Can Acupuncture Help Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia Hurts – But Acupuncture Can Help

Defined literally as “muscle and fibrous connective tissue pain,” fibromyalgia is a painful medical condition that negatively affects people’s lives all over the globe. Fibromyalgia is estimated to affect 2-8% of the world’s population and five million Americans, and it affects twice as many women as it does men.

The cause of fibromyalgia is still not known, and treatment can be difficult. There’s no one-size-fits-all therapy for this condition – but acupuncture has been found to help. Learn more from Root & Soul, a clinic that specializes in chronic pain management, helping patients in San Diego and La Mesa get back to a healthier and happier life.

How Does Acupuncture Work?

Acupuncture has roots in Chinese medicine and dates back more than 3,000 years. There are various schools of thoughts as to how exactly it works, but the consensus is that it does. It’s been studied extensively after grabbing the attention of the Western world in the 1970s and has been proven to reduce pain – as well as fatigue and anxiety, among other things.

Chinese Medicine views the body as having pathways that can become blocked, leading to pain points like those experienced by fibromyalgia patients. Acupuncture frees up the congestion at these pain points, allowing the body to heal.

What About Acupuncture And Fibromyalgia?

It might sound counterintuitive that placing needles in the body lessens pain – but even for those with a heightened sensitivity to pain, it’s normally tolerated without difficulty. Thin needles are expertly placed at various pressure points around the body and left for a period of time. These needles help the body to facilitate healing and speed up its natural repair processes. Acupuncture is actually thought to increase pain thresholds – partially explaining its efficacy in fibromyalgia patients. You can learn more about acupuncture and fibromyalgia here.

Perhaps one of the most attractive properties of acupuncture is the low level of risk involved. When taking medication or engaging in various other treatments, more risk is often brought into the equation. Acupuncture avoids the potential side effects of drugs and other adverse reactions. When performed by a trained professional, acupuncture is an extremely low-risk treatment that can greatly help with pain in sufferers of fibromyalgia.

Are Needles The Only Option?

No! Fibromyalgia can be treated in a number of different and complementary ways, alongside or instead of acupuncture. At Root & Soul, we offer a number of natural treatments including cupping therapy and Chinese herbal treatments. We understand that fibromyalgia is painful enough as it is – and if you don’t want acupuncture, we can treat you in other ways.

Cupping therapy reduces pain and improves body movement, and can be completely non-invasive. It’s used by world-class athletes – and is now offered in San Diego and La Mesa. Chinese herbal treatments can also help to improve your health and well-being with less adverse reactions than medication.

Which Treatment Is Best For Me?

Not sure which option is best suited to help with your fibromyalgia? Come in and talk to us! We can go over your experience, pain levels, and the different treatment options available to you – and help you choose one, or a combination, to get you on a happier and healthier course.

We can also answer any questions you have about acupuncture or any of the other fibromyalgia treatments that we offer. Don’t put up with the pain any longer – give us a call today.