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UPDATED: 8:43 pm EDT August 1, 2006
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- The ancient Chinese therapy of acupuncture can help the
pain caused by fibromyalgia, a chronic illness that afflicts about 6 million
Americans, according to new research.
Fibromyalgia causes pain in the muscles, joints, ligaments and tendons. Those
with the disease say the pain can vary from muscle twitching to a burning
sensation.
Women are more at risk, but can anyone can get this disease. The cause is
unknown, making it difficult to treat.
"It can be quite debilitating, and it's chronic. It
goes on for months. It comes and goes, and it can go on for years," said Dr.
Remy Coeytaux, a family physician at the University of North Carolina. "There
are a number of medicines that have been tried. The non-steroidal medications --
the ibuprofen, Advil-type medications -- have not been helpful."
A recent study by Mayo Clinic scientists found
acupuncture helps ease symptoms like headaches, stiffness and arm and leg pain
in fibromyalgia patients. Researchers monitored a group of 50 people, and those
who received acupuncture improved significantly compared to those who didn't.
"There have been three major studies that have been published in recent years,
and on balance, those three have shown that it is effective," Coeytaux said.
Linda McBrayer said acupuncture treatments help relieve the pain of her
fibromyalgia.
"Generally, my pain is less, and I rest better the rest of the day and my energy
level has significantly improved," McBrayer said. "Acupuncture is one treatment
that seems to work for a lot of fibromyalgia patients."
Acupuncturist Carmela Mager said she has seen improvement in her patients with
fibromyalgia after a treatment session in her office.
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