Alternative Treatments for Fibromyalgia

In their quest to ease pain and get a good night's sleep, many people try alternative medicine for fibromyalgia. In recent years, researchers have found good evidence that certain mind-body therapies can help relieve pain. Other alternative treatments have shown potential as pain relievers for some people -- but there is less scientific proof that they work. Other therapies simply aren't appropriate for fibromyalgia pain.

While natural and alternative therapies are not proven treatments, they may help relieve symptoms. They can also improve quality of life. Doctors generally advise that alternative treatments should be used as complementary therapies -- in combination with other traditional treatments -- for a complete mind-body program.

Acupuncture, therapeutic massage, nutritional counseling, meditation, biofeedback, homeopathy -- as well as specific vitamin, mineral, and herbal supplements -- are the best alternative treatments for fibromyalgia patients, says Birgit Rakel, MD, with the Center for Integrative Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia.

Acupuncture Treatment for Fibromyalgia

Acupuncture is an effective alternative treatment for fibromyalgia and other pain conditions. This practice has been part of traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. It involves inserting needles at strategic points of the body to improve flow of what practitioners call chi, or vital energy that travels through the body's energy pathways called meridians.

Western doctors believe that acupuncture decreases pain by increasing the release of chemicals that block pain, called endorphins. Acupuncture treatment for fibromyalgia has been reported to be effective in a clinical study.

The World Health Organization recognizes acupuncture treatment as appropriate for pain relief -- and the FDA regulates acupuncture needles as medical devices. Some insurance companies will pay for acupuncture treatment. Make sure you get a licensed professional acupuncturist.

Massage for Fibromyalgia

Massage is a popular natural treatment among Americans seeking pain relief, surveys show. Massage gets to the heart of where people feel their pain -- and provides an overall sense of well-being. It also reduces the stress response in the body associated with pain, such as elevated cortisol.

Massage has been found effective as an alternative treatment for fibromyalgia, chronic pain syndromes in arthritis and diabetes, and chronic fatigue. Make sure you get a licensed professional massage therapist.

Meditation for Fibromyalgia

Meditation can lower blood pressure and improve heart rate, breathing, and brain waves -- and is offered as a therapy at many pain treatment centers as a natural treatment. When the body receives a quiet message to relax, the tension and tightness seep away from muscles.

At the heart of meditation is the soothing power of repetition. The body relaxes as one focuses on the breath, ignores intrusive thoughts, and repeats a word or phrase. To achieve a deeper, more relaxed state, it helps to have a teacher to guide you.

Biofeedback for Fibromyalgia

Pain relief and improved sleep are both possible with biofeedback. This natural treatment involves consciously controlling body functions that are normally regulated by the body -- skin temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, muscle tension.