Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by chronic widespread pain, fatigue, insomnia, and mood issues impacting quality of life. Acupuncture is widely used for pain management for both acute and chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia. A 2019 systematic review, including twelve randomized control trials, compared acupuncture therapy to sham acupuncture or conventional medicine in treating fibromyalgia. The results of the review suggests that:
Acupuncture therapy is effective and safe for the treatment of fibromyalgia
Acupuncture therapy plays a significant part in non-pharmacological therapies for fibromyalgia
The analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of acupuncture may benefit those with fibromyalgia
References:
Zhang, X. C., Chen, H., Xu, W. T., Song, Y. Y., Gu, Y. H., & Ni, G. X. (2019). Acupuncture therapy for fibromyalgia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of pain research, 12, 527–542.