A 12-week study of 100 people with fibromyalgia compared true acupuncture therapy with three forms of sham or fake acupuncture and found that patients who received true acupuncture had no better pain relief than those who received the sham therapies (Article, p. 10).

The sham acupuncture included needles inserted at points for treating another condition, needles inserted at points that are not acupuncture points, and use of special needle-like devices that did not pierce the skin.

Participants were allowed to continue other treatments they had been using for fibromyalgia or other physical ailments.

Annals of Internal Medicine tip sheet for July 5, 2005

Susan Anderson
sanderson@acponline.org
215-351-2653
American College of Physicians
http://www.acponline.org