The answer is yes, as part of a Whole Systems Treatment, but let’s cover some background first.
Fibromyalgia is a collection of symptoms: pain, fatigue, un-refreshed sleep, and a foggy mind, sometimes accompanied by a collection of other symptoms such as headaches, jaw pain, dizziness, IBS, bladder problems and mood disorders.
Fibro originates from a dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system, called the stress response. For some, it begins with a very stressful or significant event, for others, it is a series of stressful events.
Normally, once the stressful event is over, the body switches to the parasympathetic state, otherwise called the rest and digest state. For fibro patients, when the stressful event is over, the brain remains stuck in a sympathetic response called fight or flight. The muscles are constantly tense and can become very painful, the gas pedal is always on, so you run out of fuel, become fatigued, yet can’t sleep well. With the fight or flight system stuck on, circulation is diverted away from the digestive and hormone systems, which may result in additional deterioration in health.
There is no easy one step solution for fibromyalgia. We work together with patients to reverse the process, improve overall health and focus on re-teaching the brain how to react to stress in a move balanced way. We call this approach Whole Systems Treatment which includes:
- Acupuncture to resolve pain and promote relaxation, better circulation, better digestion, and improved sleep.
- Chinese herbal formulas to optimize function and reduce pain
- Health coaching to improve sleep
- Health coaching to optimize digestion
- Health coaching to develop a movement plan
- Teaching relaxation techniques including qigong, special breathing patterns, mindfulness meditation
With treatment, patients experience a reduction in pain, more energy, better sleep, and improved overall health.
So yes, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can help all of the symptoms that are commonly associated with fibromyalgia and allow you to regain your health and vigor.
Take care,
Dr. Ann
