Viral and bacterial infections respond well to acupuncture therapy. In good reactors, symptom-relief is rapid, and improvement will often be noted within minutes of therapy. Muscular aches and pain, sore throats, nasal congestion and headaches will all respond in this way. Other diseases which respond well to acupuncture are acute bacterial skin infections, breast infections and acute gastroenteritis. In the latter condition, a decrease in abdominal pain often occurs soon after treatment. Both cold sores (herpes simplex) and shingles (herpes zoster) respond very well to acupuncture. Rapid pain relief occurs, and is frequently followed by early resolution of symptoms. This is especially so with cold sores, where pain relief is often sustained, and the infection usually settles between one to three days.

Most acute infections, unless severe, require only limited treatment. Mild to moderate infections in the early stages will usually resolve with one to three sessions. Severe or sub-acute illnesses, especially those which have been ongoing for a period of weeks, require more prolonged therapy.

Acupuncture is very useful in the treatment of acute infective illnesses and minimises the need for antibiotics. In the treatment of acute respiratory tract infections, it is a useful alternative to the prophylactic use of antibiotics to cover infection of probable bacterial origin. Acupuncture is effective in treating acute viral infections where drug therapy is inappropriate or unavailable.