Ease Fibromyalgia naturally

By Li Zhixin

Doctors usually recommend exercise, sleep and medications when treating fibromyalgia, but the effectiveness is often limited and the chronic pain and fatigue associated with the condition can make running and swimming difficult.

A new study suggests that tai chi – the slow-moving, meditative martial art – may be a more effective alternative.

Tai chi as a natural therapy

US researchers divided 66 people diagnosed with fibromyalgia into two groups: one group did hour-long sessions of tai chi twice a week for three months; the other had a twice-weekly lifestyle education class followed by gentle stretching.

After three months, symptoms were significantly alleviated in the tai chi group while the control group reported no improvements. Most participants reported a decrease in feelings of pain, fatigue, depression and anxiety, and an overall better quality of life. They also reported better sleep quality and improved physical conditioning.

The improvements were still evident at 24 weeks, according to the research reported in the August 19 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Tai chi is a mind-body exercise that originated as a martial art. It combines meditation with slow, gentle movements, deep breathing and relaxation. It can improve muscle strength, flexibility, balance, sleep and coordination by moving chi, or vital energy, throughout the body.

Although it is not clear from the study how tai chi might improve fibromyalgia, both the physical activity and the meditative aspects are likely beneficial, says Chenchen Wang, the lead researcher and an associate professor at the Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston.

“Some people need the physical improvement, while others need more mental improvement,” she says. “Tai chi can help with both. The physical component of tai chi can improve aerobic capacity, strength and muscle function. But the most important part is mental. You see lots of patients improve their depression and become good friends with each other.”

Previous research has shown that tai chi can help relieve arthritis and other pain conditions, but this study was the first controlled trial to examine its effectiveness as a treatment for fibromyalgia.