Acupuncture: What is acupuncture good for, does it hurt?

What is acupuncture good for?

Acupuncture is most commonly used for pain relief for musculoskeletal conditions such as tension headaches, migraines, chronic pain and muscle pain, said Mr Gill.

At present, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence only recommends considering acupuncture as a treatment option for chronic tension-type headaches or migraines.

However, the NHS site notes that acupuncture is often used to treat other conditions such as chronic pain, joint pain, dental pain, and postoperative pain.

It has been claimed acupuncture can help with things like insomnia, anxiety, depression, hypertension, allergies, menstrual cramps, endometriosis, morning sickness, sprains, and strokes.

Although there is very limited evidence for it, some people use acupuncture to help acne, cancer pain, infertility, diabetes, obesity, alcohol dependence, schizophrenia, and other conditions.