Out of My Head (April/May 2007) Allergy Medications (Spring 2008)

When doctors deemed Luisa Setaro, 72, unfit for a kidney and liver transplant, she turned to acupuncture to relieve the symptoms of hepatitis C. "From the first visit," says the Argentina-born resident of Miami, "I felt so much better." And after six weeks of treatments, she says, her arthritis subsided, her appetite returned, her overall mood lifted, and her headaches disappeared.

New research is now backing up individual claims of the efficacy of acupuncture. Two recent studies found that the treatment prevents migraine and tension headaches.

Where Acupuncture May Help Use of acupuncture needles as a medical device by licensed practitioners is approved by the Federal Drug Administration for any disease and recognized by the World Health Organization as a possible treatment for: • Asthma/Allergies: chronic asthma, allergic rhinitis, sinus infections, sinus congestion • Emotional Disorders: stress, panic and anxiety attacks, depression, insomnia •  Digestive Disorders: heartburn, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic constipation or diarrhea   • Pre- and Postnatal Care/Pregnancy: infertility, labor-induction (shorten delivery time), reduce morning-sickness symptoms including nausea • Other: dysmenorrhea, PMS, headaches, TMJ, tennis elbow, Bell’s palsy, sciatica, weight loss, drug addiction Find a certified acupuncturist.

“For headache sufferers, it’s positive news because they have a new option,” says Dr. Klaus Linde, lead researcher on both studies at the Centre for Complementary Medicine Research at the Technical University of Munich, Germany.

Setaro’s acupuncturist, Cuba-born Dr. Robert Gastón, says the remedy, which has been in use for millennia, treats numerous maladies because “obstructions and changes in the body’s basic energy cause disease” and acupuncture normalizes the way the body uses energy.

Treatments cost $60 to $120, with higher fees for initial treatments, but, while approved by the Federal Drug Administration and World Health Organization, aren’t covered by Medicare or most insurance plans.

If you're interested in trying acupuncture, be sure to tell your doctor first.