Can Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Offer Relief for Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Often misunderstood, misdiagnosed, or dismissed, it can lead to a frustrating and isolating journey for those who live with it. Many individuals seeking relief from their pain and discomfort often turn to Chinese medicine and acupuncture. Ira Wahrman, a licensed acupuncturist working Mamaroneck, New York, has helped many patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia throughout the years.
What is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a long-term disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and tenderness in localized areas. Often referred to as an “invisible illness,” its symptoms are not outwardly visible, making it difficult for others to understand the profound impact it can have on daily life. Research indicates that fibromyalgia affects approximately 2–4% of the population, with women being diagnosed more frequently than men.
Common Symptoms
The hallmark of fibromyalgia is widespread pain, but the condition encompasses much more. Here are some of the most prevalent symptoms:
- Chronic widespread pain: A constant dull ache lasting for months. Often, the pain is mainly felt in the muscles but can manifest in the joints as well.
- Fatigue: Feeling tired despite adequate sleep and rest.
- Sleep disturbances: Unrestful sleep, insomnia, or sleep apnea. Patients often say they feel like they did not sleep at all.
- Cognitive difficulties (“fibro fog”): Issues with focus, memory, and concentration.
- Sensitivity: Increased sensitivity to touch, light, or temperature.
- Mental health issues: Depression and anxiety.
- Digestive disturbances: Constipation, abdominal pain, loose stools, alternating constipation and diarrhea, etc.
- Headaches or migraines.
The severity of these symptoms can fluctuate from day to day, making the condition unpredictable and sometimes overwhelming.
What Causes Fibromyalgia?
The exact cause of fibromyalgia remains unknown, but researchers believe it arises from a combination of factors, including:
- Abnormal pain processing: Heightened sensitivity to pain signals in the brain and spinal cord.
- Genetic factors: A family history of fibromyalgia or related conditions may increase risk.
- Infections or illnesses: Certain infections might trigger or worsen symptoms.
- Trauma: Physical or emotional trauma may contribute to its onset.
It is essential to note that fibromyalgia is not an autoimmune or inflammatory disease, although it often coexists with other chronic conditions. From a Chinese medicine perspective, the focus is not solely on fibromyalgia but on the individual and their unique symptom presentation. No two cases are identical; therefore, treatments will vary significantly. If ten individuals with a fibromyalgia diagnosis were in the same room, they would likely receive different treatment plans tailored to their specific needs. Here are two cases below showing how different the presentation of fibromyalgia can be.
Case Studies
| Patient 1 | Patient 2 |
|---|---|
| Female, 60 | Female, 25 |
| Diagnosis: Fibromyalgia | Diagnosis: Fibromyalgia |
| Systemic pain described as tightness and aching with pain in both the muscles and joints. | Systemic muscular pain described as aching and throbbing, with a perception of warmth in the muscles. |
| Insomnia | Loose stools |
| Anxiety | Profuse menstrual bleeding |
| Constipation | Anemia |
| Fatigue | Persistent sadness |
| Frequent urinary infections | Frequent nausea and abdominal pain. |
| Menopausal with night sweats and hot flashes | Extreme fatigue |
| Frequent bloating and acid reflux | Frequent dizziness |
Despite both being diagnosed with fibromyalgia, these patients exhibit vastly different symptoms and will require distinct treatment approaches. Each treatment is tailored to address the unique set of symptoms experienced by the patient.
A significant number of individuals with fibromyalgia also experience digestive disturbances. Fibromyalgia and gastrointestinal issues are often linked, with many facing complications like stomach pain, bloating, and constipation. Research shows that up to 70% of fibromyalgia patients may exhibit IBS-like symptoms, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is another common digestive issue associated with fibromyalgia.
The Role of Chinese Medicine
Chinese medicine adopts a systems approach to treatment, particularly in its view of the body. The spleen and stomach system within Chinese medicine is the root of digestion, producing and providing all the nutrition to the body in the form of healthy blood and body fluids. When digestion is disturbed, it can often manifest as muscle pain, digestive upset, brain fog, and fatigue.
For example, I recently treated a patient with severe loose stools who exhibited noticeable muscle loss throughout her body. By working to improve digestion as part of the treatment plan for patients with fibromyalgia, we often see relief from symptoms of systemic body pain. The body must be viewed as a whole, especially when patients present with a variety of symptoms from various body systems.
The Acupuncture Treatment Process
An acupuncture session typically begins with an assessment of the patient’s condition. It is crucial to discern the quality of pain, aggravating and alleviating factors, and a thorough health history to identify other barriers to recovery, such as sleep, digestion, stress levels, etc. This is followed by the careful insertion of needles to restore energy flow and alleviate discomfort. Sessions usually last around 60 minutes, with the frequency of treatment depending on the severity of the condition.
Acupuncture for Fibromyalgia
Acupuncture, an ancient practice rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, is now recognized as a beneficial treatment for fibromyalgia. Here’s how acupuncture may help:
- Targeting Painful Areas: Acupuncture involves inserting fine needles into specific points on the body, helping alleviate pain. These points can be used to target specific areas of pain, or if pain is systemic, acupuncture can help reduce systemic pain.
- Relieving Back and Neck Pain: Many fibromyalgia sufferers experience back and neck pain. Acupuncture can reduce inflammation and muscle tension in these areas.
- Improving Digestion: Normalizing bowel movements, decreasing symptoms of acid reflux, abdominal pain, and nausea.
- Overall Benefits: Acupuncture has been associated with reductions in fibromyalgia symptoms such as pain, stiffness, anxiety, and fatigue, while also improving sleep and overall well-being.
There are some studies showing the effects of acupuncture on fibromyalgia:
Efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of fibromyalgia:
Link to study
Complementary Therapies for Fibromyalgia Management
In addition to acupuncture, complementary treatments such as cupping, moxibustion, bodywork (acupressure and reflexology), internal herbal medicine, external herbal medicine, and cranial sacral therapy can be beneficial.
- Cupping Therapy: These techniques utilize suction cups to relieve tension and improve circulation in the muscle tissue throughout the body. Cupping can greatly enhance the effects of acupuncture treatment, often reducing the number of treatments needed to gain relief.
- Bodywork (Acupressure and Reflexology): These techniques apply pressure to various points, meridians, joints, muscles, tissues, etc., to promote relaxation, circulation, improve digestion, improve sleep, and provide pain relief.
- Internal Herbal Remedies: Chinese herbs can be beneficial when used alongside other treatments but should only be taken under professional guidance. Chinese herbal formulas are used to treat the presenting symptoms of a patient. Herbal formulas are customized to address all aspects of health, including sleep and digestion, while also working to help reduce symptoms of pain and fatigue. For many cases of fibromyalgia, internal herbs are added to the treatment to intensify the treatment.
- External Herbal Remedies: After a thorough diagnosis of the pain symptoms, topical herbs can be prescribed. In the treatment of fibromyalgia, since pain is often systemic, herbal foot soaks can be used, which are designed to help address systemic pain conditions. Topical herbal medicine, when used frequently, is an excellent adjunctive therapy and can enhance the treatment process.
- Moxibustion: Cases of fibromyalgia that have pronounced weakness, fatigue, sensitivity to cold, and poor digestion often do really well when moxibustion is added to the treatment. Moxibustion warms and loosens up chronically cold and tight areas of the neck, greatly relieving pain. Moxibustion also balances the digestive system and is used for many chronic disorders. Moxa is used to reset the body’s own ability to recuperate itself.
- Dietary and Lifestyle Counseling: With all health conditions, certain causative factors can create a health problem or greatly exacerbate an existing one. By working with diet and lifestyle, the effects of treatment are greatly magnified. For fibromyalgia, diet and lifestyle need to be carefully examined to discern aggravating factors.
For a greater understanding of the treatment therapies used and how Ira Wahrman, L.Ac, works, please visit this link: Introduction to Chinese Medicine
Conclusion
Acupuncture and Chinese medicine offer promising avenues for relief from the multifaceted symptoms of fibromyalgia. By focusing on the individual and their unique symptom profile, practitioners can tailor treatments that address specific needs, potentially improving the quality of life for those affected by this challenging condition.
For further information about acupuncture and Chinese medicine and how it can help you improve your health, please feel free to reach out to Ira Wahrman, L.Ac, at his acupuncture office in Mamaroneck. The phone number is (914) 772-4044. Or feel free to click below to schedule your first session.