain youth and promotes longevity.