Western medicine has not developed any treatments apart from pain medications and has no theories why the disorder develops. An increasing number of fibromyalgia sufferers seek help from practitioners of Oriental medicine. The focus of this article is to discuss the stages the disease progresses through in TCM theory, to discuss the diagnostic differentiation and treatment approaches. The case histories are included to demonstrate the complexity the practitioner frequently encounters when dealing with autoimmune disorders. The typical fibromyalgia patient is female usually older than 30 and presents with severe fatigue, joint pain especially in the shoulders, sensitivity to pressure and touch and frequently digestive symptoms.
Some clients also report depression and sleep disorders.
All symptoms might be of a coming and going nature. Severe illness and childbirth late in life seem to be the most common causes. The patients often display psychological characteristics of being disillusioned and embittered by life and they often feel unable to make positive changes. Usually the symptoms have existed for many years and clients have made a discouraging journey through numerous offices of specialists without receiving any help. Frequently clients have unrealistic expectation about the potential benefits of acupuncture and education is of principal importance.