National Institutes of Health

Acupuncture is a promising treatment for many medical conditions such as nausea, lower back pain, and addiction, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) maintains in the following viewpoint. In addition, the NIH argues that acupuncture has fewer adverse side effects compared to commonly used Western medical treatments. The NIH asserts that further research is needed to understand how acupuncture works and how its use in conventional medicine can be expanded. The NIH, which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, works to improve universal human health.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What is the paradox of acupuncture research, according to the National Institutes of Health?
2. According to the World Health Organization, how many conditions have been treated with acupuncture?
3. In the opinion of the National Institutes of Health, what...