Fibromyalgia is a medically unexplained syndrome characterized by chronic widespread pain, a heightened and painful response to pressure, insomnia, fatigue, and depression. Symptoms often begin after a physical or emotional trauma, but in many cases there appears to be no triggering event. Women are more prone to develop the disorder than are men, and the risk of fibromyalgia increases with age.
Treatments for Fibromyalgia
Acupuncture has become a treatment of choice for Fibromyalgia. This is mainly because conventional therapies have very limited success. Current, Western, treatments are largely comprised of prescribing different medications for the varying symptoms in a trial and error approach. Research shows that as many as 90 percent of people with fibromyalgia have turned to complimentary and alternative medicine to manage their symptoms.
In the Mayo Clinic’s recent study, acupuncture was found to be helpful in treating the fatigue and anxiety commonly experienced by fibromyalgia patients. In the trial, patients who received acupuncture to counter their fibromyalgia symptoms reported improvement in fatigue, anxiety, and pain among other symptoms.
Fibromyalgia From the Perspective of Chinese Medicine
The Oriental medicine theory of pain is expressed in this famous Chinese saying: “Bu tong ze tong, tong ze bu tong” which means “free flow: no pain, no free flow: pain.” Pain is seen as a disruption of the flow of Qi within the body.
Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture does not recognize fibromyalgia as one particular disease pattern. Instead, it aims to treat the specific symptoms that are unique to each individual depending on their constitution, emotional state, intensity and location of their pain, digestive health, sleeping patterns and an array of other signs and symptoms. Each patient receives a treatment that is unique and specific to their needs.
