Is a conclusion reached by researchers in Spain!
There is new research to suggest that acupuncture can be effective in treating the pain associated with Fibromyalgia.
A trial has been conducted on 153 fibromyalgia patients in three primary care centres in Southern Spain. The patients were given a weekly acupuncture session for 10 weeks in addition to their usual medication and then they were asked to record any reduction in their pain levels.
In true scientific style, half the group received ‘proper acupuncture’ ( as I would practice it!) and half the group thought they were receiving acupuncture but actually weren’t. (This is usually achieved by using fake needles and the patients given the impression that the needles are being inserted)
The group that had acupuncture saw a 41% reduction in their pain (versus 27% ), and the important thing is that they were still benefiting from the acupuncture up to one year later – yay! ( 20% versus 6% ).
The report concludes by recommending that acupuncture should be used to treat Fibromyalgia.
This was a clinical trial so in the real world I would carry out the acupuncture slightly differently. Certainly, acupuncture would start on a weekly basis, but then the treatments would be spread out with people eventually receiving a top-up treatment every 4 to 6 weeks……. I wouldn’t want to treat and then leave people for a whole year!