Is acupuncture an appropriate treatment?

I will start by saying that I have never had acupuncture and what I do know about it is limited to what I have read. I understand the basic concept of how and what it does but I am not so sure it is the end all cure all as some people claim.

I have no doubt that many people will spend a good deal of time and money seeking out effective pain management, whether that be through modern medical means, homeopathic remedies or ancient Asian methods such as acupuncture. Finding one that works for you can be tedious and sometimes cause the stress that increases pain levels in the body and while I won't knock one method over the next I am adamant about what measures I am willing to try and which I will not consider.

It is curious to see that the World Health Organization has accepted acupuncture as a valid treatment for more then a few conditions which generally would be treated with conventional medicines.

I also did a search through the WHO site to find more on their views on acupuncture and stumbled on to a page where they show the usage of conventional treatments versus what they call "complimentary" or "alternative". I was somewhat surprised to see that in places like the U.S., Canada and Europe many people, in some cases well over 50%, are seeking out non-traditional methods for their ailments. Well I would expect some portion of the population to use those methods, the numbers they post are much higher then I could have imagined.

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Acupuncture, as a therapeutic intervention is effective for nausea and vomiting associated with surgery, chemotherapy and pregnancy. In addition, acupuncture has a significant effect on pain and can be helpful in conditions such as low back pain, osteoarthritis, myofascial pain, menstrual cramps, headache, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome and fibromyalgia.

Acupuncture has been used much more widely in other parts of the world including both Europe and Asia. Another prestigious organization, the World Health Organization of the United Nations has also created a list of illnesses for which acupuncture is an appropriate treatment. That is:

Musculo-Skeletal, Neurological and Stress Related Conditions:

Back Pain Depression Stroke
Tendonitis Anxiety Neuralgia
Sciatica Stress Cerebral Palsy
Stiff Neck Insomnia Bell's Palsy
Bursitis Headache
Arthritis Sprains

Female Conditions:

PMS
Menstrual Cramps
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Irregular and Painful Periods
Infertility
Vaginitis

Male Conditions:

Infertility
Impotence

Infections and General Conditions:

Colds and Flu Deafness Ulcers
Hayfever Earache Indigestion
Bronchitis Dizziness Colitis
Sore Throat Tinnitus Hemorrhoids
Sinus Infections Poor Eyesight Diarrhea/Constipation
Asthma Hepatitis High Blood Pressure
Herpes Diabetes Hypoglycemia
Achne Eczema Dermatological Conditions

A Closer Look at PAIN Search

According to the National Institute of Health:

"Pain is a critical national health problem. It is the most common reason for medical appointments, nearly 40 million visits annually, and costs this country over $100 billion each year in health care and lost productivity. Pain has a profound effect on the quality of human life. In addition to possible deleterious effects on immune function, pain can cause disruptions in sleep, eating, mobility, and overall functional status. In the hospitalized patient, pain may be associated with increased length of stay, longer recovery time, and poorer patient outcomes, all of which have health care quality and cost implications."

Pain, in general, has an infinite number of possible causes and manifestations, however, muscle constriction based pain caused by chronic over-use, repetitive strain, poor posture and stress is quite common and very effectively relieved by acupuncture, and specifically, by a technique originally invented in the field of physical therapy by Janet Travell. That technique, called myofascial trigger point needling is traditionally executed using injections of local anesthetics with hypodermic needles however, trigger point releases can be effectively executed to reduce chronic muscle constriction based pain with a simple acupuncture trigger point technique.

The release of a trigger point is in fact a release in the exterior layers of the body. When generated with acupuncture needles, there is an actual physiological shift that is both visual and tactile. It is as if a ripple is generated through a tissue which has been previously frozen. Usually, for the patient, it is an experience that is quite unexpected and surprising. From a Chinese medical perspective, the surface of the body must be cleared of constriction and pain before one could effectively enter into the interior of the body and treat it thoroughly. By inspiring the surface tissue to open, acupuncture can then help to create a sustained shift in a body's habitual pain pattern and condi