There are many things that acupuncture cannot cure directly. Below is a partial list.
Acupuncture can often help people with the secondary problems related to the conditions below. For example, after a broken leg has been set, acupuncture can help with the muscular trauma and healing process. Acupuncture can be used as an adjunct therapy for cancer patients, it can help with the side effects to treatment such as nausea or neuropathy from chemotherapy.
Emergencies
Broken bones, lacerations, other blunt force trauma conditions should not be treated first with acupuncture. Once western medicine is used and recovery begins, acupuncture can help with the pain and recovery process.
Disease
Bacterial diseases and some viral diseases need to be treated with western medicine. Acupuncture can be used as a complementary medicine to help ease symptoms and heal quicker.
Cancer
Only an oncologist can cure cancer. Once again, an acupuncturist can help with the recovery from surgery and chemotherapy.
Heart Disease
No cure here either. But again, it can help with symptoms and quality of life.
Diabetes
In many cases, lifestyle changes can reverse diabetes, but acupuncture alone cannot cure diabetes. It can however help with complications related to diabetes such as neuropathy. Acupuncture is part of Oriental medicine, which if utilized fully – herbs, diet and acupuncture – Type II Diabetes may be reversed.
Finally Surgery.
It depends on why a person needs surgery. For cancerous tumor removal, repair of soft tissue tears, major organ surgeries etc, acupuncture cannot replace the surgery. However, when surgery is advised for orthopedic problems, acupuncture is worth a try. There are many orthopedic surgeries that can be avoided with acupuncture. I have treated people with acupuncture that have avoided surgery for: rotator cuff injuries, knee pain, lower back pain, neck pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and more.