Treatment methods in traditional Chinese medicine include drug therapy, acupuncture, moxibustion, Tuina, dietetic and movement exercises such as Tai Chi and Qigong. These treatments are known as the “five pillars” of Chinese therapy.
The WHO (World Health Organization) recognized and confirmed classic acupuncture as an effective form of treatment many years ago. The WHO compiled the following list of diseases for which acupuncture treatment is recommended:
Neurological disorders
• Headaches and migraines
• Cephalgia (headaches)
• Trigeminal neuralgia
• Facial nerve paralysis (facial paralysis, early stage, most effective within 3 to 6 months)
• Paralysis after stroke
• Herpes zoster (shingles)
• Peripheral neuropathies (nerve pain)
• Poliomyelitis paralysis (polio, early stage, most effective within 6 months)
• Meniere’s disease (dizziness, ringing in the ears)
• Neurogenic bladder dysfunction (bladder emptying disorder, bladder weakness)
• Enuresis (bedwetting)
• Intercostal neuralgia
• Restless leg syndrome
Orthopedic diseases
• Lumbago, sciatica (back pain)
• Cervicobrachial syndrome (shoulder-arm syndrome)
• Periarthrititis humeroscapularis (shoulder pain)
• Tennis golf elbow
• Arthrosis, rheumatoid arthritis (inflammation of the joints)
Gastrointestinal disorders
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Spasms of the esophagus and gastric entrance
• Singultus (hiccups)
• Lowering of the stomach
• Acute and chronic gastritis (inflammation of the stomach)
• Hyperacidity of the stomach (excess stomach acidity)
• Acute duodenal ulcer (duodenal ulcer)
• Acute and chronic colitis (colon inflammation)
• Acute bacterial dysentery (dysentery, diarrhea)
• Bowel paralysis (bowel obstruction)
Respiratory tract (upper airways)
• Acute sinusitis (inflammation of the sinuses)
• Acute rhinitis (runny nose)
• Gripal infect
• Acute tonsillitis
Bronchopulmonary diseases (lower airways)
• Acute bronchitis
• Bronchial asthma (particularly effective in children and patients without other complicated diseases)
Cardiovascular
• Arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat)
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Hypotension (low blood pressure)
• Circulatory disorders
• Varicose veins
Gynecology
• Menstrual problems
• Pregnancy problems
• Menopausal complaints (menopausal symptoms)
• Birth preparation
• Sterilitas (infertility)
Mental illness
• Depression
• States of exhaustion
• Sleep disorders
• Restlessness
Skin diseases
• Acne vulgaris
• Urticaria (psoriasis)
• Neurodermatitis
• Atopic eczema
• Urticaria (nettle fever)
• Herpes simplex
Eye diseases
• Acute conjunctivitis (conjunctivitis)
• Inflammation of the retina
• Myopia (nearsightedness, in children)
• Cataract (gray star)
• Macular degeneration
Oral cavity disorders
• Toothache
• Pain after tooth extraction
• Inflammation of the gums (inflammation of the oral mucous membrane)
• Acute and chronic pharyngitis (inflammation of the throat)
Miscellaneous
• Allergy
• Pollinosis (hay fever)
• Therapy support for cancer, nicotine and medical drug withdrawal
TCM has its own diagnostic methods and does not directly correlate with western medicine. It is therefore difficult to make a complete list of all treatable diseases/ailments that can be treated with TCM or by traditional acupuncture.