Acupuncture providing relief from Fibromyalgia

By Tona Marquez on Jul 07, 2016 at 05:42 AM in Santa Barbara Alternative Healing, Santa Barbara Acupuncture

I have experience treating fibromyalgia with acupuncture. And many patients get relief from using acupuncture to treat the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Being able to get acupuncture on a $20 - $45 sliding scale, patients get the personally tailored and frequent treatments they need to get relief.

Acupuncture for Fibromyalgia

A recent article in Medical News Today discuss the use of Acupuncture to alleviate the symptoms of Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia affects an estimated 5 million Americans, 80-90% of whom are women. The disorder is characterized by widespread pain and diffuse tenderness. Although there is no cure, tailored acupuncture might provide some welcome respite, according to a new study.

Although difficult to categorize, fibromyalgia is considered a rheumatic condition because it impairs soft tissue and joints and causes pain.

Fibromyalgia carries with it a number of other life-disrupting symptoms that vary from individual to individual.

These symptoms can include muscle stiffness, headaches, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and sensitivity to temperature, sounds and bright lights.

The exact causes of fibromyalgia are not well understood; however, hypothesized culprits include traumatic or stressful life events and repetitive injuries.

There might also be links to other diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis; some researchers believe there is a genetic component at work, too. Because there are no known biological markers, diagnosing fibromyalgia can be problematic. To reach a conclusive decision, other overlapping disorders must first be ruled out.

Because of these questions surrounding genesis and diagnosis, effective treatments for fibromyalgia are not forthcoming.

Acupuncture alleviates joint and soft tissue pain

My patients with pain in their joints and soft tissues (muscles, tendons, ligaments) get relief when they recieve acupuncture. These patients are sometimes diagnosed with fibromyalgia and sometime they have not yet been diagnosed with any condition.

This is good news. To get good results from acupuncture a western medical diagnosis is not needed.

Acupuncture is a wonderful modality to treat the source of the problem by treating the symptoms. Acupuncture treats the Branch to get at the Root of the problem.

Acupuncture may treat the unknown cause of Fibromyalgia

Traditional Chinese Medicine speaks of the Branch Root relationship theory. The Branch is the symptom of the disease and the Root is the cause of the disease. When acupuncture treats the Branch it also simultaneously treats the Root. As a patient recieves acupuncture to treat a symptom they are also treating the cause of the disease at the same time.

My patients take a short nap with acupuncture needles in place, usually somewhere between 30 to 60 minutes. They repeat this process 2, 3 maybe 4 times a week depending factors such as severity of symptoms, personal schedule and family/work commitments.

Everyone pays on a $20 - $45 sliding scale. I never question what amount patients can afford to pay. Patients know better than me what they can manage to pay for their acupuncture treatments. No explanations are needed.

Some patients like their acupuncture nap so much they continue with treaments on an ongoing basis. Others reach their health goal and move on to a life with less disruption from the symptoms of fibromyalgia.