Fibromyalgia December 2008 Update

fibromyalgia

I have been spending some of my free time reading the latest information available about fibromyalgia and I have now updated my Fibromyalgia Research Links 2007 -2008 post.

Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Practices Used for Fibromyalgia

Conventional therapies for fibromyalgia are limited, and research shows that about 90 percent of people with fibromyalgia use some form of CAM. CAM practices used by people with fibromyalgia include:

• Acupuncture
• Biofeedback
• Chiropractic care
• Hypnosis
• Magnesium supplements
• Magnet therapy
• Massage therapy
• Tai chi

What the Science Says About CAM and Fibromyalgia

According to reviewers who have assessed the research on CAM and fibromyalgia, much of the research is still preliminary, and evidence of effectiveness for the various therapies used is limited.

• Research on acupuncture—stimulation of anatomical points with thin metallic needles—for fibromyalgia has produced mixed results. One review article notes that three studies found some evidence to support the use of electroacupuncture (in which the needles are pulsed with electric current). However, the effects of electroacupuncture in these studies were mostly short lived, and two studies of traditional acupuncture had negative results.
• Some researchers believe that low levels of magnesium may contribute to fibromyalgia. However, there is no conclusive scientific evidence that magnesium supplements relieve fibromyalgia symptoms. Two small studies had conflicting results.
• A review of the research on massage therapy for fibromyalgia notes only modest, preliminary support. Two studies had some positive findings, but two others found either no benefits or only short-term improvements.
• Supplements containing the amino acid derivative SAMe are used for a variety of conditions. Although several small studies of SAMe for fibromyalgia have had mixed results, there is some evidence of a benefit. Reviewers conclude that more research is needed.
• Finally, according to reviewers, research evidence is insufficient to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of other CAM treatments—biofeedback, chiropractic care, hypnosis, and magnet therapy—used for fibromyalgia.