Acupuncture, and other Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) therapies can effectively treat complex physical disorders like fibromyalgia without the side effects of allopathic medication. Frequently, fibromyalgia is treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) which are beneficial for symptom management but may cause drowsiness, headache, nervousness, and dizziness. There has been no proven cure for this syndrome; individualized TCM therapy approaches fibromyalgia treatment through a detailed individualized diagnosis regarding the pattern of the imbalance.

Fibromyalgia symptoms often include chronic muscle, tendon and joint pain, fatigue and sleeping disorders. Fibromyalgia may also be associated with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or connective tissue disease. Symptoms may be greatly influenced by physical activity, stress and environment. TCM views fibromyalgia as a condition resulting from liver, kidney, spleen, and heart imbalance, caused by stress, overexertion, inadequate sleep, and poor nutrition. Acupuncture and other TCM therapies can aid in pain management, improve sleep and increase energy.

Acupuncture has been shown to be particularly effective in reducing the symptoms of fibromyalgia, according to a recent Mayo Clinic study appearing in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings. The study included 50 fibromyalgia patients enrolled in a randomized, controlled trial to determine if acupuncture improved their symptoms. Symptoms of patients who received acupuncture significantly improved compared with the control group. "The results of the study convince me there is something more than the placebo effect to acupuncture," says David Martin, M.D., lead author of the acupuncture article and a Mayo Clinic anesthesiologist. "It affirms a lot of clinical impressions that this complementary medical technique is helpful for patients." Increasingly, patients are integrating complementary medicine techniques into their mainstream medical care.

Acupuncture & Massage College´s Masters of Oriental Medicine and Massage Therapy programs prepare graduates for careers as acupuncture physicians and massage therapists. For program information call Joe Calareso at (305) 595-9500 or visit www.amcollege.edu for complete program information and class descriptions.