Acupuncture for Fibromyalgia
Traditional Acupuncture’s holistic approach supports people living with fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a long‑term condition characterised by widespread pain, fatigue, poor sleep, pain and stiffness, and brain fog. It affects every aspect of daily life and can be difficult to manage within western medical, as each person is affected in different ways. Fibromyalgia can be debilitating and life-changing. Traditional Acupuncture’s holistic approach supports people living with fibromyalgia.
NHS guidelines encourage acupuncture treatment for fibromyalgia and the chronic pain that goes with it; https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/fibromyalgia/treatment/
Fybroumayalgia Nervous system
Fibromyalgia involves heightened nervous system activity, in the way pain and fatigue, affects each person. Traditional Acupuncture helps calm and regulate the nervous system, caring for and treating your issues and your needs and understanding your symptoms and challenges are real.
Your Fibromyalgia
Traditional Acupuncture Treatment is individualised to you, taking into account all physical and emotional factors of your wellbeing and healing. A full history, medical, environmental, and emotional, is taken when you first come for treatment, and ongoing reviews with each treatment.
Five Element Acupuncture
Your Traditional Acupuncturist assesses you as a whole being, as well as understanding your symptoms. The Five Element tradition places great importance on having a thorough understanding of you as a person, how you respond to the environment around you, and how the Five Elements work in you and your life. Helping you find ways to work with your fibromyalgia, for now and the future. For more information about the Five Elements in you, see page: https://www.southwellacupuncture.co.uk/acupuncture-five-elements/
Acupuncture affect
The benefits of acupuncture treatment may develop gradually over a course of sessions rather than appearing instantly. The cumulative effect of acupuncture treatment is effective for chronic conditions. People suffering from fibromyalgia can be particularly sensitive, so sessions are adapted to be gentle, especially at the beginning.
Complex and Misunderstood
Fibromyalgia is a complex and often misunderstood condition, and management usually requires a flexible, individualised approach. Traditional Acupuncture can do this with you, helping to reduce pain and improve quality of life, encouraging and supporting you.
Acupuncture Treatment
For information, treatment and care for your Fibromyalgia. Contact Hannah Charles Lic Ac MBAcC at: https://www.southwellacupuncture.co.uk/contact/
Hannah Charles is a founder member of the British Acupuncture Council (MBAcC)
The BAcC is an advocate for traditional acupuncture professionals and maintains the highest professional standards to protect the general public. BAcC members are registered on an accredited register, regulated and approved by the Professional Standards Authority for Health & Social Care (PSA). For More information, see the website: https://acupuncture.org.uk/
What Does the Research Say?
From a western medical perspective, acupuncture is thought to stimulate nerves in the skin and muscles, leading to the release of natural pain‑relieving chemicals such as endorphins and influencing how pain signals are processed in the spinal cord and brain. https://www.cochrane.org/evidence/CD007070_acupuncture-fibromyalgia
The NHS acknowledges that acupuncture can reduce pain and improve quality of life in some people with long‑term pain conditions, including fibromyalgia, when used as part of an overall management plan. NHS guidelines encourage acupuncture treatment for fibromyalgia and the chronic pain that goes with it; https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/fibromyalgia/treatment/
Research into acupuncture for fibromyalgia has grown significantly over the last decade. A large overview of systematic reviews published in 2025 found that acupuncture was more effective than sham acupuncture or standard medication in reducing fibromyalgia pain, improving tenderness and lowering fibromyalgia impact scores. However, the authors also highlighted that results can vary between individuals. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12714891/
The British Acupuncture Council summarises current evidence by stating that acupuncture can reduce pain and improve wellbeing in people with fibromyalgia, though more research is needed to determine its effects on fatigue, sleep and cognitive symptoms. https://acupuncture.org.uk/fact-sheets/fibromyalgia-factsheet/
NICE Guidance and Fibromyalgia
UK NICE guidelines for chronic primary pain include fibromyalgia and recognise acupuncture as a valid treatment option, particularly when conventional medication is ineffective or poorly tolerated. NICE emphasises a person‑centred, multi‑disciplinary approach, rather than reliance on medication alone. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng193/chapter/Recommendations
Acupuncture Treatment
For treatment and care for your Fibromyalgia. Contact Hannah Charles Lic Ac MBAcC at: https://www.southwellacupuncture.co.uk/contact/
Fibromyalgia Safe Treatment with Acupuncture
When provided by a properly qualified practitioner, acupuncture is generally considered safe, with reported adverse effects being mild and short‑lived, such as temporary soreness or bruising at needle sites. Systematic reviews report no serious adverse effects attributed to acupuncture in fibromyalgia trials. See MBAcC below
Hannah Charles is a founder member of the British Acupuncture Council (MBAcC)
The BAcC is an advocate for traditional acupuncture professionals and maintains the highest professional standards to protect the general public. BAcC members are registered on an accredited register, regulated and approved by the Professional Standards Authority for Health & Social Care (PSA). For More information, see the website: https://acupuncture.org.uk/
Fybromyalgia Care with Acupuncture
