• Acupuncture Effective for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

  • Acupuncture Effective for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

    Research reveals that acupuncture shows effectiveness in treating chronic fatigue syndrome, known for short as CFS. This was the result of extensive research from the Beijing Chaoyang Fatou Community Health Service Center. The study was conducted to compare the effects of warm needling, standard and sham acupuncture. The conclusion was that warm needling acupuncture is much more effective compared with using just traditional or sham acupuncture.

    In the study, three groups were involved. One group had patients that got sham acupuncture, which is basically a placebo control system that simulates true acupuncture. The second group had patients that got standard acupuncture as a way of controlling chronic fatigue syndrome. The third group received standard acupuncture combined with moxibustion therapy. Results showed that sham acupuncture did not produce large positive outcomes. That being said, standard and warm needling acupuncture were found to provide significant clinical results.

    Researchers concluded that acupuncture and moxibustion can be utilized as alternative and safe treatments for chronic fatigue syndrome.

    About CFS

    Chronic fatigue syndrome is characterized as an illness displaying severe disabling fatigue that lasts for at least six months. This fatigue is made worse by even the smallest amount of physical or mental exertion. There are few obvious symptoms, but victims may suffer from sore throat, depression and myalgia. CFS has roots in psychological and social factors as well as dysfunction of immune systems.

    Findings

    The study involved more than 130 patients, all of whom had previously been diagnosed with CFS. In addition to fatigue present for more than six months, patients displayed some of the following symptoms:

    • Short-term memory or concentration
    • Muscle pain
    • Sore throat
    • Tender lymph nodes
    • Multi-joint pain sans swelling or redness
    • Headaches that have changed in type, pattern or severity
    • Restless sleep

    Acupuncture

    Patients were divided into three groups, with the average age being 33 years old with 20 men and 24 women. Acupuncture and moxibustion sessions were given once a day, with each treatment course consisting of 10 acupuncture treatments.

    After the treatment, the scores of the Chalder Fatigue Scale were calculated in regards to emotional, physical and general fatigue scores. These showed significant decreases in the standard and warm needling groups, but not in the sham group. The physical, mental and general fatigue scores of the standard acupuncture and warm needling groups were higher than those of the sham group, while the physical and general scores of the warm needling group were much better than those of the standard group.

    Overall, moxibustion was well received by all patients. No one experienced adverse effects from treatment.

    In conclusion, the report showed that acupuncture is indeed safe and effective for treating chronic fatigue syndrome.

    Contact Metro Detroit Acupuncture

    Here at Metro Detroit Acupuncture, we offer acupuncture that has been clinically proven to treat and relieve many common health problems, including chronic fatigue syndrome. Contact us to schedule your consultation and appointment at 248-432-2846. We are owned and founded by Marino Moutafis, certified acupuncturist licensed by the Michigan Board of Acupuncture who has treated thousands of patients over his career.