Acupuncture for Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes widespread pain. Pain is often felt in the arms, legs, head, chest, abdomen and back. It can be aching, burning or throbbing. The pain is often accompanied by other symptoms such as:

The cause of fibromyalgia is complex and is thought to involve abnormal processing of pain signals by the central nervous system. Many factors can trigger the condition such as genetic predisposition, infections, physical or emotional trauma, and stress.

Acupuncture treatment for fibromyalgia

Clinical research indicates that acupuncture can reduce the impact of fibromyalgia symptoms; reducing pain and improving wellbeing. While the quality and size of clinical trials conducted to investigate the benefits of acupuncture for fibromyalgia are limited, there is a good body of evidence for acupuncture and chronic pain more generally.

The mechanisms underlying how acupuncture is effective for treating pain have been researched extensively. Researchers have mapped neural pathways from acupuncture points, via the spinal cord to pain centres in the brain.

Acupuncture has also been shown to activate a number of the body’s opioids as well as improving the brain’s sensitivity towards them. A number of other biochemicals involved in pain reduction have been found to be released or regulated by acupuncture stimulation.

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