Acupuncture for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Chronic fatigue syndrome, also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS), is a long-term illness characterised by extreme fatigue or tiredness after physical or mental activities that doesn't go away with rest and can't be explained by an underlying medical condition.
Symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome can vary from person to person, and the severity of symptoms can fluctuate from day to day.
What Does The Research Say?
The following insights are obtained from systematic reviews and analysis of clinical trials investigating the efficacy of Chinese medicine and acupuncture for chronic fatigue syndrome.
2020 Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Treatments according to traditional Chinese medicine syndrome differentiation can provide patients with individualized treatments for chronic fatigue syndrome.
Currently, there are many methods for treating CFS with TCM, showing its advantages. On one hand, treatments according to syndrome differentiation are diverse and involve herbal decoctions and proprietary Chinese medicines. External treatments include moxibustion, acupuncture, tuina, cupping, and other treatments. Combination therapies include two or more external treatments combined and internal and external treatments combined, which are often better than monotherapies and can remedy deficiencies. However, the clinical manifestations of CFS are different. Although fatigue is the main manifestation, there are individual differences in the appearance of insomnia or muscle pain in some patients. Treatments according to syndrome differentiation can provide patients with individualized treatments. On the other hand, TCM often has the advantages of simplicity, effectiveness, convenience, and a lower cost.
Advances in Clinical Research on Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Zhang X, Wang M, Zhou S
2019 Acupuncture in Medicine
Acupuncture appeared to significantly reduce fatigue severity measured by Chalder's Fatigue Scale and the Fatigue Severity Scale compared with other types of control.
Sixteen studies with 1346 subjects were included. Most studies had low methodological quality. Meta-analyses showed a favourable effect of acupuncture on overall response rate compared with sham acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. Acupuncture also appeared to significantly reduce fatigue severity measured by Chalder’s Fatigue Scale and the Fatigue Severity Scale compared with other types of control.
Our review indicated that acupuncture was more effective than sham acupuncture and other interventions (Chinese herbal medicine, mainly), but no firm conclusion could be reached owing to limited data, poor quality and potentially exaggerated effect size evaluation. Further large, rigorously designed and reported RCTs are required.
Acupuncture for chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis Zhang Q, Gong J, Dong H, Xu S, Wang W, Huang G
Consult with our practitioners for personalised care and advice.
Although well-conducted clinical research can help members of the public to make better-informed decisions about their healthcare, we do not make any claims that any particular treatment may be efficacious for any individual person.
When you consult with our Chinese medicine practitioners, you'll receive personalised advice and treatment based on your symptoms and Chinese medicine diagnosis.
Scientific References
Browse our collection of scientific clinical research on acupuncture for chronic fatigue syndrome.
It includes recent and reputable papers published by peer-reviewed journals within the last 10 years.
2020, Dec 02
Advances in Clinical Research on Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Currently, there are many methods for treating CFS with TCM, showing its advantages. On one hand, treatments according to syndrome differentiation are diverse and involve herbal decoctions and proprietary Chinese medicines. External treatments include moxibustion, acupuncture, tuina, cupping, and other treatments. Combination therapies include two or more external treatments combined and internal and external treatments combined, which are often better than monotherapies and can remedy deficiencies. However, the clinical manifestations of CFS are different. Although fatigue is the main manifestation, there are individual differences in the appearance of insomnia or muscle pain in some patients. Treatments according to syndrome differentiation can provide patients with individualized treatments. On the other hand, TCM often has the advantages of simplicity, effectiveness, convenience, and a lower cost.
Zhang X, Wang M, Zhou S Full Article
2019, Jun 17
Acupuncture for chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Acupuncture in Medicine British Medical Acupuncture Society
The review indicated that acupuncture was more effective than sham acupuncture and other interventions.
Zhang Q, Gong J, Dong H, Xu S, Wang W, Huang G Full Article
“It is by virtue of the twelve channels that human life exists, that disease arises, that human beings can be treated and illness cured. The twelve channels are where beginners start and masters end.” The Classic of Acupuncture
Circa 1st Century BCE