You’ll see these did-you-know PSA’s about acupuncture from me occasionally. There’s a lot of mysticism around the practice of acupuncture, and until it goes from alternative medicine to just medicine, I see it as part of my job to explain how it works and to dispel common misunderstandings held against it.
One prevalent myth is that acupuncture is not supported by any reputable institutions.
In fact, did you know:
Since the 1970’s, the World Health Organization (WHO) has created a list of more than four dozen common ailments that acupuncture can effectively treat—including skin disorders, circulatory and neuromusculoskeletal conditions, emotional and psychological disorders, and hormonal imbalances.
In 1997, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) added chronic discomforts like headaches, osteoarthritis, and various kinds of muscle pain to the continuously growing list.
Even the US Military uses acupuncture, and its popularity is on the rise within the Military Health System - particularly as an alternative to opioids for pain control.