Acupuncture . . . an Effective Alternative Therapy for Fibromyalgia

Learn How it Works

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition which has no know causes. Depression, viral infections and heightened sensitivity to stimuli have all been implicated, but there is no medical evidence to support these suggestions.

Fibromyalgia is a classic syndrome. It is a disease of exclusion, diagnosed only when all other conditions have been ruled out. Fibromyalgia occurs most often in women between 20-50 years of age. There are no objective findings and there is an absence of diagnostic laboratory test results.

Primary Symptoms

The primary symptoms are chronic aching pain and stiffness throughtout the body. Pain and stiffness is often more intense around the neck, shoulders, low back and hips. These are referred to as tender points. For further information on tender points click here.

A review of the Chinese acupuncture Meridians, offers a visual understanding of why acupuncture theory can explain fibromyalgia and why acupuncture can treat fibromyalgia.

As the charts show, acupuncture channels and points are clustered directly at or very near the areas most intensely affected by pain and stiffness. The meridian clusters help to explain why the pain is similarly clustered.

Other Symptoms

In addition, patients exhibit sleep disorders, fatigue, subjective numbness, chronic headaches, and irritable bowel symptoms. Minor exertion tends to aggravate the pain and increase the fatigue. Various areas of the body, called trigger points, are particularly sensitive when pressed. These tend to be centered around the trapezius muscles, the medial fat pads of the knees and the lateral epicondial of the elbow.

Chinese Medical Perspective

Types of Conditions

From the Chinese Medical perspective, fibromyalgia can arise from a number of different situations. The two primary types are:

1) Qi and Blood deficiency; and

2) Kidney/Liver Yin deficiency.

The Assessment

The condition is primarily one of deficiency, because of the general symptoms of fatique,aching pain and worsening of pain with minor exertion. These are classic deficiency symptoms in Chinese Medicine. By comparision, an excess condition would not normally present with fatique and the pain would be more sharp in nature.

The assessment of which type of fibromyalgia the patient has, is made by the practitioner through an extensive intake. The practitioner will ask questions regarding the onset of the condition, other conditions that may have existed prior to or contemporaneous with the occurrence of the fibromyalgia, the nature of the pain -- is it sharp or dull, is it worse in the morning or evening, is it improved or aggavated with exertion.

The practitioner will also look at the patients face, using facial diagnosis techniques, looking for palour, malor flush, condition of the eyes, circles under the eyes, and other facial conditions. These can help to distinguiswh between the underlying types of this condition. The practitioner will also look at the patients tongue for clues as to whether their condition is of the Qi and Blood or kidney/Liver variety. In addition, the practitioner will take the patients pluse to gather further information about the underlying cause of the condition.

Treatment Plan

Once all of this information has been gathered and the diagnosis has been made, the practitioner can then develop a treatment plan. It will be aimed at addressing the unique form of fibromyalgia which the patient has. Points will be selected to boost Qi And Blood or the Kidnet and Liver Yin, as appropriate. Other points, known as Ahsi points (pain points) will also be used.

If the practitioner is an herbalist, then an herbal formula will be developed which is uniquely suited to treating that patients unique disorder.

For further information or to make an appointment, contact us at

West Village Acupuncture
4 Milligan Place
Suite 1F
New York, NY 10011
917.968.2854