There is no form of medicine that is 100% effective all the time but the great majority of our patients benefit. For many ailments it works in about 4 out of 5 cases.
The WHO list* of things acupuncture has “been proved through clinical trials to be an effective treatment” includes:
Depression, hay fever, rhinitis, bowel disorders, menstrual pain, side effects of cancer treatment, stomach pain, headaches, migraines, blood pressure, knee pain, induction of labour, foetal malposition,low back pain, morning sickness, nausea & vomiting, neck pain, shoulder pain, dental pain, post operative pain, renal colic, arthritis, sciatica, sprain, stroke and tennis elbow.

… and for which “the effect of acupuncture has been shown to work but where further proof is needed”…. 
Acne, alcohol detox, Bell’s palsy, asthma, cancer pain, gall stones/inflammation, infertility, earache, facial spasm, gout, urethral syndrome, fibromyaligia, insomnia, labour pain, herpes zoster, neuralgia, male infertility, impotence, prostatitis, addictions, polycystic ovaries, PMS, recurrent cystitis, ulcerative colitis, TMJ pain, stiff neck and kidney stone pain.

Next >
* Acupuncture: Review & Analysis of Reports on Controlled  
 Trials. World Health Org. 2002