THE FOLLOWING ARE SYMPTOMS AND CONDITIONS COMMONLY TREATED BY THE WASHINGTON ACUPUNCTURE CENTER. INDIGESTION Any malfunction of the digestive system may be called indigestion and is a common medical problem. It may be caused by contaminated food, emotional distress, malnutrition or allergic reactions. Persistent indigestion may be a symptom of a peptic ulcer, gall bladder, liver, pancreas or kidney disease. If accompanied by severe pain, it may be caused by a serious condition requiring prompt surgery, such as acute appendicitis, mesenteric thrombosis or regional ileitis. Medicines advertised for the treatment of indigestion, such as Alka Seltzer, contain aspirin, one of the most common causes of stomach ulcers and internal bleeding. Cortisone also encourages the development of stomach ulcers, although it is frequently prescribed for colitis, allergies, arthritis and many other medical problems. Most antibiotics and almost every other drug can cause some people to have indigestion. Acupuncture is safer and usually more effective than any drug for treating chronic indigestion. It can also relieve anxiety and depression which may be causative factors. Six to ten treatments are usually required for relief. Allergenic foods, artificial and biological contaminants should be avoided. Vitamins, especially C and the B complex, should be added to a diet high in proteins, fruits and slightly cooked vegetables. Inability to become a natural parent has many possible causes, some of which can be effectively treated by acupuncture. Before having acupuncture for infertility, a couple should have thorough physical examinations to rule out anatomical causes of infertility. These should be corrected if possible. Unless both partners have the anatomical requirements for reproduction acupuncture cannot be helpful. Most drugs reduce fertility and should be eliminated if possible. Acupuncture, along with nutritional treatment, can raise a man's sperm count considerably and make a woman's reproductive organs more receptive to conception and pregnancy. Acupuncture should be discontinued after conception, but the nutritional program should be continued by pregnant women. Acupuncture is the safest anesthesia for childbirth. Aspirin and most other drugs may cause miscarriage and fetal abnormalities, especially during early pregnancy. Masculine fertility may be increased by vitamins of the B complex, large doses of vitamin C and vitamin E. Even larger doses of vitamin C may be required to help a woman maintain a pregnancy if she has a tendency to miscarry. Acupuncture is also an effective treatment for male impotence and female inability to enjoy sexual relations. next