Health Concerns

The Acupuncture Evidence Project: A Comparative Literature Review was published in 2017 by the Australian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association Ltd (AACMA)(full copy available at patient resources session). They reviewed the literature from 2013 to 2016 and indicate: of the 122 conditions identified, strong evidence supported the effectiveness of acupuncture for 8 conditions, moderate evidence supported the use of acupuncture for a further 38 conditions, weak positive/unclear evidence supported the use of acupuncture for 71 conditions(1).  

***  Strong positive effect – Review with consistent statistically significant positive effects and where authors have recommended the intervention.

** Moderate positive evidence – Review of reporting all individual RCTs or pooled effects across RCTs as positive, but the reviewers deeming the evidence insufficient to draw firm conclusions.

* Weak postive evidence – Review consisted mostly of weak positive evidence or conflicting evidence between reviews or between authors within a review, with reviewers summarising the evidence as inconclusive.

McDonald J, Janz S. The Acupuncture Evidence Project: A Comparative Literature Review (Revised Edition). Brisbane: Australian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association Ltd; 2017. http://www.acupuncture.org.au/

Musculoskeletal & Pain

• Ankle sprain*
• Acute Lower Back Pain**
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome*
• Chronic Lower Back Pain***
• Knee Osteoarthritis**
• Lateral Elbow Pain**
• Lumbar Spinal Stenosis*
• Neck Pain (NAD, not WAD)*
• Plantar Heel Pain**
• Shoulder Impingement Syndrome**
• Sciatica*
• TMJ Joint Pain*

Internal Problems

• Acute stroke**
• Allergic rhinitis***
• Asthma**
• Bell’s palsy*
• Cancer related symptoms
• Chemotherapy induced symptoms
• Constipation*
• Dry eye*
• Fibromyalgia*
• Headache tension type***
• Inflammatory bowel diseases*
• Irritable bowel syndrome**
• Meniere’s disease*
• Migraine prophylaxis***
• Post-stroke rehabilitation*
• Smoking cessation**
• Tinnitus*

Mental Health

• Anxiety**
• Depression**
• PTSD**

Women’s Health

• Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome**
• Menopausal Hot Flushes**
• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome*
• Perimenopausal Insomnia*
• Period Pain*
• Primary Ovarian Insufficiency*
• Premenstrual Syndrome*
• Uterine Fibroids*

Fertility & IVF

• Infertility*
• IVF support**

Pregnancy Care

• Back Pain & Pelvic Pain*
• Constipation*
• Induction of Labour
• Nausea (Morning Sickness)*
• Postnatal Depression*
• Heart burns

Men’s Health

• Poor sperm quality*
• Premature Ejaculation*

General Health

• Stress*
• Insomnia**
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Skin Concerns

• Acne
• Eczema*
• Urticaria*
• Herpes zoster (shingles)