Medicina alternativa e integrativa

Two Cases of Complete Recovery from Fibromyalgia Syndrome after External Qigong Therapy

Abstract

Kevin W Chen, Faxiang Hou and Alan S Litchbroun

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a rheumatologic condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain with many co-morbid symptoms. There are some treatments available to control the symptoms but no complete cure was documented for this complicated pain syndrome. Qigong is an energy therapy and mind-body exercise from traditional Chinese medicine based on a theory or philosophy similar to acupuncture, but rarely studied in clinical trials in Western medicine. This study reports two cases with severe FMS who had minimal relief from conventional therapies. After 7 sessions of external Qigong therapy over 3 weeks; the patients experienced dramatically improvement in their FM symptoms and reported complete recovery. The 3-month follow-up indicated that they were still symptom-free in pain, functionality and depression. This ancient form of mind-body intervention for FMS resulting in complete recovery suggests something in Chinese medicine or the concept of bioenergy may be more effective in treating FMS than anything we know. Larger controlled clinical trials of this intervention are urgently needed.