Fibromyalgia affects millions of people, mostly but not all women. It is a chronic condition whose cause is not known and for which there is no cure. However, largely due to a widespread support network and the exploration of alternative medicine, there is hope for people to help manage the condition, reduce flair-ups, and lead productive, healthy lives. In addition to lifestyle changes (diet, exercise, quitting smoking, and so forth), many sufferers have turned to acupuncture to help them feel better - and the good news is, it works in many cases!
Why does acupuncture work? No-one knows, but my guess is that it operates on many levels - including reducing inflammation, soothing stress, activating natural painkiller pathways in the nervous and endocrine systems, and helping with sleep, mood, and energy levels.
Skeptical? Here's one review of scientific trials that indicates that acupuncture may work for you or your loved one:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3877582/
This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.
The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?
