|
Acufinder.com is the leading resource for everything to do with Acupuncture, Chinese Herbs and Asian Medicine.
It is the premier Web destination for those seeking health and wellness for themselves and their loved ones through the principles of Oriental Medicine.
We are the voice of authority for up-to-date health and wellness information from an Eastern Medicine perspective.
|
Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) affects an estimated 2 percent of the
population. Conventional therapies are limited in the success of
treating this complex and unexplained condition. Current treatment is
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 complementary and
alternative medicine to manage their symptoms. Acupuncture, in
particular, has become a popular treatment choice and has shown to be
an effective treatment for FMS.
What is Fibromyalgia Syndrome?
Fibromyalgia is a medically unexplained syndrome characterized by
chronic widespread pain, a heightened and painful response to pressure,
insomnia, fatigue, and depression. While not all affected persons
experience all associated symptoms, the following symptoms commonly
occur together:
• chronic pain
• debilitating fatigue
• difficulty sleeping
• anxiety and depression
• joint stiffness
• chronic headaches and jaw pain
• difficulty swallowing
• dryness in mouth, nose, and eyes
• hypersensitivity to odors, bright lights, and loud noises
• inability to concentrate (called "fibro fog")
• incontinence
• irritable bowel syndrome
• numbness or tingling in the fingers and feet
• painful menstrual cramps
• poor circulation in hands and feet (called Raynaud's phenomenon)
• restless legs syndrome
Fibromyalgia is diagnosed when there is a history of widespread pain in
all four quadrants of the body for a minimum duration of three months
and pain when pressure is applied to at least 11 of 18 designated
tender points on the body. This condition does not result in any
physical damage to the body or its tissues and there are no laboratory
tests which can confirm this diagnosis.
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.
From an Eastern Perspective
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. The
disruption of Qi that results in fibromyalgia is usually associated
with disharmonies of the Liver, Spleen, Kidney and Heart Systems.
The Acupuncture Treatment
Oriental Medicine 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.
Therefore, if 10 people are treated with Oriental medicine for
fibromyalgia, each of these 10 people will receive a unique, customized
treatment with different acupuncture points, different herbs and
different lifestyle and dietary recommendations.
Because the symptoms of fibromyalgia are highly variable form one
person to another, a wide array of traditional and alternative
treatments has been shown to be the most effective way of treating this
difficult syndrome. A treatment program may include a combination of
psychological or behavioral therapies, medications, exercise,
acupuncture, herbal medicine and bodywork.
If you have fibromyalgia, acupuncture and Oriental medicine may be
what you’ve been looking for to ease your symptoms and reclaim your
health and vitality. Please call for a consultation today.
Acupuncture Helps with Fibromyalgia Symptoms, According to New Study
The June 2007 edition of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings reports on a study
that found acupuncture helpful in treating the fatigue and anxiety
commonly experienced ...
Treating Fibromyalgia Naturally
It is estimated that between three and six million Americans have
fibromyalgia. You can help cut your risk significantly by incorporating
a few simple life-style ...
|
|
Print Page
Send to a Friend
