Fibromyalgia is a frustrating and sometimes debilitating condition that doesn't respond well to conventional medications and treatments. Studies that have looked at alternative medicine for fibromyalgia pain such as touch therapy, meditation, massage, and chiropractic manipulation have given mostly mixed results. This leaves the fibromyalgia sufferer with few viable alternatives to treat this puzzling condition for which no cause is known. Fortunately, there are two alternative treatments for fibromyalgia that appear to hold some promise according to recent studies.

Acupunture for Fibromyalgia Pain

A study carried out at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota suggests that acupuncture may be effective in relieving fibromyalgia pain. Fifty patients suffering from fibromyalgia were enrolled in a randomized, controlled trial to determine if acupuncture could help fibromyalgia symptoms. The patients who received the acupuncture treatment were found to have fewer fibromyalgia pain symptoms than those who were in the control group. Another study published in the Journal of Rehabilitative Medicine in July of 2008 showed that acupuncture used as an adjuvant to conventional antidepressant and exercise therapy gave better relief of fibromyalgia pain than did conventional therapy alone. Positive results were seen even three months after acupuncture treatment had been discontinued. Both of these studies are strongly suggestive that alternative treatment for fibromyalgia using acupuncture may be effective.

Yoga for Fibromyalgia Pain

Yoga therapy is another alternative treatment for fibromyalgia that appears to hold promise. According to a study carried out at the Pulmonary Division of the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil, yoga classes may help to relieve fibromyalgia pain. Although the reason why yoga can reduce the symptoms of fibromyalgia is unclear, it's thought that it may help the fibromyalgia sufferer gain a greater sense of control over his or her body as well as reduce muscle tension and tightness that could trigger pain. Plus, yoga has a variety of other positive mental and physical benefits that could be helpful in reducing the sleep problems and depression associated with the disease. Yoga is a relatively safe treatment that offers a variety of potential benefits.

It's possible that combining alternative medicine for fibromyalgia with more conventional treatments such as antidepressants and exercise may be even more effective than using acupuncture or yoga alone. When it comes to a complex disease such as fibromyalgia that has so many facets, multiple therapeutic approaches can sometimes give the best results. Alternative treatments for fibromyalgia such as acupuncture and yoga offer significant advantages over conventional treatments as they're safe and have few significant side effects. If you suffer from fibromyalgias, you may want to ask your doctor about possible use of these therapies to treat your symptoms.