In 1980, the World Health Organization released a list of 43 types of pathologies which can be effectively treated with acupuncture. Acupuncture is simple to administer, has few side effects, and has broad applications. The increasing popularity of acupuncture outside of China has made it nearly synonymous for many Westerns with all traditional Chinese medicine. Not meant as a cure for everything, acupuncture has nonetheless enjoyed renewed interest in recent decades, and is especially effective in controlling pain. The flow of positive influences through the body is maintaining health.
Unhealthy symptoms are, in fact, manifestations of improper qi.
The Huang Dineijing describes 365 sensitive points used in acupuncture, in addition to 12 main conduits in the human body. Executed properly, acupuncture should be relatively painless. There is also a system of ear acupuncture, performed withou needles. Small, round seed kernels are stuck onto certain points of the ear and massaged by the patient every so often. This method is not only very successful in the treatment of pain, but is also said to relieve some allergies, such as hay fever.