Two Effective Alternative Treatments for Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a frustrating and sometimes debilitating condition that doesn't respond well to conventional medications and treatments. Studies that have looked at alternative medicine for fibromyalgia pain such as touch therapy, meditation, massage, and chiropractic manipulation have given mostly mixed results. This leaves the fibromyalgia sufferer with few viable alternatives to treat this puzzling condition for which no cause is known. Fortunately, there are two alternative treatments for fibromyalgia that appear to hold some promise according to recent studies.

Acupunture for fibromyalgia pain

A study carried out at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota suggests that acupuncture may be effective in relieving fibromyalgia pain. Fifty patients suffering from fibromyalgia were enrolled in a randomized, controlled trial to determine if acupuncture could help fibromyalgia symptoms. The patients who received the acupuncture treatment were found to have fewer fibromyalgia pain symptoms than those who were in the control group. Another study published in the Journal of Rehabilitative Medicine in July of 2008 showed that acupuncture used as an adjuvant to conventional antidepressant and exercise therapy gave better relief of fibromyalgia pain than did conventional therapy alone. Positive results were seen even three months after acupuncture treatment had been discontinued. Both of these studies are strongly suggestive that alternative treatment for fibromyalgia using acupuncture may be effective.

Yoga for fibromyalgia pain