Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine
Acupuncture in Lugano
Acupuncture performed by a specialist physician, combining Western diagnosis with assessment according to Traditional Chinese Medicine. We treat chronic pain, headaches, joint and functional disorders, with needles or with laser.
- Classical body acupuncture, abdominal acupuncture, RAC ear acupuncture and laser acupuncture
- Certified in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine (ASA)
- Certificate in abdominal acupuncture (Bo Zhiyun method), level 1, Istituto Paracelso in Rome
- Sterile single-use needles
FMH Physical medicine and rehabilitation
ASA Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine
4 techniques: needles, abdominal, RAC ear acupuncture, laser
RME for complementary insurance
When acupuncture can help
Musculoskeletal pain
- Low back pain and sciatica, neck and upper back pain
- Osteoarthritis of the knee, hip, hand and shoulder
- Tendinopathies: tennis elbow, shoulder, Achilles tendon
- Myofascial pain, fibromyalgia, whiplash sequelae
Functional disorders
- Tension headache and migraine
- Sleep disturbance, stress, states of tension
- Allergic rhinitis and airway complaints
- Digestive complaints, nausea, dysmenorrhoea
Nerves and internal organs
- Trigeminal neuralgia, facial palsy and other nerve disorders
- Nervous stomach, reflux, gastritis and bowel complaints
- Allergic, eye, ear, skin and bladder complaints
- Heart and circulation complaints
Alongside other treatment
- Anxiety, depression, exhaustion and burnout, psychosomatic complaints
- Gynaecological complaints, pregnancy and the postpartum period
- Overweight, non-insulin-dependent diabetes, thyroid disorders
- Stopping smoking or drinking, wish for a child, cancer treatment and chemotherapy, immune defences and vitality
Acupuncture is integrated into the treatment plan when the clinical indication is clear and, where useful, combined with manual medicine, ultrasound-guided injections or laser therapy.
The techniques we use
Classical body acupuncture
Sterile single-use needles inserted at points selected after the TCM assessment. Generally well tolerated.
RAC ear acupuncture
Auriculomedicine with Nogier reflex control: points identified on the outer ear, useful in chronic pain and in addiction. Also with long-acting absorbable needles.
Non-invasive laser acupuncture
Up to twelve laserneedles rest on the skin and stimulate several points at once. Painless and needle-free: suited to needle-sensitive and younger patients.
Abdominal acupuncture
Fine needles placed at points on the abdomen, following Prof. Bo Zhiyun's method. The doctor holds the level 1 certificate from Istituto Paracelso in Rome.
Combined with pain therapy
Where needed, acupuncture sits alongside manual medicine, ultrasound-guided injections and laser therapy within the same plan.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): how we work
Before every session Dr Djordjevic carries out an assessment according to the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine, to identify the points most suited to your case; the same reading also guides RAC ear acupuncture.
The treatment is acupuncture: with sterile single-use needles, with the needle-free laser or on the ear. The technique is chosen at the visit, together.
The pathway
From the first consultation to the course of sessions
Specialist consultation
History, clinical examination and, if indicated, musculoskeletal ultrasound to clarify the origin of the pain.
TCM assessment
Reading according to Traditional Chinese Medicine and selection of the points and the most suitable technique: I carry out the assessment and place the needles myself, at the practice.
Course of treatment
The number of sessions depends on the complaint and is set at the consultation, with periodic review of the results.
Maintenance
Top-up sessions plus exercise or herbal recommendations to consolidate the benefit.
What the research says
Cochrane review 2016 · 22 trials, 4,985 people
Migraine
Attacks at least halved in 41 in 100 patients after acupuncture, compared with 17 in 100 without acupuncture.
Cochrane review 2016 · 12 trials, 2,349 people
Tension-type headache
In the largest trial of the review, headaches at least halved in 48 in 100 patients, compared with 19 in 100 with usual care.
Meta-analysis, Journal of Pain 2018 · 39 trials, 20,827 patients
Chronic pain
Back, neck, osteoarthritis, shoulder and chronic headache: acupuncture reduced pain more than no treatment and more than sham acupuncture. After a year the effect fell by only about 15%.
Is it safe?
In a study of 229,230 patients treated by doctors, 8.6 in 100 reported at least one side effect, most often minor bleeding or a small bruise where the needle went in. Serious complications were very rare.
Tell the doctor if you
- take blood thinners
- are or might be pregnant
- have a pacemaker
- are afraid of needles: there is the laser
Frequently asked questions
Is acupuncture painful?
The needles are very thin, sterile and single-use: the most common sensation is a tingling or a local feeling of heaviness. Acupuncture is chosen after the specialist consultation and the assessment according to traditional Chinese medicine. For those who prefer to avoid needles, or for younger patients, laser acupuncture, up to twelve laserneedles placed on the skin, is painless and without a prick. Tell the doctor at the consultation if you are afraid of needles, take blood thinners, are or might be pregnant, or have a pacemaker.
How many sessions are needed?
It depends on the complaint and how long it has lasted. The path starts with the specialist consultation (history, clinical examination and, if indicated, musculoskeletal ultrasound), then the traditional Chinese medicine assessment and the choice of points and technique. The course is set at the consultation, with periodic review; later, follow-up sessions and exercise advice can help consolidate the benefit.
Is acupuncture covered by insurance?
The practice is RME certified and, in Ticino, bills complementary insurers: with complementary insurance, under certain conditions, the treatment can be reimbursed. Patients with basic insurance only receive a clear cost estimate at the visit and pay directly. For acupuncture, the doctor is also recognised by Visana (ZSR number V272164, listed in Visana's therapist list): patients with Visana complementary-medicine insurance can be reimbursed according to their policy.
Do I need a referral from my family doctor?
No, you can book directly. If you are already under the care of other specialists, bringing reports and images helps us set up treatment straight away.
Does the laser work like needles?
It stimulates the same points without a prick. There are fewer studies on laser than on needles. If you cannot tolerate needles, it is a good alternative that we can choose together at your consultation.
Can I have acupuncture if I take medication?
Usually yes: acupuncture works alongside your treatment. Bring your list of medicines to the first consultation and do not stop any treatment without talking to the doctor.
What should I bring to my first consultation?
Recent reports and test results, your list of medicines and, if you have it, your health insurance card. Comfortable clothes help. If you are already under the care of other specialists, bringing images and reports helps us set up treatment straight away. You do not need a referral from your family doctor: you can book directly.
Can it be combined with other therapies?
Yes. Acupuncture is often integrated with manual medicine, laser therapy and interventional pain therapy within the same plan.
Scientific sources
- Linde K, et al. Acupuncture for the prevention of episodic migraine. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;(6):CD001218. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001218.pub3
- Linde K, et al. Acupuncture for the prevention of tension-type headache. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;(4):CD007587. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007587.pub2
- Vickers AJ, et al. Acupuncture for Chronic Pain: Update of an Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis. J Pain. 2018;19:455–474. doi:10.1016/j.jpain.2017.11.005
- Witt CM, et al. Safety of acupuncture: results of a prospective observational study with 229,230 patients and introduction of a medical information and consent form. Forsch Komplementmed. 2009;16:91–97. doi:10.1159/000209315
Not sure which treatment is right for you?
For musculoskeletal pain the practice follows several routes, often combined. The specialist visit, with ultrasound when needed, clarifies which one is indicated in your case.
Rheumatology
Diagnosis and treatment plan: the first visit when the pain is in the joints, back or tendons.
Interventional pain therapy
Ultrasound-guided injections of joints and soft tissues, with hyaluronic acid or PRP when indicated.
PRP for joints and tendons
Plasma prepared from the patient's own blood and injected into tendons and joints.
Laser therapy
Laser light applied locally, in the joint or in the bloodstream, without drugs.
The information on this page is for general information only and does not replace medical advice. The indication, expected benefits and risks of every treatment are assessed individually during the specialist consultation.
Book an acupuncture consultation
Initial specialist assessment, indication for treatment and definition of the course of sessions.
We accept referrals and second-opinion requests from your physician, via HIN. dr.djordjevic@hin.ch
How to reach us
In Lugano, a short walk from USI and EOC
The practice is centrally located in Italian-speaking Switzerland, also reachable from Mendrisio, Bellinzona, Locarno and Chiasso, and is easy to reach from Italy, Milan, Como, Varese and Lombardy by car and by train.
By car: the practice's own car park is right in front. By public transport: a short walk from USI.
Address
Via Alessandro Volta 1
6900 Lugano
Opening hours
Monday and Wednesday 08:00–16:30
Friday 08:00–13:30