Fibromyalgia

fibro - means fibrous tissue

myo - means muscle

algia - means pain

Fibromyalgia typically includes ongoing muscle pains throughout the body. As well as this, there can be issues with fatigue, mood, sleep and digestion. In Chinese medicine, we have our own 'pattern differentiation' for Fibromyalgia.

Arthritis New Zealand recommends a number of therapies to increase relaxation, in turn reducing fatigue and pain. Acupuncture, massage, infra red and Qigong are included in these recommendations.

A 2019 The Journal of Pain Research published a paper called 'Acupuncture therapy for fibromyalgia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials'

Conclusion

In summary, real acupuncture was more effective than sham acupuncture in relieving pain (VAS, 0–10 cm scale) and improving the quality of life in both the short and long term. Both Electro Acupuncture and Manual Acupuncture were better than sham acupuncture in relieving pain in the short term. Furthermore, acupuncture was more effective in relieving pain in both the short and long term compared with conventional medication. No serious adverse events were found during acupuncture. In brief, acupuncture therapy is an effective and safe treatment for patients with FM, and it can be recommended for the management of FM. However, more large-sample RCTs are needed to investigate the therapeutic effect of EA for FM in the long term.