The World Health Organization
recognizes acupuncture to be effective for:
|
|
Acupuncture outperformed fluoxetine hydrochloride (Prozac) across four separate indices (HAMD, NIHSS, Barthel Index, TESS). The HAMD (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression) measures several important aspects of mental health (e.g., mood, suicidal tendencies, insomnia, interest in work and activities, psychomotor impairment, agitation, anxiety). The NIHSS (NIH Stroke Scale) is a 15 item neurologic examination of stroke adverse effects. The Barthel Index (BI) measures the ability to live independently based on mobility and activities of daily living performance (e.g., eating, bathing, dressing, walking, bladder and bowel control).
Acupuncture combined with supplementary Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) modalities is found effective for the alleviation of chronic neck, shoulder, back, and osteoarthritis pain. Researchers provided acupuncture treatments over the course of eight weekly sessions in a group setting. The researchers confirm that the therapeutic benefits of acupuncture have lasting results.