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Fibromyalgia and Acupuncture

            A study published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings (2006; 81(6): 749-57) tested the efficacy of acupuncture for treating patients with fibromyalgia. The subjects were 50 patients with fibromyalgia (according to the AmericanCollegeof Rheumatology guidelines) and who had tried other forms of conservative care. Half of the subjects received a total of six acupuncture treatments over a period of two to three weeks. The other half of the subjects received placebo treatment. In the treatment group, electrical stimulation was used between two acupuncture points on each side of the body. At the beginning of the study, during the course of treatment and one month after the end of treatment the subjects filled out two questionnaires: the Fibromyalgia Imapct Questionnaire and the Multidimensional Pain Inventory. The group receiving the acupuncture did considerably better than the placebo group. They especially felt less pain and anxiety than the control group and this effect was especially pronounced one month after the end of treatment.