Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, Hypersensitivity to Pain, Multiple Joint Pain and Aches.
Can Acupuncture with Tuning Forks and Essential Oils Help?
Fibromyalgia affects about 3-6% of the world’s population, an estimated 200-400 million people worldwide, with higher numbers among women than men.1 People diagnosed with fibromyalgia experience a wide range of symptoms, including fatigue, pain, stiffness, aches and muscle tenderness, along with sleep disorders and intestinal and bowel troubles.
The diagnosis of fibromyalgia can be confirmed when eleven out of eighteen specific points on the body are tender to pressure. Interestingly, some of these tender points closely correspond to the location of ancient acupuncture points.2
Many experts link fibromyalgia symptoms to injury that affects the head and neck. Other types of trauma not related to the cervical spine that may trigger fibromyalgia symptoms include major surgical procedures, being deployed to war, certain types of infections, emotional trauma, childhood separation from your mother for more than six months.
Whip lash type of event may lock the head and neck in a forward position, resetting the body’s trauma response in some people so that their central nervous system continues to react as though it’s under threat. The sympathetic flight-or-fight system is working overdrive, while the parasympathetic system is unreactive.4
Unfortunately, not everyone whose fibromyalgia is triggered by trauma will find relief in the same way. But if you think your fibromyalgia pain stems from a traumatic event that may be emotionally or physically based it may be worth it for you to try our techniques.
A study conducted in 2010, suggests that acupuncture treatment is effective in relieving pain and improving quality of life for fibromyalgia patients.3 Not only can Acupuncture treat the pain and discomfort, but it can also address the underlying problems that have caused the imbalance.
In other research, subjects who received acupuncture experienced an overall improvement in fatigue, anxiety and the hypersensitivity associated with fibromyalgia.5
How Acupuncture And Chinese Medicine Can Help.
According to the theories of acupuncture and Chinese medicine, an imbalance in the flow of Qi can create symptoms and signs that reflect a Western diagnosis of fibromyalgia. Qi (pronounced “chee”) is the vital energy that animates and supports the functions of the body. It flows through specific pathways, called meridians,
and provides nourishment
for the entire body.
When Qi is abundant and freely circulating throughout the body, there is health and pain-free living. When Qi becomes “blocked,” or the supply is inadequate, pain, stiffness
and other symptoms related to fibromyalgia can appear.
What Does An Acupuncturist Do?
An acupuncturist will take a complete health history in order to find out where Qi has become blocked, and/or why the amount of Qi within the body has changed. He or she will then develop a treatment plan tailored to address the meridian pathways that are out of balance. The goal of such a plan will be to eliminate visible symptoms, while addressing the root cause(s) and underlying imbalances.
What Is Out-Of-Balance?
The body constantly strives to maintain a healthy balance of Qi traveling through the meridian pathways. When the flow of Qi has been disrupted, or the supply of Qi has changed, the body becomes unbalanced and the meridians cannot properly nourish the body. This is when signs and symptoms appear.
Most cases of fibromyalgia fit into the Chinese diagnosis of a Liver, Spleen, and/or Heart disharmony. This does not mean that these organs have a problem, it means that the functions of these organ/meridian pathways according to Chinese medical diagnosis are out of balance.
Liver. The functions related to the Liver organ, according to Chinese medicine, are to control the smooth flow of blood, Qi, and emotions and to nourish the tendons. When the Liver meridian becomes blocked there will be an inadequate supply of blood and Qi flowing throughout the body. The tendons and muscles will not be properly nourished, leading to stiffness and pain. Other symptoms of a blocked Liver are depression, anger, anxiety, and insomnia. A Liver imbalance may be caused by improper diet, stress, deep, unexpressed anger, drugs, and alcohol.
Spleen. The Chinese function of the Spleen is to transform the food that we ingest into Qi and blood. The health of the Spleen is affected by diet, over-concentration, and worry. An unbalanced Spleen can result in fatigue, digestive troubles, muscle stiffness, and pain.
Heart. When there is an insufficient amount of Qi and blood produced by the Spleen, the Heart organ will be affected. The role of the Heart is to pump blood throughout the body. It is also considered to be the home of the Spirit. If the Spleen cannot generate enough blood to nourish the Heart, the Heart Qi does not have enough control to properly house the Spirit. Symptoms can include anxiety, palpitations, insomnia, and emotional unrest.
AromaTune is our method to help bring your body back into balance. We select 100% pure essential oils such as basil, lavender, lemongrass, peppermint and marjoram, and we apply them along the spine. Oils are chosen specifically that offer immune support, promote relaxation, stress relief, decrease pain and inflammation and lift the mood. The energetic frequencies of the oils are enhanced with the application of vibrational sound waves from tuning forks on Acupuncture points. The feeling of vibration from tuning forks and the aroma calms stress & anxiety, relaxes tense muscles, and gives a deep healing experience.
We use Meridian Tuning Forks that are tuned to the vibrational frequency of healthy meridian-organ systems. Together they stimulate homeostasis in the autonomic nervous system for balance in the body and mind.
This works through what is called entrainment. It is the phenomenon of sound, in which the powerful rhythmic vibrations of one object will cause the less powerful vibrations of another object to lock in step and oscillate at the first object’s rate. For example, if it is found that your liver meridian is out of balance, the liver tuning fork can be applied or held above the body to help your liver meridian meet the same frequency as the tuning fork.
This protocol can be beneficial for fibromyalgia, hypersensitive people, chronic fatigue, and for those with numerous joint and health complaints.
References
- National Fibromyalgia Association.
- http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fibromyalgia-symptoms/AR00054.
- Itoh K, Kitakoji H. Effects of acupuncture to treat fibromyalgia: A preliminary randomised controlled trial. Chinese Medicine Journal. 2010, 5(1):11.
- Buskila, D., Neumann, L., Vaisberg, G., Alkalay, D. and Wolfe, F. (1997), Increased rates of fibromyalgia following cervical spine injury. A Controlled study of 161 cases of traumatic injury. Arthritis & Rheumatism, 40: 446-452. doi:10.1002/art.1780400310.
- Sletten, C., Berger, I., et al., Mayo Clinic Proceedings Report, June 2006.
Book your appointment with Dr. Michele Arnold or Licensed Acupuncturist Tracey Whitney to experience this effective form of energy medicine.
$125 for 60 minutes.
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