Treating Fibromyalgia 

What is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia, also called fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), is a condition that mostly affects women between the ages of 20 and 50. The primary symptoms of FMS include chronic, widespread, severe muscular aching, pain, and stiffness. Other common symptoms include insomnia, fatigue, and depression.

What Causes Fibromyalgia?
While there is no clear consensus about what causes fibromyalgia, most researchers believe fibromyalgia results not from a single event but from a combination of many physical and emotional stressors. Many experts believe FMS is linked to hormonal and chemical imbalances in the body. Some believe it is related to stress, illness, or trauma. Still, others think there is a hereditary cause.

How is Fibromyalgia Diagnosed?
FMS is not a rheumatic, inflammatory, progressive, or degenerative disease. In Western medicine, it is differentiated from other chronic muscle-joint disorders by the presence of pain or tenderness on pressure in at least 11 of 18 specific points on the body. Because there are no specific tests to determine if you have fibromyalgia, your doctor must rely solely on your symptoms to make a diagnosis.

The 18 Fibromyalgia Tender Points

How Does Chinese Medicine Treat Fibromyalgia?
In Chinese Medicine, each patient receives their own individualized treatment.. There is no one-specific treatment protocol that is administered for FMS. In Chinese Medicine, diagnosis is based on the unique set of symptoms (referred to as "patterns" ) an individual presents with. Since the symptoms vary from person to person, the diagnosis and treatment will vary. A treatment strategy is based not on Western diagnosis, but on what is called "pattern discrimination". Once the pattern or group of patterns are defined, modalities such as Chinese herbal formulas, acupuncture, massage therapy, and moxibustion can be used to treat the symptoms and the underlying cause.

Are there any Home Remedies that can Help?
Absolutely! A cleansing diet along with lifestyle modifications, meditation, gentle yoga exercises, warm baths using sea salts and/or aromatherapy, self-massage, and the practice of positive affirmations can help to manage and minimize the symptoms. Combining Chinese medicine with home remedies is a very safe and effective way to treat FMS.

Study: Acupuncture Improves Symptoms of Fibromyalgia
A study, conducted by researchers at the Mayo Clinic, found that acupuncture provided significant improvements in a variety of symptoms associated with fibromyalgia, with the effects of care often lasting several months.
Click Here for more information on this study.