Acupuncture for Relief of Fibromyalgia Pain
Fibromyalgia Pain affects between 2-8% of the general population and is a widespread medical condition that is characterized by chronic pain and heightened sensitive to pressure. Some people suffering from this condition may also experience secondary symptoms like insomnia, trouble swallowing, fatigue, numbness, feeling of “pins and needles,” and bladder problems.
While both men and women can develop fibromyalgia, it’s far more common among women. Experts saying that between 80 and 90% of all cases occur in women. Evidence has shown that many people use acupuncture for relief of fibromyalgia pain and can be successful in doing so!
The defining symptom of fibromyalgia is pain — lots of pain. It’s unclear exactly how or why fibromyalgia triggers pain, but researchers believe it could be attributed to neurochemical imbalances in the brain. In any case, there’s new evidence indicating that the centuries-old practice of acupuncture may offer relief of fibromyalgia pain.
Unfortunately, there’s no known cure for fibromyalgia, but there are some effective techniques available to better manage the pain. Some doctors immediately assume that prescription drugs are the best course of action to manage fibromyalgia pain; however, a new study has found acupuncture does offer pain relief
Researchers conducted a study to determine the effectiveness of acupuncture when used for the treatment of fibromyalgia pain. For the study, 164 men and women who were diagnosed with the disease were recruited. These patients were then placed into one of two different groups: the first group received a single 20-minute session of acupuncture each week, while the second group received a single 20-minute sham acupuncture session for week. Both groups received their respective treatments over the course of nine weeks.
At the end of the study, researchers found that participants who had received the real acupuncture reported a 41% decline in their pain intensity, whereas participants whop had received sham acupuncture reported a 27% decline in their pain intensity. While both groups experienced positive results, the acupuncture group had far better results.
“Individualized acupuncture is a safe and good therapeutic option for the treatment of patients with fibromyalgia,” said Dr. Jorge Vas of the pain treatment unit at Dona Mercedes Primary Health Center in Seville, Spain. “Although it was allowed for the participants to continue with the pharmacological [drug] treatment they were taking beforehand, when the study was finished, the patients who received individualized acupuncture were taking less medication…“
Acupuncture works on the principle of correcting blockages within the body that leave us susceptible to disease and illness. Furthermore, these blockages may also lead to chronic pain, such as that associated with fibromyalgia. In any case, numerous studies have found that centuries-old form of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and acupuncture to be a safe and effective way to relieve fibromyalgia pain.
This isn’t the first study indicating that acupuncture is an effective tool in the treatment of chronic pain, and it probably won’t be the last. Whether you suffer from fibromyalgia or any other chronic pain condition, you should consider seeking acupuncture. It’s a safe and effective way to relieve bodily pains, all without the use of prescription drugs or medication. In addition , Functional Medicine, using nutrition, is a wonderfully effective adjunct to acupuncture treatments.
This study was published in the journal Acupuncture in Medicine.
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