Everyone can benefit from acupuncture as it does help the body to restore itself to its own state of balance. In turn, this internal harmony boosts the immune system so that diseases are repelled. The idea of Oriental medicine is foreign to many Americans, but one has to remember that this form of medicine dates back more than 23 centuries and is the main method of health care to one-quarter of the world's population, mainly residing in the Orient.

That is not to say that Oriental medicine should take the place of the familiar Western medical model; however, for individuals who experience general malaise or chronic conditions that are not alleviated by pharmaceuticals, acupuncture may be a strong adjunctive treatment modality to pursue.

The World Health Organization recognizes over 40 conditions that benefit from acupuncture. The National Institute of Health recognizes the efficacy of using acupuncture for such conditions as post-operative pain and pain associated with chemotherapy, nausea, stroke rehabilitation, addiction, headache, menstrual cramps, fibromylagia, myofascial pain, asthma, carpal tunnel syndrome and tennis elbow.

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