Don L. Goldenberg, MD, chief of rheumatology at Newton-Wellesley Hospital and professor of medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, agrees. A fibromyalgia specialist, he often works in conjuction with a medical doctor trained in acupuncture, which he finds often gives good results when used in addition to more conventional treatments. But it doesn't work for everyone. And as with all treatments for chronic conditions, it's not a cure. It helps control the symptoms.
Acupuncture is the use of fine needles inserted into the skin at precise points.
When the flow of qi is blocked or out of balance, illness or pain results. Stimulation of specific points along the meridians can correct the flow of qi to restore or optimize health, or to block pain, according to Chinese theory. A traditional Chinese medicine practitioner may also offer herbs along with lifestyle advice. However, some acupoints correspond to areas, called trigger points, that are known to be rich in nerve endings, and studies show stimulating acupoints causes multiple biologic responses. Such stimulation can prompt a cascade of chemicals in the muscles, spinal cord and brain that releases the body's natural pain-killing endorphins, and can also affect circulation and other bodily systems.