Please note that under national law, claims of efficacy of treatment are required to be made with reference to evidence of a high standard. Traditionally, acupuncture has been used to assist a wide variety of conditions, however not all have evidence of efficacy.
The following conditions have been listed based on a range of strong evidence to inconclusive evidence. Note the colour key below for clarification on evidence level for conditions. For any clarification, please view the Acupuncture Evidence Project. To date, additional conditions may have a potential benefit using acupuncture and Chinese medicine, however current western scientific evidence does not exist for these.
In 2012, Acupuncture and Chinese medicine became nationally regulated under the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, AHPRA. This body is also responsible for regulating medical doctors, nurses, midwives, physiotherapists, psychologists, chiropractors, osteopaths, dentists, podiatrists, aboriginal and Torres strait islander health practitioners, paramedics, optometrists, pharmacists, radiologists and occupational therapists. Regulation assists you the public to ensure the registered practitioner acupuncturists and Chinese medicine practitioner you visit has the appropriate level of training and skills required to ensure the best and safest possible care.
In addition to educational requirements AHPRA have very specific and strict advertising guidelines that prevent practitioners from making misleading claims.
Chinese medicine has been documented as far back as 2000 years and evidence of it’s practice goes back much further. This documentation lists a wide range of symptoms and conditions that may be addressed using acupuncture and Chinese medicine. Chinese Medicine has been practiced for thousands of years and is widely used in Western countries. Nevertheless, there is still debate on the efficacy of acupuncture according to the evidence-based medicine (EBM) paradigm. However within the advertising guidelines no condition can be listed without having been extensively researched and had that research approved by AHPRA.
The current research for acupuncture and Chinese medicine now totals over 30,000 systematic reviews, randomised control trials, however less than 10 conditions have been approved by AHPRA for Chinese medicine practitioners to mention in their advertising material.
As a result you may have heard or have a query about whether Chinese medicine and acupuncture can be helpful with conditions not listed on this website. We would encourage you to contact us about any condition you need assistance with to discuss the particulars of your individual health needs and provide you with more information on Chinese medicine and how it may assist you.
What conditions can we mention that Chinese medicine can assist,
which are in accordance with the national law?
Click on this recent research link to see what conditions Acupuncture can treat – Acupuncture Evidence Project
Our clinic provides Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Cosmetic Acupuncture, Lifestyle Advice (nutrition/diet/exercise) to Morningside, Seven Hills, Cannon Hill, Carindale, Carina Heights, Murarrie, Tingalpa, Hemmant, East Brisbane, Norman Park, Hawthorne, Bulimba, Balmoral, East Brisbane, Kangaroo Point and wider areas of Brisbane.