Medical Acupuncture is the term used to describe acupuncture performed by a doctor trained and licensed in Western medicine who has also had thorough training in acupuncture as a specialty practice. Such a doctor can use one or the other approach, or a combination of both as the need arises, to treat an illness.

Medical acupuncture is a system which can influence three areas of health care:

• Promotion of health and well-being.
• Prevention of illness.
• Treatment of various medical conditions.

Acupuncture can be effective as the only treatment used, or as the support or adjunct to other medical treatment forms in many medical and surgical disorders.

The World Health Organization recognizes the use of acupuncture in the treatment of a wide range of medical problems, including:

• Digestive disorders: gastritis and hyperacidity, spastic colon, constipation, diarrhea.
• Respiratory disorders: sinusitis, sore throat, bronchitis, asthma, recurrent chest infections.
• Neurological and muscular disorders: headaches, facial tics, neck pain, rib neuritis, frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, various forms of tendinitis, low back pain, sciatica, osteoarthritis.
• Urinary, menstrual, and reproductive problems.
• Acupuncture is particularly useful in resolving physical problems related to tension and stress and emotional conditions.

Other services include:

• Moxibustion - an herb is heated and passed over the acupuncture needles and meridians to stimulate energy flow
• Cupping - glass cups are flamed to create a vacuum and then are applied to the body
• Gua Sha - scraping along the muscles for musculoskeletal problems

, and accepted.