Acupuncture for Chronic Fatigue/Fibromyalgia - Treatment Protocols

Submitted by yyh_staff on Wed, 08/02/2006 - 8:00pm

Below you will find some of the more common tcm diagnoses and acupuncture treatment protocols for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and related disorders. There are many ways to treat this condition with Eastern Medicine and our presentation is only one of many possible options.

  • Etiology & Pathology:
    • Differentiation:
    • Damp Heat Obstruction - Excess
      • Signs & Symptoms:
        • Heaviness of the body, tired muscles, fatigue, poor appetite, chest oppression, inability to concentrate, chronic dull headache, thirst, dark urine, hot stools.
        • Tongue:  Greasy yellow coat
        • Pulse:  Slippery, rapid
      • Treatment Points:
    • Qi Deficiency
      • Signs & Symptoms:
        • Fatigue that is worse in the morning, weak muscles, weak voice, shortness of breath, spontaneous sweating, poor appetite, loose stools.
        • Tongue:  Pale
        • Pulse:  Weak
      • Treatment Points:
    • Yin Deficiency
      • Signs & Symptoms:
        • This pattern may effect the LU, KD a/or ST.
        • Common Yin Deficiency signs: heat in the 5 palms, afternoon fevers, nightsweats, malar flush.
        • LU Yin: dry cough, dry throat, hoarseness
        • ST Yin: no appetite, epigastric pain, dry stools
        • KD Yin: fatigue, lack of will power
        • Tongue:  LU: red, peeled; ST: midline crack, imbalanced coat in the ST/SP area; KD: red w/no coat
        • Pulse:  Thin, rapid
      • Treatment Points:
    • Yang Deficiency
      • Signs & Symptoms:
        • Extreme fatigue, cold limbs a/or joints, weakness of the lower body, low libido, bright white skin, clear and copious urine.
        • Tongue:  Pale, swollen, wet
        • Pulse:  Deep, weak
      • Treatment Points:

The information on our site is drawn from our own lecture notes and clinical experience. The following lecture notes were consulted within this section:

  • St. John, Meredith: New England School of Acupuncture, Etiology and Pathology Lecture Notes
  • Valaskatgis, Peter: New England School of Acupuncture, Etiology and Pathology Lecture Notes