What does Chinese medicine treat?

The short answer is that Chinese medicine treats human beings, so in a sense, the entire mind-body spectrum can be affected by treatment. Physical pain is among the conditions that people most commonly seek help for; emotional stress is the second most common. But things as serious as acute infectious diseases and chronic autoimmune illnesses can, to one extent or another, be treated with acupuncture and herbs (with the involvement of Western treatment, where and when it is appropriate).

The standard list of things Chinese medicine covers can include, but is not limited to:

Musculoskeletal
Pain (back, neck, shoulder, knee and limb), sciatica, scoliosis, fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel, tendonitis, TMJ, arthritis, MS, herniated discs, numbness, paralysis, tremors, injury and trauma

Respiratory
Asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis, sinusitis, allergies, cold & flu, shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing, snoring

Cardiology
Chest pain/angina, hypertension, palpitations, congestive heart failure, atherosclerosis/hardening of the arteries

Gastroenterology
Irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s, colitis, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, vomiting, gastritis, ulcers, GERD, gas and bloating, abdominal pain, weight loss/gain, hepatitis

Gynecology/Urology
Infertility, painful periods, menstrual cramps, PMS, amenorrhea, polycystic ovaries, endometriosis, menopause, fibroids, cysts, prostatitis, UTIs, bladder and kidney stones, impotence

Dermatology
Eczema/dermatitis, psoriasis, acne, dry skin, itching, scars, rashes

Psychology
Depression, anxiety, and stress; bipolar disorder, mania, irritability, panic attacks, fears/phobias, OCD, ADD/ADHD, insomnia

Head, Ears, Eyes, Nose and Throat
Migraines, cluster and tension headaches, cold sores, post-nasal drip, sore throat, blurred vision, floaters, ringing ears, dizziness and vertigo, Bell’s palsy

Auto-Immune and Endocrine
Cancer support (including side-effects of chemo and radiation), diabetes, hypoglycemia, thyroid disorders