Fibromyalgia is a painful condition that affects the quality of life for thousands of people. It is characterized by widespread musculoskelatal pain, sleep and mood issues and chronic fatigue. It is more common in women than men, and can often be accompanied by other health issues such as irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety and depression.
From a modern western medical perspective, the exact cause of fibromyalgia is not currently understood. It may often follow emotional or physical trauma.
There are no specific tests such as MRI, to give a definitive diagnosis of fibromyalgia. Rather, it is diagnosed by meeting certain symptomatic criteria. These criteria are based on the American College of Rheumatology’s “the ACR 1990″ and include the following symptoms:
- A history of widespread pain lasting more than three months—affecting all four quadrants of the body, i.e., both sides, and above and below the waist.
- Tender points—there are 18 designated possible tender points (although a person with the disorder may feel pain in other areas as well).
Your western MD might prescribe medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) or anitdepressants to help with pain, mood and sleep symptoms. He or she might also suggest acupuncture as an alternative.
Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can be an effective therapy for the treatment of fibromyalgia. 
A study published in the Mayo Clinic’s June 2006 edition of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings suggests that,” …acupuncture significantly improved symptoms of fibromyalgia. Symptomatic improvement was not restricted to pain relief and was most significant for fatigue and anxiety.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) lists fibromyalgia as one of its conditions for which the therapeutic effect of acupuncture has been shown but for which further proof is needed.
Traditional Chinese Medicine theory states; “where there is pain, there is lack of free flow of qi and blood”. This can be due to a deficiency or excess of the body, or a combination of both. “Qi” in broad sense can mean “vital function”. It can be due to a number of underlying TCM patterns. These patterns may include:
- Liver & Spleen disharmony (pain, fatigue, irritability, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, headaches and insomnia)
- Qi and blood deficiency (dull pain, dizziness, easily fatigued, pale face, lips and nails, palpitations, anxiety, poor appetite and excessive blood loss)
- Kidney deficiency (low back and knee soreness, feelings of a cold body, loss of libido, sexual dysfunction, extreme prolonged stress or fatigue and overwork)
Acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, tuina (Chinese medical massage), dietary therapy as well as tai qi and qi gong (breathing and movement exercises) can offer patients suffering from fibromyalgia another means of treatment. Acupuncture has been shown to release endorphines, and improve circulation which, can modify the experience of pain and stimulate the bodies own healing response.
If you would like more information on the use of acupuncture treatment for fibromyalgia, please feel free to contact me.
In good health,
