Editor's note: Somatic acupuncture is specialized form of acupuncture said to work at the level of the autonomic nervous system. It utilizes both needles and a special type of talk therapy to help the body “reprogram” the triggers that result in a flight or flight response. One theory as to the cause of fibromyalgia is that the switch, which triggers the body's fight or flight response, gets stuck in the “On” position, releasing a perpetual cascade of hormonal and other physiological changes.
Article:
Complementary treatment in fibromyalgia: combination of somatic and abdominal acupuncture.
– Source: Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology, November-December 2012
By C. Iannuccelli, et al.
Abstract:
Fibromyalgia is a complex syndrome characterised by widespread pain associated with a variety of other signs and symptoms. The emerging consensus indicates that the best approach to treatment involves the combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions.
Since acupuncture is a tool of traditional Chinese medicine increasingly used as an alternative or complementary therapy for the treatment of pain, the present study aimed to combine two different acupunctural methods (the somatic and abdominal one) in the treatment of 30 consecutive female FM patients and to evaluate the reduction of pain and the well-being state.
The results showed a statistically significant reduction of the number of tender points and of pain. Moreover we observed a statistically significant reduction of FIQ, FAS, HAQ, disease activity VAS, ZSAS, ZSDS at the end of the treatment.
In conclusion, these data suggest that the combination of two types of acupuncture could be a useful complementary treatment in FM patients, not only to control pain but also to improve associated symptoms and quality of life. As a result, acupuncture could be very useful to relieve pain in a multidisciplinary setting.
Source: Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology, November-December 2012. By C. Iannuccelli, F. Mannocci, M.P. Guzzo, M. Olivieri, M.C. Gerardi, F. Atzeni, P. Sarzi-Puttini, G. Valensini, M. DiFranco. Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche, Reumatologia, University of Rome La Sapienza, Roma, Italy. cristina.iannuccelli@uniroma1.it.
