Acupuncture is used for a wide range of conditions, from arthritis and low back pain to infertility. Over the past 10 years, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine has supported extensive research on acupuncture. Studies have looked at its effect on specific health conditions and how it affects the brain and nervous system.
Scientific evidence suggests it may be helpful for some conditions but not for others. Acupuncture also may be useful by itself or in combination with conventional medical treatments.
