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The National Institute of Drug Abuse and the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism have begun demonstration projects using acupuncture treatment for crack cocaine detoxification and alcoholism. The U.S. government has spent $1 million funding acupuncture drug detoxification treament programs in New York City, NY; Miami, FL; and Portland , OR. The number of cities with an acupuncture component to their drug detoxification programs is continually expanding.
The National Institutes of Health issued a consensus statement in November 1997, acknowledging acupuncture as being “an effective adjunct therapy, acceptable alternative or part of a comprehensive treament program for (but not limited to) addiction, stroke rehabilitation, headache, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia (general muscle pain), low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and asthma.” The World Health Organization (WHO), the medical branch of the United Nations, issued a provisional list of diseases responsive to acupuncture treament (The WHO Viewpoint on Acupuncture 1980). These diseases include:
Respiratory diseases including acute sinusitis, rhinitis, common cold, bronchitis, and bronchial asthma.
Disorders of the eye including acute conjunctivitis, myopia in children, and cataracts.
Disorders of the mouth such as toothaches, gingivitis, and acute and chronic pharnygitis.
Gastrointestinal disorders such as acute and chronic gastritis, chronic and acute duodenal ulcer, acute colitis, constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, dysentery, and gastric hyperacidity.
Neurological and musculoskeletal disorders including headache, migraine, trigeminal neuralgia, facial palsy, paralysis following stroke, Meniere’s disease, bedwetting, frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, sciatica, low back pain, and osteoarthritis.
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