The National Institutes of Health consensus statement on acupuncture released in 1997 lists fibromyalgia as one of the syndromes where acupuncture could be useful by itself, or in combination with other treatments. Chinese medicine aims to deal with both symptomatic and constitutional problems. A recent Mayo Clinic study also showed that acupuncture significantly improved the pain, anxiety, and fatigue of patients suffering from fibromyalgia.
Acupuncture and herbal treatment are very effective for coexisting problems of fibromyalgia syndrome like:
- sleep disturbances
- irritable bowel syndromes
- irritable bladder syndrome
- anxiety
- cold intolerance
- depression
- recurrent migraines or tension headaches
- dizziness, impaired memory, dexterity, and coordination problems
- constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, gas, and nausea
- jaw and facial tenderness and TMJ
- sensitivity to odors, noises, bright lights, medications, and foods
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A Chinese Medicine Look at Fibromyalgia
Chinese physicians view fibromyalgia as the end result of a lingering pathogen, whether caused by viral, bacterial, trauma, prolonged stress, or environmental toxins. The resulting qi and blood stagnation in the channels, combined with dampness, cold, or heat, lead to pain and fatigue.
The progression of the disease:
Heat lurking in the interior: at the beginning stages, especially related to a viral syndrome, you may have slight ache in the muscles, thirst, insomnia, cough with scanty sputum, tiredness, breathlessness, weight loss, and dry throat. One herbal formula used to treat this stage is Xie Bai San.
Lesser yang pattern: is characterized by alternating fever and chills, poor appetite, irritability, dry throat, nausea, bitter taste in the mouth, blurred vision, fullness and bloating below the ribs. This pattern may continue for years! The initial formula used is called Xiao Chai Hu Tang.
Damp heat in the muscles: muscle aches, tiredness, sleepiness, heaviness of the body and head, muscle fatigue after slight exertion, no appetite, feeling of chest oppression, poor concentration and memory, dull headaches, possibly mucus in the stools, vaginal discharge, night sweats, urinary difficulty, bitter taste in the mouth, and hypochondriac pain. One appropriate formula is Huo Xiang Sheng Qi Wan.
Eventually, these symptoms will sap your energy; fatigue, rather than pain, becomes your main problem and these patterns develop:
Qi deficiency: tiredness which is worse in the morning, muscle fatigue and aches, shortness of breath, weak voice, spontaneous daytime sweating, loose stools, bloating, tiredness after meals, abdominal distention and fullness, pale complexion, depression, palpitation. Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang is used.
Yin deficiency: symptoms include feeling of heat in the afternoon, night sweating, flushed face, hot palms and chest, hot head, dry mouth, dry scratchy throat, sore low back and knees, exhaustion, low sex drive, weak legs, dizziness, ringing in the ears, deafness, disturbed sleep. Zuo Gui Wan is a frequently used.
Yang deficiency: you have most of the Qi deficient signs listed above, and some of these signs like a cold or sore low back, weak and cold knees, chilliness not relieved by adding more clothes, impotence, low sex drive, frequent urination, swollen legs, infertility, breathlessness with or without exertion, catching colds easily. You Gui Wan is often used for this stage.
Of course, you will not have all the symptoms listed for each pattern, and can combine signs in one or more patterns, especially in menopausal women. Your practitioner will specify a diagnosis and prescribe the proper formula and plan of acupuncture treatment. Frequently after the first few weeks of therapy symptoms will change drastically if the client also follows the dietary and lifestyle recommendations.
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A few pointers for healing:
Don’t do anything to sap your energy and stress your adrenals. That includes excessive exercise, losing sleep, or taking any type of stimulant, including caffeine. too many people with fibromyalgia rely on coffee to get through the day.Take frequent rest breaks; limit any exercise to 15 minute periods. If you are new to exercise, start with as little as 2 minutes! Try gentle qi building activities like tai chi or qi gong. You might not have an instructor in your home area, but there are plenty of quality books and tapes available.
Get outside every day, at least 30 minutes of fresh air and sunshine! Try to avoid extremes of temperature as well. Keep your thermostat set warmer in summer, and cooler in winter, you’ll save on energy costs, too!
Quality sleep is probably the most important ingredient in healing. Studies show that fibromyalgia patients lack in stage 4 sleep and don’t produce enough serotonin. Either you need to be taking a low dose serotonin enhancing antidepressant, or the non prescription supplement 5-HTP, which is a serotonin precursor. It has been proven to help with sleep disorders which can lead to fatigue and pain, and it also reduce carbohydrate cravings, assisting with weight loss.
You MUST avoid all chemicals in foods, particularly artificial sweeteners. They have been shown to cause all kinds of digestive complaints and muscle weakness, as well as causing your blood sugar to fluctuate just like real sugars. Try to eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, organic preferably, with a small amount of protein at every meal. Eat regular meals to keep your energy and blood sugar up. If you have problems with your digestion, your practitioner can give your herbs to assist your digestion.Drink only if you are thirsty; drinking excess amounts of water can burden your system and lead to swelling, bloating, and loose stools. Use only steam distilled water. You can add trace minerals to improve the taste.
Take an essential fatty acid supplement daily to reduce inflammatory processes and improve brain functioning. Flax seed, primrose oil, salmon oil, or black currant oil are good choices.Magnesium with malic acid has been shown to decrease pain levels. Magnesium deficiency causes irritability, nervousness, and disrupted transmission of nervous system impulses.Calcium is needed to prevent muscle cramps, transmit nerve impulses, provide energy, protect body from lead contamination, prevents aching joints, and promote sound sleep.
You can restore your health! But you must be an active participant in your recovery. Ask questions, research, and never give up!
Susan Mosley, LAc, Dipl.C.H.
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