If your fibromyalgia symptoms won't go away or ease up with traditional medications or rest, consider trying acupuncture. Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medicine that uses special needles to relieve pain and inflammation in the deep muscles and nerves of the body. It's an alternative medicine you can use along with your traditional treatments and medications. Here's how acupuncture works and why it may be a good option for you.

What's Acupuncture and What Does It Treat?

Although acupuncture is one of the oldest medicines in the world, it doesn't follow the same disciplines or practices as modern medicine. Instead, acupuncturists focus on restoring balance in your body with the use of fine needles.  

Acupuncturists use the needles to relieve pressure and pain in 12 organs or meridians in the body. They believe that meridians provide the energy your body needs to stay healthy and strong. If your meridians experience disease, discomfort, pain, or some other ailment, your body doesn't function well.

For example, fibromyalgia can affect many body systems, including your digestive system. The meridian that focuses on relieving pain and illness in this system is the large intestine meridian. If you experience daily bouts of irritable bowel syndrome, constipation or nausea, acupuncture may be of use to you.

Acupuncture may also alleviate discomfort for many other symptoms of fibromyalgia, including:

• Kidney pain
• Joint pain
• Headache 
• Restless leg syndrome

When you contact an acupuncturist for services, be sure to mention every symptom you experience from your fibromyalgia. The specialist can use this information to plan your treatments.

Should You See Your Regular Doctor Prior to Your Acupuncture Treatments?

If you decide to use acupuncture to help overcome your fibromyalgia symptoms, you may wonder if the treatments will interfere with your regular medications or aggravate your condition. Acupuncture treatments shouldn't disrupt or interfere with any medical treatments and medications you use or take for your condition. However, it's a good idea to consult with your physician about your health before you try acupuncture. 

Since acupuncture needles pierce the skin and muscles in various areas of your body, you must make sure that these body tissues are strong enough to withstand the treatments. Keep in mind that fibromyalgia can make your feet and hands tingle or feel numb at time.

Your skin may also experience changes in temperature through the day. For instance, you may feel cold one minute and very warm the next minute. It's essential that you have a medical checkup prior to beginning any acupuncture sessions to avoid aggravating your medical condition. 

If you'd like to learn more about acupuncture, contact a specialist today for an appointment.