Fibromyalgia is a real condition full of painful muscles and joints as well as the pain of depression, so painful that it is debilitating. There are medications that can help, but they are mainly antidepressants and pain medication. Long term mediations such as these can cause side effects and other physical problems.

In 2008 over six million people suffer from the invisible, but very real disease of fibromyalgia. Although not everything is known about this disease, it is believed to have an autoimmune origin and characterized with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Other symptoms can include joint stiffness, fatigue and sleep disturbances.

It has been shown that the symptoms associated with fibromyalgia can be helped with yoga, extra sleep, getting proper nutrition and daily low impact exercise as well as with acupuncture.

Acupuncture has been practiced in China for over 5,000 years. It is considered a main stream treatment for many ailments in the Asian countries. Until recently it has been considered an alternative medicine and given little or no notice by the western medical community. This medical treatment deals with disease by using long, thin needles inserted in body locations called acupoints that coincide with energy paths relating to specific organs.

Most recently results from a Mayo Clinic study showed acupuncture to be beneficial in reducing the symptoms of this disease. 50 fibromyalgia patients in a controlled acupuncture trial were studied by clinic researchers. A conclusion that patients receiving acupuncture significantly improved compared with the control group. The patients receiving acupuncture said they experienced a reduction in pain, fatigue and anxiety. Lead Mayo Clinic researcher, Dr. David Martin considered "Acupuncture needles may trigger the patient's nervous system to respond in ways that improve the underlying hypersensitivity that causes fibromyalgia symptoms."

Other western scientists speculate that acupuncture may stimulate the production of immune system cells as well as (pain killing) endorphins. They also consider that this medical treatment may change the release pattern of neurotransmitters in the brain, thus affecting the central nervous system and so reducing pain.

To further demonstrate the use of acupuncture, other groups are doing studies in the area of hypertension, osteoarthritis, chronic pain and depression. In fact, the National Institutes of Health is currently looking to oversee fifty such trials in the use of acupuncture. At this time besides improvements shown in fibromyalgia, acupuncture has shown to be relief in head aches, weight change, muscle spasms, irritable bladder, numbness and panic attacks.

Referrals for certified acupuncturists can be found through the American Association of Medical Acupuncturists at www.medicalacupucture.com or the American Academy of Oriental Medicine at www.aaom.org.