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THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
VIEWPOINT ON ACUPUNCTURE
Abstract: A World Health
Organization interregional seminar on acupuncture, moxibustion and acupuncture
anesthesia was held in Beijing ( Peking ) in June 1979, attended by participants
from twelve countries. Its purpose was to discuss ways in which priorities and
standards could be determined in the acupuncture areas of clinical work,
research, training, and technology transfer. Scientific investigation must be
closely correlated with demonstrations of acupuncture's clinical efficacy. Apart
from acupuncture analgesia used in major surgical procedures, acupuncture also
has been applied as a diagnostic aid and in conjunction with fluoroscopy in
gastrointestinal diseases. Acupuncture is clearly not a panacea for all ills;
but the sheer weight of evidence demands that acupuncture must be taken
seriously as a clinical procedure of considerable value.
During the past decade, there has been a growing convergence between the most
advanced research knowledge from physiology, biochemistry and pharmacology, and
knowledge obtained by research in the field of acupuncture; that is to say, a
convergence of modern international science with traditional Chinese medicine.
For example, in more than 600 cases of coronary heart disease, the effectiveness
of acupuncture in relieving the symptoms was over 80 percent. In 645 cases of
acute bacillary dysentry, 90 percent of the patients were cured within ten days
as judged by clinical symptoms and signs and the results of stool culture. The
technique is also comparatively effective in controlling fever, inflammation and
pain.
From the viewpoint of modern medicine, the principle action of acupuncture ( and
of moxibustion ) is to regulate the function of the human body and to increase
its resistance by enhancing the immune system and the antiphlogistic, analgesic,
antispastic, antishock and antiparalytic abilities of the body.
The World Health Organization Interregional 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: furthermore, the inclusion of specific diseases are not meant to
indicate the extent of acupuncture's efficacy in treating them.
Upper Respiratory Tract
Acute sinusitis
Acute rhinitis
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)
Cataract (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
Intercostal neuralgia
Cervicobrachial syndrome
"Frozen shoulder," "tennis elbow"
Sciatica
Low back pain
Osteoarthritis |
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