Italian researchers have shown that a course of acupuncture for severe fibromyalgia, is effective for treating multiple mental and physical symptoms. In the study, 102 patients with chronic, treatment-resistant fibromyalgia, and attending as out-patients of a rheumatology clinic in Ancona, received eight acupuncture sessions on a weekly basis. All participants were allowed to continue drug therapy.
After the eight weeks, patients experienced significant improvements in all evaluated parameters, including fibromyalgia impact, neuropathic pain, pain catastrophising and global health. The researchers say that for the first time, acupuncture has been shown to be effective against disease features such as pain catastrophizing and neuropathic pain. Earlier intervention with multimodal strategies, including acupuncture, could be of great benefit to patients.
(Acupuncture for Fibromyalgia: An Open-Label Pragmatic Study on Effects on Disease Severity, Neuropathic Pain Features, and Pain Catastrophizing. Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine, 25 February 2020.)