A 2014 chronic fatigue study concluded that acupuncture was effective for treating chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). The research explored treating patients with acupuncture combined with interferential current therapy to increase the success rate of acupuncture. The total effective rate of acupuncture alone was 80 percent while adding interferential current therapy to the treatment improved the success rate to 93 percent.
Complete Recovery Versus Symptoms Management
With chronic conditions like CFS, acupuncturists pursue two goals of treatment simultaneously. First, we strive to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life. In the case of CRS, this includes reducing fatigue, mental fog, and anxiety while improving energy, concentration, and mood. We can help a majority of patients in this regard.
Second, acupuncturists attempt to heal the patient at the root level, resolving the condition completely. This path is more complex, but we do have some success. This chronic fatigue study focused on the second aspect, complete recovery.
Impressive Results
In this chronic fatigue study, acupuncture achieved a complete recovery rate of 20 percent as a standalone therapy for CFS patients in 20 treatments. The combined therapy approach of acupuncture plus interferential current therapy (ICT) increased the complete recovery rate to 43 percent. The researchers concluded, “Electroacupuncture plus ICT can produce a remarkable efficacy in treating CFS.”
Interferential Current Therapy
Practitioners typically utilize interferential current therapy (IFC) to relieve pain over a specific area of the body. The IFC machine produces an electrical current that stimulates the nervous system to interrupt the pain signals felt by the brain. While a TENS unit delivers low-frequency current across the skin’s surface, an IFC device delivers a higher frequency current that penetrates deeper into the tissue.
Understanding Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome now exceeds 10 percent of the adult population. CFS presents with debilitating fatigue, often without an identifiable cause. CFS can also involve musculoskeletal pain, sleeping problems, headaches, memory and cognitive functioning, swollen lymph nodes, chronic sore throat, persistent low-grade fever, and exhaustion after physical or mental exertion.
Researchers postulate the condition may be due to viral infections, immune system disorders, or hormonal imbalances. Chronic fatigue syndrome occurs at any age but is most common in the 30s through 50s. Women are more likely to develop CFS. Stress seems to be an exacerbating factor. CFS dramatically affects daily living by restricting the patient’s ability to work, manage the home, interact with family and friends, and take care of themselves.
Chronic Fatigue Study
Investigators conducted this chronic fatigue study at the Taihe Hospital, affiliated with China’s Hubei University of Chinese Medicine. Diagnostic requirements for inclusion in the research followed standard Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. In addition, patients had to have at least six months of unexplained persistent or recurrent extreme fatigue that was debilitating and could not be relieved by rest.
Activities of daily living must have decreased by at least 50 percent. In addition, each patient must have had at least 4 of the following symptoms: persistent fatigue after exertion, sleeping problems, musculoskeletal pain, sore throat, cognitive impairment or memory loss, joint pain not accompanied by redness or swelling, lymph node swelling in the armpit or neck, or chronic headaches.
Chronic Fatigue Study Methodology
Acupuncturists utilized the following procedures when treating participants:
- They inserted needles at specific acupuncture points.
- They activated the points to elicit a “deqi” sensation, which is a slight achy feeling at the site.
- Once deqi arrived at the acupoints, practitioners applied a manual acupuncture needle technique called the “even reinforcing-reducing method.”
- Between 4-6 acupuncture points received gentle electroacupuncture stimulation using a dense-disperse wave.
- Each treatment lasted approximately 20 minutes.
Acupuncture Treatment
Investigators in this chronic fatigue study utilized the following pool of acupoints for the treatments: GV20 (Baihui), CV4 (Guanyuan), CV6 (Qihai), BL25 (Xinshu), BL18 (Ganshu), BL13 (Feishu), BL20 (Pishu), BL23 (Shenshu), PC6 (Neiguan), HT7 (Shenmen), SP6 (Sanyinjiao), ST36 (Zusanli). Many of these acupuncture points are classically used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for the notification (strengthening) of qi (energy).
Practitioners chose 5-7 of these points each time, varying the selection from treatment to treatment. In addition, they applied an ICT device on the trapezius muscles, and the spine between acupuncture points BL15 and BL23 for 30 minutes per treatment. Participants received a total of 20 treatments.
Outcomes
Investigators in the chronic fatigue study defined a complete recovery as all significant symptoms and complications wholly resolved. Further, a complete recovery meant that patients returned to a normal social and work life. In conclusion, electroacupuncture as a standalone procedure proved highly effective, and adding ICT further enhanced positive patient outcomes.
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Reference
Huang, Fang, Xiong Chen, Li-Zhi Zhou, Ping Huang, and Li-hong Guo. “Clinical study on electroacupuncture plus interferential current therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome.” Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science 12, no. 3 (2014): 156-159.
What our Clients are Saying
About six months ago I starting getting debilitating fatigue, to the point where I could not exercise and had to drag myself through the day at work. The doctors said it must be stress, because there was nothing wrong with me. But when I went to Raleigh Acupuncture, they said that my digestion was weak. They said I was not getting proper energy from the food I was eating, so they treated my digestive system. I was amazed to see my energy increase after the treatments. Within 10 treatments I was back to my old self, exercising again and working through the day no problem. And as a side benefit, I started losing weight. They said this was related to my improved digestive function. Now my friends want to go because they see my energy back and see me losing weight!
I am a long term patient of Raleigh Acupuncture. Prior to being under their care, I was disabled with terrible fatigue and pain all over my body. I was unable to drive, could only walk less than a block, and had numerous symptoms that mystified doctors. After countless lab work, x-rays, and MRI’s, several doctors including my primary physician told me that there was nothing that could be done. According to them, it was either an illness that was undiagnosable or it was all in my head. When I came to Raleigh Acupuncture, it was a breath of fresh air. They took me very seriously and were not mystified by my condition. They assured me that my condition was treatable and manageable. They treat me with respect, dignity and care; something that I didn’t receive at my primary care doctor. Thanks to their treatments I am now living a normal life. They have restored my health and taught me how to manage my condition. My family and friends can’t believe how much improvement I have made. My son is grateful to have his mommy back! And I am eternally grateful to Raleigh Acupuncture! They truly have the gift of healing!