Acupressure therapy for Fibromalgia

Middle aged women having pain in areas like neck, shoulders, back, hips, arms, legs alongwith symptoms such as trouble sleeping, morning stiffness, headaches, and problems with thinking and memory then you may be a victim of 'fibromalgia'.

Fibromyalgia makes you feel tired and causes muscle pain and "tender points." Tender points are places on the neck, shoulders, back, hips, arms or legs that hurt when touched. People with fibromyalgia may have other symptoms, such as trouble sleeping, morning stiffness, headaches, and problems with thinking and memory, sometimes called "fibro fog."

No one knows what causes fibromyalgia. Anyone can get it, but it is most common in middle-aged women. People with rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases are particularly likely to develop fibromyalgia. There is no cure for fibromyalgia, but medicines can help you manage it.

If specific tender points are particularly painful, you can use acupressure to help calm them down. Simply find the spot with your fingertips and press, gradually increasing the pressure. The spot may initially feel sore, but within a few seconds, the pain should start to ease off, and you will feel the muscle relax. For hard-to-reach places on your back, you can lie down and roll your back on a tennis ball.

The following acupressure points are particularly useful in fibromyalgia:

bullet Gallbladder 20, 30, 31, and 34 are instrumental in strengthening and enhancing circulation to the muscles and tendons.

bullet Liver 3 quiets the nervous system and relaxes muscle cramps and spasms.

bullet Pericardium 6 relaxes the chest and upper digestive tract, and helps relax the mind.

bullet The combination of Spleen 6 and Stomach 36 enhances the absorption and transport of nutrients.

Acupressure

Acupressure Points for Fibromyalgia:

It is important to avoid acupressure points that Enhance Qi. Here are some valuable acupressure points that are safe for fibromyalgia and are not tonification points:

The Four Gates is a popular acu-point combination used for many conditions as it is able to relieve Qi stagnation anywhere in the body. The Four Gates are acupressure points LV 3 and LI 4.

Apply Even Pressure to Acupressure Point LI 4 (Hegu or Union Valley):

Large Intestine 4 is locatedon the dorsum of the hand between the first and second metacarpal bones in the middle of the second metacarpal bone on the radial side.
Acupressure Directions:

Release Acupressure Point LV 3 (Taichong or Great Surge) to Resolve Liver Qi Stagnation:

Liver 3 is located on the dorsum of the foot, in the depression just distal

to the junction of the first and second metatarsal bones.

Causes of fibromyalgia in Chinese medicine...

Widespread pain is defined as having pain in both sides of the body and pain above and below the waist. In addition, pain must also be present in the cervical spine, anterior chest, thoracic spine or lower back.

These tender points are located at:

• Occiput (2) - at the suboccipital muscle insertions (near the base of the skull)
• Low cervical (2) - at the anterior aspects of the intertransverse spaces at C5-C7 (the lower vertebra of the neck)
• Trapezius (2) - at the midpoint of the upper border (the neck, mid back and upper back muscles between the shoulder blades)
• Supraspinatus (2) - at origins, above the scapula spine near the medial border
• Second rib (2) - upper lateral to the second costochondral junction (the insertion of the second rib)
• Lateral epicondyle (2) - 2 cm distal to the epicondyles (the side of the elbow)
• Gluteal (2) - in upper outer quadrants of buttocks in anterior fold of muscle (the upper and outer muscles of the buttocks)
• Greater trochanter (2) - posterior to the trochanteric prominence (the upper part of the thigh)
• Knee (2) - at the medial fat pad proximal to the joint line (the middle of the knee joint)

Link: Fibromyalgia Pressure Point

Useful links and resources:

* The National Fibromyalgia Research Association is a free resource of information about treatment and cure for fibromyalgia.

you will find fibromyalgia diagnostic criteria and an Informational Guide.

Related Non-profit and Foundations

CFS/FM Management

Information on chronic pain treatments and prescription guidelines:
American Pain Society Partners Against Pain

Arnold Chiari Malformation