Which Diseases Can be Helped by Acupuncture?
Very few thoroughly completed clinical research trials coupled with poor follow up assessment has resulted in a convoluted and inaccurate success rate of acupuncture treatment for conditions mentioned in the following sections. It is important to note that some conditions respond to acupuncture more than others. It should be understood that acupuncture, like any treatment, does not have a 100% success rate. It is also important to note that some suggestions made to illustrate the effectiveness of acupuncture as a treatment for particular conditions are hypotheses and not empirical data. Acupuncture success rate statistics is not available in some areas, and the data provided is based on the clinical experience of individual practitioners.
Before utilizing acupuncture as a possible treatment for a condition, it is imperative that a clear and definitive diagnosis is made. With a clear and definitive diagnosis, the acupuncturist can correctly and adequately address the complaint. A clear and objective assessment can then be made regarding the effectiveness of acupuncture for that particular condition. It may be that acupuncture may not be effective or beneficial for that particular condition, and that Western medicine may have a more effective and appropriate alternative to acupuncture. In that case, acupuncture would not be an ideal treatment option for the patient.
Much of the data quoted in the following sections are taken from the results of clinical trials carried out in China. These Chinese clinical trials involve the assessment of a significant number of patients: sometimes up to 10,000. The Chinese also treat their patients for long periods of time. A stroke patient may receive one hundred or two hundred acupuncture treatments before the treatment is declared a success or failure. The success and failure rates of these published assessments are often unclear and the research is poorly designed.
These factors create difficulty in presenting the effectiveness of acupuncture as a treatment for some conditions. The assessments made in this article are presented in the most objective and empirical manner possible and are used to illustrate the effectiveness of acupuncture as a treatment for some common diseases. Future research work may provide empiric data about the effectiveness of acupuncture as a treatment option for some conditions. This data may help acupuncture be recognized as a valid and effective form of therapy.
Diseases of the Muscles, Bones and Joints
The muscles, bones, and joints are known collectively as the musculo-skeletal system. A common result of disease or damage to this system is pain. Rheumatism and arthritis are sometimes used to describe this type of pain. Some rheumatic diseases generally respond well to acupuncture while non rheumatic diseases are not as successfully treated by acupuncture. It is important to clarify what conditions are collectively known as rheumatic, as they generally respond positively to acupuncture treatment.
There are three main types of damage that occur to the musculo-skeletal system. A sudden injury or sprain could be incurred through a domestic injury, a sports injury, or a car accident. These types of damage generally result in localized pain and bruising that may last from a few days to a few weeks. Another ailment that fits this category is arthritis. Arthritis can be divided into Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoarthritis is more common than rheumatoid arthritis and can be likened to ’wear and tear‘ damage to a joint. It generally occurs in older people and tends to affect the spine (neck and lower back), hips, knees, elbows, and shoulders. The exact cause of Osteoarthritis is currently unknown, but two factors such as heredity or severe localized damage such as a broken bone injury sustained early in life are facilitators of the disease. Osteoarthritis generally develops in one or two of the main weight bearing joints of the body, but usually does not affect all joints of the body. The pain caused by osteoarthritis varies in intensity: osteoarthritis in the knee may cause extreme pain in the area or moderate to minimal pain.
An X-ray of an osteoarthritis joints appears ragged and shows some joint destruction, but does not accurately represent the pain suffered from the condition. Joint destruction that is easily observable on the X-ray does not necessarily correlate with severe pain. Conversely, a patient may suffer from severe pain while the X-ray reveals moderate or minimal joint destruction. The primary complaint with Osteoarthritis is pain, which hinders mobility and limits joint movement.
Rheumatoid arthritis is rarer than Osteoarthritis and is indicative of an entirely different disease process. The small joints in the hands and feet that do not bear weight are affected by an active destructive process. This process is poorly understood and can occasionally result in joint deformity.
Sprains
Sudden injuries or sprains generally respond well to acupuncture. A shoulder sprain may result in pain for days or weeks after the initial injury. Acupuncture can be used to alleviate this type of pain once a definitive diagnosis has been made. Many of these ’acute pains‘ represent a self limiting disease process. An example of this would be the excruciating pain suffered at the initial onset of a burn. This pain gradually subsides and lessens as more time passes- generally the pain is gone after a few days. If acupuncture is utilized as a pain relief technique for the burn, the ’pain relieving effect‘ that acupuncture can provide would only be required for a few days.
The reported experience from a variety of acupuncturists indicates that approximately 70% of acupuncture patients experience swift and significant pain relief from a spectrum of acutely painful conditions. Acupuncture is more effective in treating pain caused by strain or tear in the muscles, tendons or ligaments. Acupuncture on an area of the body which contains a fractured bone would yield less effective pain relief for the patient. The main advantage of treating chronic pains with acupuncture is the prevention of chronic pain. A sudden shoulder injury may result in pain and immobility for months or years, but the utilization of acupuncture in the area may hinder or prevent chronic pain. Adequate statistical research is still lacking in proving the exact level of effectiveness that acupuncture has on treating or alleviating ’acute pain.‘ Both the West and China support the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating chronic pain through ’clinical impressions,‘ but the current lack of empiric statistical research currently hinders the validity of acupuncture as an effective treatment for pain.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis and the rheumatic pains that result from the disease are common symptoms. Patients who suffer from this disease often state that arthritic knee pain is more pronounced in cold or damp weather. The pathogen in osteoarthritis is almost always cold or damp and can be treated by the application of heat to the area. This correlation represents the origin of the concept of pathogens in Chinese medicine.
A great deal of research has been conducted to investigate the effects of acupuncture on the pain caused by osteoarthritis with varying degrees of success. Clinical trials involving acupuncture on the knee, hip, elbow, neck, and lower back have yielded a 70% success rate of significantly reducing pain in the area. Other clinical trials have yielded widely varying success rates- some at a 50% success rate while others show a success rate as high as 95%.
The alleviation of osteoarthritis pain through acupuncture is not permanent. The current research states that the pain relief from acupuncture may diminish after approximately six to nine months. Some patients report pain relief for up to two years, but the majority of patients will require another acupuncture treatment session about six months after their initial treatment to ensure continued pain relief. Subsequent treatment is generally as effective as the initial acupuncture treatment.
Osteoarthritis is a disease that inherently causes intermittent pain and discomfort. Patients that suffer from osteoarthritis may be pain free for nine months, and then experience pain in the area for six consecutive months. Since the pain intensity with this disease fluctuates, the natural history of this particular disease process must be considered when calculating the effectiveness of acupuncture as pain treatment for this disease. Acupuncture has been described as embodying a ’magic quality‘ that pain pills do not posses. It can be difficult to differentiate between the perceived ’magic qualities‘ of acupuncture described by patients and the actual physiological benefits of acupuncture. Despite this, acupuncture has been deemed a safe and effective treatment for osteoarthritis.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
The beneficial effects of acupuncture as treatment for rheumatoid arthritis are somewhat convoluted. During the initial, acute, and inflammatory stage of rheumatoid arthritis, some evidence suggests that acupuncture may actually exacerbate the pain. For this reason, most acupuncturists will not treat acute rheumatoid arthritis. After a period of time, the acute inflammatory stage subsides and the residual joint destruction may cause the development of a secondary osteoarthritis. This type of pain responds favorably to acupuncture.
Chronic pain caused by disease of the musculo-skeletal frequently responds favorably to and can be alleviated by acupuncture. Current published research suggests that acupuncture is effective in treating pain regardless of how much time has passed. The research suggests that whether the patient has experienced pain for a few months or many years, acupuncture may be utilized as an effective treatment option.
Headaches
Headaches can be caused by a variety of factors such as: arthritis of the neck, dental issues, sinusitis, stress, tension, and head injures. Headaches have been categorized in separate section as they are quite common and encompass many of the body systems.
Migraine is a particular type of headache which includes symptoms such as: severe incapacitating pain, nausea, vomiting, and visual patterns or flashes in front of the eyes. Migraines can be induced by stimuli such as foods, noise, and stress. Some patients believe that severe ’tension headaches‘ are migraines. This is due to an unclear distinction between migraines and other types of headaches. Generally, migraine headaches can best be defined as a severe headache accompanied by nausea.
Headaches are a common ailment and are notoriously difficult to treat as the exact cause of the headache often remains elusive. Acupuncture has been effective in treating pain caused by a variety of different types of headaches, particularly migraines. Published research suggests that 65-95% of headache patients receive significant and long lasting pain relief from acupuncture treatment. Migraines appear to respond particularly well to acupuncture treatment.
Acupuncture treatment for headaches may completely alleviate headache pain, or significantly decrease the frequency and intensity of headache pain. The pain relief obtained through acupuncture treatment is generally long lasting and subsequent treatment for headaches is required infrequently.
Diseases of the Nervous System
Strokes
A stroke is caused by a disturbance of the blood supply to the brain. Blood flow to the brain can be interrupted if the blood vessels become blocked or bleed. This results in a deficient blood supply to the brain tissues that can be caused by: raised blood pressure, hardening of the arteries, and severe head injury. The brain is divided into area that control different bodily functions. For example: one area of the brain controls speech while another area is responsible for controlling sensations such as touch and pain. The functional impairment that occurs with a stroke is contingent upon which hemisphere of the brain the stroke occurs. For example: if a stroke occurs in the hemisphere of the brain that controls speech, the patients speaking ability may be impaired. In China acupuncture is the primary treatment for strokes while Western medicine utilizes treatments such as speech therapy, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy. The Chinese believe that these methods are less effective then acupuncture and will treat the stroke patient with acupuncture to the scalp and body. Current research work suggests that acupuncture increases the blood supply to the brain and for reasons yet unknown, stimulates the recovery and appears to improve functional ability.
Chinese clinical trials suggest that acupuncture treatment is effective for 80% of strokes. This research is flawed however, due to spontaneous recovery in a significant amount of stroke patients as well as a lack of a clear and exact definition of success and failure of treatment. The claimed Chinese success rate is very high and is often supported by Western doctors as Western medicine has little to offer the stroke patient in ways of treatment. Ideally, stroke patients should receive acupuncture treatment within six months of the stroke occurring. The patient may benefit from the treatment for up to two years, but generally acupuncture can provide little relief if the damage has been present for more than two years.
The Neuralgias
The neuralgias are a classification of frequently painful and poorly understood conditions. The more common and clearly defined types of neuralgia will be discussed in the following section.
Trigeminal neuralgia generally manifests as severe unilateral facial pain. The exact cause of the condition remains unclear but painful facial spasms are often caused by cold or wind. The Chinese claim that acupuncture facilitates improvement in 70% of trigeminal neuralgia cases. Western acupuncturists do not claim the same success rate, but it is believed that acupuncture can help alleviate this type of pain.
Postherpetic neuralgia is pain associated with shingles. Shingles is a viral infection of the nerves. The nerves affected by shingles can still send severe pain signals even after the shingles is treated.
Postherpetic neuralgia is not a common disease in China. This may be due to the fact that the Chinese treat all cases of shingles before postherpetic neuralgia can develop. Other possible reasons for the low rate of postherpetic neuralgia in China include diet or racial characteristics. It is more reasonable to suggest that the low rate of postherpetic neuralgia in China is due to the acupuncture treatment of shingles. Current research suggests that 40% of postherpetic neuralgia patients gain some measure of pain relief through acupuncture treatment.
Neuralgias encompass a vast number of aches and pains. Many of these are manifested as facial pain and most cause severe discomfort. Acupuncture is a viable treatment option for this condition although the success rate of treatment will vary.
Anxiety, Depression and Other Nervous Disorders
Psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression are difficult to present objectively as the problems themselves are difficult to assess objectively. Due to the highly subjective nature of these disorders, it is difficult to ascertain the success rate of acupuncture treatment for these disorders.
Despite the lack of empirical evidence, many acupuncturists including the Chinese treat a broad spectrum of ’mental disorders‘ with acupuncture. Some testimony states that there is a clear correlation of the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment with some disorders such as insomnia and bed wetting. Acupuncture patients will often report a feeling of overall well being even if they have received treatment for specific problems such as ankle pain. The Chinese have completed trials on some of the serious and clearly defined mental disorders such as schizophrenia. In a trial involving over 400 patients, the Chinese claimed a 54% cure rate for schizophrenia, while another 30% demonstrated ’significant improvement.‘ However, the criteria for evaluating a ’cure‘ or ’significant improvement‘ is not clearly defined and the validity of these numbers is not yet determined. While many claims have been made regarding the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating a variety of ’nervous disorders‘ the empirical data to support these claims is still lacking. A number of research papers do suggest that acupuncture may have a radical effect on many areas of the central nervous system. This work is not yet validated to support the clinical effects of acupuncture therapy.
Nerve Paralysis
There are three major types of nerve destruction that cause paralysis: an inherited genetic condition such as spina bifida, an accident, or a degenerative disease that causes destruction or dysfunction of the nervous tissue.
Chinese research claims that acupuncture can be used to treat the symptoms of spina bifida such as incontinence, but there is current no claim that acupuncture can effect the physiological abnormality of the disease. Traumatic paralysis caused by accidental destruction of the nervous system can be treated through acupuncture techniques. These treatments must be continued for a long period- six months on a nearly daily basis, but Chinese research suggests that 50-60% of patients treated are likely to regain significant function. However, spontaneous recovery of function must be considered in the data.
Facial paralysis (Bell‘s palsy) is a disease that causes one side of the face to lose muscular power. The onset is sudden and the cause is unknown. Acupuncture and moxibustion are possible treatment options for this disease. Chinese claim a 75% acupuncture treatment success rate, but a significant percentage of spontaneous recovery for the disease must be taken into account. The Chinese claim that another 20% of patients receive benefit from acupuncture but not complete recovery.
Other Nervous Diseases
Acupuncture has been claimed to be effective in treating Parkinson‘s disease, nerve deafness, and a larger spectrum of other nerve ailments. These claims have yet to be substantiated through empirical data, but acupuncture can be an effective and beneficial alternative to traditional treatment methods.
Diseases of the Digestive System
Clinical research regarding the effectiveness of acupuncture as a treatment for digestive system maladies is lacking. However, animal experiments carried out in both the West and China suggests that a clear and defined correlation exists between acupuncture and its influence on a variety of digestive system disorders.
Indigestion
Indigestion is not a disease but rather a symptom from factors such as overindulgence, stress, and acid regurgitation. Long standing indigestion must be investigated so the origin of the symptom is clearly defined.
Acid regurgitation is a common cause of indigestion and generally includes symptoms such as heartburn. Acid reflux is caused by the irritation of the esophagus which creates the sensation of heartburn. This syndrome is also known as ’hiatus hernia‘ and is known by a variety of other terms.
Acupuncture is not an effective treatment for all types of indigestion. For example, the best way to prevent indigestion caused by overindulgence is to eat less. Other causes of indigestion such as hiatus hernia and stress are very receptive to acupuncture treatment. ’Clinical impressions‘ suggest that approximately 60% of patients receive a measure of long term relief of indigestion symptoms through acupuncture. Symptoms do recur and generally require re-treatment after six to twelve months.
Stomach Ulcers
An ulcer is an area of raw tissue comparable to the raw tissue found under the scab of a healing wound. Ulcers can occur in the stomach and are found in the actual stomach (gastric ulcers) or in the part of the intestine that drains food from the stomach (duodenal ulcers). Stomach ulcers are common and their origin unknown.
Acupuncture is the Chinese treatment of choice for stomach ulcers. Although it has been noted that stomach ulcers do heal after acupuncture treatment, both types of stomach ulcers do heal spontaneously, thus convoluting the actual success rate of acupuncture.
Duodenal ulcers are associated with high acid levels in the stomach. High acid levels are a factor in ulcer development, but how much of a role acid levels play in ulcer development remains to be seen. Chinese research work suggests that acupuncture can reduce the acidity of the stomach which may indicative of acupuncture as a successfully treatment of duodenal ulcers and other digestive diseases.
Gall Stones
The Chinese have presented a great deal of research regarding the effects of acupuncture on the gall bladder. These studies suggest that acupuncture may facilitate the discharge of gall stones which would then render the surgical removal of the stones unnecessary. While these studies appear promising, they have not yet been validated.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is a symptom that can be indicative of a variety of diseases such as: infection (dysentery), an inflammatory process (colitis), stress, or dietary indiscretion. Unknown causes of irregular bowel habits are generally classified as ’irritable bowel syndrome.‘ Chinese studies on bowel infections suggest that acupuncture affects the nature history of the disease. The Chinese report that acupuncture facilitates quicker recovery and complications are less frequent. Evidence also suggests that acupuncture improves the natural body defenses for this type of infection. A substantial body of evidence suggests that acupuncture stimulates the bodies‘ natural defenses against many infectious diseases, suggesting a broader scope of effectiveness. Acupuncture can be shown to alter the activity of the immune system, stimulate the production of immunoglobins (chemicals that help to kill invading bacteria) and facilitate other beneficial effects for the immune system, supporting the theory that acupuncture assists the body in curing disease naturally.
Diseases such as Crohn‘s disease, ulcerative colitis and colitis are collectively described as inflammatory bowel diseases. The cause of these diseases remains unknown. A patient who suffers from inflammatory bowel disease will complain of abdominal pain, blood loss, and diarrhea caused by raw and inflamed intestines. These diseases are often difficult to treat with current Western therapeutics, but are sometimes responsive to acupuncture. Current empiric data is currently unavailable to support these claims.
Irritable bowel syndrome and diarrhea caused by stress can be improved by acupuncture, but empirical data are still lacking and further research is required.
Piles
Piles are caused by varicose veins occurring around the anus and rectum. Again empiric data is lacking regarding the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment, but ’clinical impressions‘ and patient testimony suggest effectiveness.
Diseases of the Respiratory System
Asthma
The wheeze of asthma is caused by the contraction of the small breathing tubes in the lung. Because the air tube is narrowed, the air flow is ’turbulent‘ and causes a wheeze or whistle when the asthmatic breathes. Because the tubes in the lung are narrowed, air flow is restricted and oxygen supply to the body is decreased. Some causes of the muscular contraction of the breathing tubes include inhaled dust or pollen and some foods.
According to some Western research data, acupuncture causes the contracted muscular walls to dilate although the exact mechanism that facilitates this remains unknown. A recent Chinese medical trial claims that 70% of asthmatic patients obtained beneficial effects from acupuncture and moxibustion (approximately ten treatments) annually. The acupuncture treatment was reported to have decreased the frequency and intensity of asthmatic attacks over a one year period.
Bronchitis
Bronchitis is a common lung disease that involves the irreparable destruction of lung tissue. It is exacerbated by cigarette smoke, industrial pollutants, and dust. An asthmatic element in bronchitis can be observed in the contraction of the muscular walls of the breathing tubes caused by irritants such as smoke and dust.
While acupuncture cannot rebuild lung tissue, it can promote the efficient function of the remaining lung tissue by opening up breathing tubes. The mechanism of acupuncture in bronchitis is similar to that of asthma as it allows more air to enter the lungs. Recent Chinese research suggests that approximately 50% of bronchitics ’benefit‘ from acupuncture. In order to obtain maximum effectiveness, the treatment must be repeated on a regular basis.
Diseases of the Heart and Blood Vessels
While acupuncture is not regularly utilized as a treatment for diseases of the circulatory system in the West, it is a common and acceptable form of Chinese treatment. Animal experiments conducted in China illustrate that acupuncture treatments do affect the circulatory system.
Angina
Angina is a type of ’cramp‘ in the heart muscles caused by poor blood supply to the heart. The common symptom is chest pain during exercise. The Chinese have completed trials that exhibit a marked increase in the functional ability and efficiency of the heart muscles after acupuncture.
The findings from these trials are further supported by clinical findings that demonstrate an 80% improvement rate of angina patients after acupuncture. When acupuncture is utilized as an angina treatment, a course of treatments is given followed by booster treatments every four to six months.
The Correction of Abnormal Heart Rhythms
Diseases of the heart can frequently cause abnormal heart beat rhythms which may manifest as palpitations, irregular heart beat, or dropped beats. Acupuncture is said to be able to correct a small number of these arrhythmias. In established atrial fibrillation (irregular heart beats) acupuncture affects a small percentage of cases: approximately 1.5%. Acupuncture is much more effective in treating recently acquired arrhythmias with a 70% success rate.
Raised Blood Pressure
Traditional Chinese medicine does not recognize elevated blood pressure (hypertension) as a disease, but acupuncture can be used to treat the infrequent and vague symptoms of the disease such as headaches and dizziness. Acupuncture and moxibustion is believed to be effective in lowering blood pressure, but solid data to support this theory is still lacking to illustrate the effectiveness on a long or short term basis. Currently the concept of high blood pressure and treatment remains unclear as well as acupunctures effectiveness in treating the disease.
The Use of Acupuncture in Addiction and Obesity
A significant number of Western acupuncturists are utilizing a variety of acupuncture techniques as treatment for obesity, smoking, and hard drug addiction. Some physiological and clinical evidence suggests that acupuncture is an effective treatment for these issues. Acupuncture raises the level of endorphins in the nervous system which counteracts the withdrawal symptoms experienced by patients who have given up smoking or drugs. Some believe that the desire to eat is affected by the endorphin level in the brain. Since there is a clear correlation between acupuncture and its ability to affect endorphin levels throughout the nervous system, acupuncture may be effective in treating obesity by manipulating the endorphin levels in the body. Ear acupuncture is utilized as a means of increasing endorphin levels in the body. The ear may be electrically stimulated or a small staple or stud may be left in the ear for a week at a time. Pressing the indwelling needle may combat the craving to smoke or eat due to an increase in endorphin levels.
It must be stressed that acupuncture can be utilized as a support or supplement to alleviate symptoms of withdrawal or hunger pains, but cannot replace the personal will power and self control necessary to lose weight or break a habit.
Obesity
Acupuncture appears to alleviate hunger generally created by dieting. Many who utilize acupuncture to facilitate weight loss diet in conjunction with the treatment. It is unknown how significant of a role acupuncture plays in weight loss. Most acupuncturists claim that 40-50% of patients experience significant weight loss ( about ten pounds) during treatment. As no clinical trials have been completed in this field, it is unknown the exact level of effectiveness that acupuncture has on weight loss, but it does appear to promote appetite suppression.
Hard Drug Addiction
Some research trials in Hong Kong suggest that acupuncture can help alleviate the severe withdrawal symptoms from drugs like heroin, but acupuncture should only play a supplemental role in treating the addition as rehabilitation is necessary for recovery.
Smoking
Acupuncture appears to decrease the desire to smoke as well as alleviates withdrawal symptoms caused by tobacco abstinence. Approximately 40% of patients were able to give up smoking over a period of six months through the use of ear acupuncture. Acupuncture plays a supplemental role in cigarette addiction and the patient must have an earnest desire to quit smoking in order for the goal to be obtained.
Acupuncture does have an effect on additions and obesity, but plays a supplemental role. Some of the claims made for acupuncture in this field may be due to associated factors.
The Use of Acupuncture in Obstetrics
In China, the primary use of acupuncture in obstetrics is to provide analgesia (pain relief) during Caesarean section and to correct fetal malpositions, such as breech (baby is bottom first instead of head first.)
Fetal Malposition
The correction of fetal malposition is achieved by applying moxibustion to an acupuncture point on the little toe. In approximately 60% of women, the fetus turns naturally prior to the 34th week of pregnancy. This percentage can be increased to 90% with the aid of moxibustion. The Chinese claim that 80% of fetal malpositions can be corrected by moxibustion after the 34th week when natural correction is less likely to occur. The malposition will not recur provided that moxibusiton is applied daily. There is currently no statistical data to support these claims.
Anesthesia for Labour and Delivery
China commons utilizes acupuncture anesthesia for Caesarian sections. A recent Chinese report claims that 98% out of 1,000 cases acupuncture successfully alleviated pain, facilitated a faster recovery from the surgery with less blood loss, and promoted the obvious benefit of uniting mother and child more quickly. This report suggests that acupuncture may be a superior form of analgesia when compared to other forms of pain relief such as general or epidural anesthesia for Caesarian section.
Acupuncture can also be used to provide pain relief in normal obstetric deliveries. Adequate assessment of this form of obstetric analgesia has not yet been published, although the experience of a wide variety of acupuncturists in the West would indicate that it is a useful and effective procedure.
Acupuncture Anesthesia
Acupuncture is widely used in China. It has been used in a number of procedures ranging from minor procedures to open heart surgery. Not all patients experience adequate analgesia through acupuncture. Those patients not receptive to acupuncture are reported to be between 1 and 20 percent based on the operation and assessments used.
Acupuncture promotes a safer operation, less likelihood of complications, and a swifter post-operative recovery. However, pain relief may be inadequate, and in Western contexts this is deemed unacceptable in the scope of health care.
Acupuncture anesthesia has been observed as being effective in non-Chinese ethnic groups such as Europeans with comparable success and failure rates. Acupuncture anesthesia is a useful method of pain relief and can be applied to minor procedures or post-operative pain relief within the context of a Western Medical system. This suggests that while acupuncture is originally an Eastern alternative pain treatment, it can be utilized as an effective treatment method for pain relief for all.
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