Pregnancy & Acupuncture

Pregnancy is a period of growth that brings many physical and emotional changes. Some of these changes can cause uncomfortable symptoms. Since pharmaceutical medications are generally not safe during pregnancy, acupuncture is a safe and effective alternative to bring relief to the mom-to-be.

Here are some of the symptoms that research has shown are relieved by acupuncture:

• Gastrointestinal upsets. Most women prefer acupuncture over medication, with vomiting and nausea related to morning sickness showing improvements from the first session. It also alleviates heartburn and constipation.

• Pain and swelling. Acupuncture can help significantly to ease pain in the lower back, pelvic pain, swelling in the legs and carpal tunnel syndrome, all common during the second and third trimesters.

• Breech position. Acupuncture (in conjunction with moxibustion) relaxes the muscles in the uterus and abdomen, as it controls the movements of the uterus. This creates the ideal conditions for the baby to turn.

• Sleep problems and fatigue. Acupuncture can help pregnant women get more restful and rejuvenating sleep. It also increases fuel production and energy levels, helping women cope with the physical demands of pregnancy.

• Stress, mild to moderate depression, and headaches. Acupuncture significantly reduces stress and anxiety during pregnancy, labor and delivery. Depression, which affects nearly a quarter of pregnant women, can also be alleviated with acupuncture, as can the occurrence of pregnancy-induced headaches.

• Labor induction and shortening the length of labor. Acupuncture can be used to prepare the mother’s body for labor and delivery. It is also effective at reducing the length of labor and the need for medical interventions.

• Postnatal. Acupuncture assists physical and mental recovery after delivery, preventing fatigue and mood swings. It can improve blood circulation, leading to improved breast milk supply. Other postpartum issues commonly treated with acupuncture are urination difficulty, abdominal cramps, bleeding, hair loss, fever, night sweats and mastitis.

These are just a few ways that your acupuncturist can help you get through the nine months of pregnancy with ease.

By DR. WENDY CUNNINGHAM/Cunningham Chiropractic

New York Times Presents....

A Good Read: Why I Recommend Acupuncture

Ilona Szwarc for The New York Times

When I was younger, I frequently met people who evangelized for universal LSD consumption. A wider perspective, the acid-eaters tried to explain. A benevolent system. They always seemed half-dead to me, some part of them already partaking in the next world, turned away even as they stared into my face and tried to explain. I once watched one of them almost overdose on laughing gas, leering, muttering nastily at my head, his face blue as day. It was indecent, his romance with death. It should have been private. They all just seemed as if they’d willingly trade life for what might be nothing. They seemed infected by the same unexamined certainty as the religious and the insane, mistaking it for some greater ontological understanding.

And then one day I thought I should visit the acupuncturist on Hyperion Avenue. I’d driven past it every day for months. I don’t remember why it suddenly seemed like a good idea. I mean, I remember generally. I was troubled. Things were going wrong. I could produce no reason for it. I thought I might be carrying a backlog of sadness, that it had begun to corrode my life from the inside.

Because I have chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, an autoimmune disorder affecting the peripheral nerves, I’ve had so many venipunctures that the crooks of my elbows are pitted with scars. They look about the same as the scars of my friend who shot heroin for seven years. I’ve had four central lines in my subclavian vein, two on each side. One end tunneled under the skin and then fed into the vein; the other end flopped around on the surface. One of them stayed in for a year. I did six months of the flushing and dressing changes for the line myself. I’ve watched my blood go in and out, lost count of the gallons of other people’s plasma I’ve used, dirtied with autoantibodies, bled back out. I’ve given myself dozens of shots in my legs. All of which is to say that I wasn’t afraid of needles.

Acupuncture points, their location on the body and the body part they treat:

‘‘Bubbling Spring,’’ on the foot: head.

‘‘Calf’s Nose,’’ on the knee: knee.

‘‘Great Hammer,’’ on the spine: back.

‘‘Palace of Toil,’’ on the hand: mouth.

‘‘Cloud Gate,’’ below the clavicle: lungs.

‘‘Spirit Court,’’ on the head: nose.

I was, however, afraid that I might lose my grip on reality and go delicately insane, right there on the table. My nightmares were already bad enough. I preferred to keep my inner terror invisible and unknown. I respected fear, didn’t need to transcend it, but mine was distributed oddly. There were certain things I was an ace at — I’m still a first-rate hospital patient — but it had been six years since I’d driven on a freeway. I was taking pills to get out of bed and more pills to get back in. Small, daily things were becoming impossible.

Probably the decision took place in some barely knowable part of my reasoning mind; once made, I found it easy to find the number of the place online and then drive there, park, go inside, take in the obligatory dribbling fountain and pamphlets about tinctures and powders. The acupuncturist was white, white-haired, beaming, intelligent. I went into a little room. The sheets were softer than any I’d ever felt. Eight hundred thread count? Nine hundred? Is that even a thing? It was like lying on the underside of a giant cat.

Pulses were taken; my tongue was observed. Apparently, my liver chi was trapped, which was getting the organ hot and burning up my heart energy. I didn’t care about the words. I just wanted to keep hoping this person would be able to help me. He had worked in the film industry for years and years, and started studying acupuncture when he was 40. Forty! You could start something at 40; I was 40 then. It was a revelation. I planted my face into the headrest.

Lying there, prone, holding in my flesh a number of those little pins you can’t quite feel, I caught the glimmer of an understanding that the slight concentration of energy in and around my body at that moment could just barely be distinguished from the rest of the universe. I began to understand that what I called my self was physically de­limited not by my body but by a concentration of energy in and around it. I tried to determine how far out into the air it reached. Four inches? I couldn’t sense a boundary. It haloed me and faded into the surrounding space.

You hardly feel the needles. It’s your weakening grip on reality that’s scary.

I began to understand that there was no such thing as death, if death meant the absolute end of something that once existed and no longer did. Imagine instead a gradual dissipation of the energy once concentrated in the general shape of the living entity. A person. A tree. A fruit on the tree. Pick the fruit and the energy stays in the center of it for some time. I’m already partaking in death along with everything else that ever lived and that lives now.

All of this flooded into my understanding in about 10 seconds. I was tingling. I was more permeable than I once thought. Bones and meat and blood, but now, also, the air. The energy all around. Once the needles were removed, I felt high for days.

Since then, I don’t think I’ve changed much. The vocabulary of the acid-eaters still makes me cringe, particularly when I hear myself using it. This is the burden of the cynic. If your cynicism disappears, even for a moment, you are dismissed by fellow cynics; worse, you court self-disdain.

Which is the real world, the world of doubt and disbelief or the world of unbelievable free-flowing magic? Or is it a steady oscillation between the two?

It has been more than a year, and I still feel better.

By SARAH MANGUSO MARCH 17, 2016

Hate Needles & Want Acupuncture?

Do You Hate Needles?

Enlargement for demonstration: So fine and thin, up to 40 acupuncture needles can fit inside an injection needle.

Most people, when they hear about the benefits of acupuncture, find themselves thinking, "That would be so good for me!" Less stress, more energy, better sleep and digestion... Who doesn't want that?

But for many people, there's one thing that holds them back from enjoying the benefits of acupuncture: Fear of needles.

There's a spectrum of needle fears, ranging from downright needle phobic to being moderately concerned about the whole voluntarily-being-stuck-with-needles thing. Regardless, fear of needles is the number-one reason people choose to forego acupuncture.

5 things to remember if you're scared of getting acupuncture

Acupuncturists get asked about the tool they wield all the time. Here's what they tell people who say they'd love to try acupuncture but haven't because they're scared of needles.

1. They're nothing like the needles you know.

"Needle apprehension is very common and natural, considering that we have been conditioned to associate needles with pain--think dentists, blood draws, and IVs," says acupuncturist Kathryn Peak. "But acupuncture needles are hair-thin and nothing like the needles we are accustomed to in a medical setting."

"Acupuncture is the most gentle form of needling possible," adds acupuncturist David Bonilla. "If acupuncture was anything like getting a shot, I wouldn't be in business!"

Most people who have never had acupuncture do not realize how thin acupuncture needles are. They bend when you touch them.

2. Kids do it.

Acupuncturist Adam Cantor reminds people that the needling sensation from acupuncture is so gentle that even kids are cool with it.

"If children are okay with getting acupuncture, it can't be so bad," says Cantor.

Acupuncturist Naomi Richman takes a similar approach when faced with needle-phobic adults. "I had an exclusively pediatric acupuncture practice for six years, and I still see a ton of kiddos for acupuncture," she says. "When adults tell me they are afraid of needles, I share anecdotes about a child I recently saw who was really brave, or I tell them, 'This morning, I did acupuncture on a two-month old.'"

Acupuncturist Robin Green has a whole website dedicated to kids loving acupuncture. This is a real thing.

3. Don't call them needles.

Sometimes just changing terminology can help assuage needle fears.

"I've found that simply changing the word 'needle' to 'pin' helps shift the mindset away from needle phobia," says acupuncturist Amy Kuretsky. "My patients love saying that I stick them with pins instead of puncture them with needles!"

Acupuncturist Jodi Knauer has another name for acupuncture needles: "I have several patients who refer to acupuncture needles as 'magical healing sticks,'" says Knauer. "This tiny shift in perception, away from the western-medical 'needle,' can help to release fears and phobias around acupuncture."

4. You're in control.

People commonly assume that they cannot move once the acupuncture needles are in place. That they need to lie there stiff as a board lest they endure excruciating pain or damage their insides. Understandably, this leads to a lot of anxiety and out-of-control feelings.

But it's not true. A good acupuncturist will go at whatever pace you're comfortable with. If you want to start with only a few needles and not keep them in very long, tell your acupuncturist that. If you want to pull out a needle that's bothering you, go for it.

"I tell my patients that we can go as slow as they want so that they feel like they are part of the experience," says acupuncturist Po-Hong Yu. "Acupuncture is not about something happening to you. You have a voice."

One thing you can ask for is that your acupuncturist avoid acupuncture points in your arms.

Acupuncturist Kerry Jenni, a self-described needle phobe who realized after becoming an acupuncturist that acupuncture needles are nothing like the ones she's scared of, says that keeping her arms free during her early days of receiving acupuncture was helpful.

"Moving during acupuncture is a weird sensation," says Jenni. "With your arms free, you can be more in control."

Acupuncturist Christina Morris makes sure that her fearful patients remain at ease once the needles are in. "I leave the patient with a pager so that they can alert me if they're feeling overwhelmed when I'm outside the room."

5. It's not all about needles.

"If the needles really freak you out, there are other modalities that acupuncturists can use," says acupuncturist Paola Acuna.

Acupuncturists are trained in several healing techniques, and only one of them uses needles. There's acupressure, cupping, gua sha, moxibustion, ear seeds, qigong, herbs, among others. None of these things involve needles.

So, what do you say? Maybe 2016 is the year you overcome your fears and try acupuncture. Here are 16 reasons to go for it. Already sold? Find an acupuncturist now.

• Sara CalabroFounder, AcuTake

11 Side Effects of Acupuncture

11 Side Effects of Acupuncture 

After I was diagnosed with scoliosis in 2014, everyone and their mother suggested that I get acupuncture done. Mind you, none of these people had ever done it before themselves, but they still swore that it would relieve my chronic pain and ease my anxiety in general. I accepted their recommendations with a stiff smile, only to roll my eyes privately.

Until very recently, I didn't have much experience with holistic health treatments. The chiropractor was as far as I would get from mainstream modern medicine, and that was good enough for me, thanks very much. Also, I'm deathly scared of needles. But when I kept waking up with a nasty backache every morning, I knew it was time to try something different.

I got in touch with an acupuncturist who came highly recommended and I booked a treatment. Her name was Seven. (No, really, that's her given name; she's part Native American.) I went into my first session with Seven feeling positive, but also sweating profusely because I was so nervous. What happened over the next three months was pretty wild, and a lot more good things happened than I expected.

Here are 11 things that changed after committing myself to acupuncture for three consecutive months.

1. I Had Less Back & Neck Pain

Obviously, I wouldn't have kept going back for that long if this wasn't one of the first changes I noticed. The morning after my very first treatment, I woke up with absolutely no pain for probably the first time ever in my life. I nearly cried into my coffee. While not all mornings were this heavenly moving forward, the vast majority of them were, and that was enough to keep me going back for a long time.

During the second month, I started seeing her twice a week. By then, I was feeling incredible. I could sit at my desk for an hour or two without experiencing extreme discomfort in my lumbar spine, and there was no more nerve pain in my neck.

2. My Period Became Regular

One of the first things my acupuncturist, Seven, always asks me at the start every session is when my last period was. It's one of the things I've grown to love about acupuncture — acknowledging that all parts of the body, including the reproductive system, work with each other and inform the state our bodies are in.

On our third appointment, I told her right off the bat that my period was eight days late but that I knew I wasn't pregnant. She told me that she could "needle it out of me." My initial reaction to something that ominous-sounding was No way, girl. But my desperation to menstruate prevailed, so I agreed to having a few extra needles stuck in.

That day, she put two needles in my feet for the first time. One of them hurt like hell upon entry. Then, she placed a couple extra in my lower back, right around the kidneys. The next morning I woke up astounded — my period had appeared in full force.

Right around the time of my period over the next two months, knowing that I struggle with irregularity, Seven did the same thing. Both months my period came right on time, on the exact day my Kindara app predicted.

3. I Slept More Soundly

Acupuncture has been connected to relieving insomnia in many people, and there are studies proving that this ancient Chinese treatment is significantly more effective than prescribed medication.

After a few weeks of acupuncture, my internal clock slowly got adjusted to where I could fall asleep around 10 p.m. and sleep for a solid seven hours without stirring, something that rarely happens. Also, on the mornings I had to set my alarm clock a bit earlier than usual, I wasn't dragging myself out of bed cranky and miserable. Vitality was the name of the game.

4. I Needed Less Coffee

This isn't as sad as it sounds. It's not like I stopped enjoying coffee; I just didn't need to throw back three or four cups a day to keep my energy up. At the end of my first month of acupuncture, I was perfectly happy with just one coffee in the morning. This also meant that I wasn't dealing with a massive caffeine crash at the end of the day.

Apparently, I'm not alone. Once you get needled on the regular, you usually have more energy to get things done without relying on substances. Even after just one treatment, some people report having a pep in their step for days or even weeks afterward.

5. I Sat Cross-Legged Less Often

Blame it on the new alignment, I guess, but it was suddenly uncomfortable to sit with one leg sexily crossed over the other. I wasn't instructed to make this change by my acupuncturist. I spontaneously discovered that positioning myself like this while working at a desk was seriously uncomfortable, and it was resulting in a dull ache in my lower back.

6. My Neck Grew Longer

I swear, I gained about a quarter of an inch on my neck. Because of my tight shoulders and the collapse in my cervical spine, my shoulders naturally creep up toward my ears all the time. This is neither physically comfortable nor aesthetically pleasing. Regular acupuncture fixed this up pretty quickly, though.

Within a month, my shoulders were more relaxed than ever before, allowing my neck to be beautifully exposed. The best part? Two friends pointed it to me, and dragged me to the mirror to see for myself when I refused to believe them.

7. My Anxiety Was Significantly Reduced

My most anxious time of the day arrives between 4-6 p.m., and it usually makes me crawl behind my couch for a self-induced timeout. However, the longer I stuck with acupuncture, the less and less that mean anxiety monster came to harass me. It didn't hurt that I left each session super duper Zen. Luckily, that feeling stayed with me for many hours afterward.

A 2013 study published in the Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studiesshowed that just a 20-minute acupuncture session eased anxiety and increased memory strength in participants compared to subjects who received no treatment at all. The needles are meant to get your Qi flowing, which slows down the production of stress hormones.

8. I Drank More Water Throughout The Day

It all started because I left my first session dying for a bottle of water. I ended up drinking an extra liter of H2O that day, which, trust me, never happens. This habit continued for the entire three months as I turned into an acupuncture junkie.

Seven told me it's pretty standard for people to become more conscious of what they're putting in their bodies when they engage in holistic treatments. They tend to make better choices in their diet and pay attention to what their bodies are truly in need of.

9. I Was More Flexible In Yoga

I felt like I had a new body in my hot yoga classes. My thoracic spine was feeling especially open and bendy, and I could explore postures in ways I never thought possible. Because those small needles can get in between tight muscles in ways that a massage therapist's hands never could, I was experiencing flexibility in the most unexpected of places. Subsequently, I was stretching deeper into the poses, and this granted me even more relief than the acupuncture treatments alone.

10. My "Tickle Tension" Spots Vanished

Tickle tension is real, people! You might think you're just, well, ticklish, but oftentimes these spots in our body indicate that something else is going on underneath the surface. Maybe it's due to an injury from years ago, or perhaps the muscles in that area are just extra tight.

There was a spot smack dab in the middle of my back, to the left of my spine, that used to make me giggle so hard that massage therapists couldn't even put pressure on it. Seven spent a lot of time in the neighborhood, though, and by the third month, she could dig into any part of my back without my laughing like an idiot.

11. I Became More Aware Of Physical Pain & Discomfort

We've all heard about the new level of awareness that comes with things like yoga, meditation, and holistic treatments such as acupuncture. Fortunately, I'm here to report that they're not legends. I truly did achieve a new level of consciousness in my own body after being needled so often in that three-month period. Acupuncture helped me identify the different sensations that popped up in the small corners of the body, and figure out if they needed my time and attention.

So now, I guess I've become one of those people who highly recommends you try acupuncture, too.

GINA M. FLORIO

 @ginamflorio

Acupuncture & Newborns Addicted to Opiates

Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is a group of problems that occur in a newborn who was exposed to addictive opiate drugs while in the mother's womb.

Adjunctive laser acupuncture reduces the need for morphine therapy in neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). In a randomized trial in neonates with NAS, 28 infants received either laser acupuncture combined with pharmacologic therapy (morphine and phenobarbital) or pharmacologic therapy alone. Compared with those in the pharmacologic therapy alone group, infants who also received laser acupuncture required morphine therapy for a shorter period and had a significantly reduced hospital stay (Raith W, et al.Pediatrics. 2015;136[5]:876-884).

Acupuncture- Is it safe for children?

Acupuncture- Is it safe for children?

A new study finds massive benefits — and no side effects — in giving acupuncture to children with chronic pain.

There is a growing body of evidence that acupuncture, the traditional Chinese technique of inserting hair-thin needled into strategic points on the body, is safe with no adverse effects and some real benefits: Relieving muscle aches, migraines, stomach cramps, respiratory troubles, and even emotional trauma. That's great for adults, but what about kids? Is acupuncture safe for them?

The latest study seeking to answer this question, from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, offers solid proof that acupuncture is something parents should consider for their kids. A team of Western and Eastern medicine practitioners recruited 55 children and teens who'd been miserable for months with chronic pain and gave them up to eight 30-minute treatments. Every one of these kids reported having significantly less pain after receiving acupuncture. The greatest reductions came right away, after the first few sessions, but their pain continued dwindling throughout the trial. They didn't have any adverse side effects from the treatments either, expect maybe feeling slightly tired after a session. Their parents also noticed big improvements in their children's moods, social lives, and ability to focus at school.

"Many Western practitioners had been hesitant to recommend acupuncture for their young patients either because of the lack of research or because they just assumed parents wouldn't be interested," says study author Angela Johnson, a licensed acupuncturist. "Now we have proof that, when done by an expertly trained provider, acupuncture is very low risk. When you weigh the pros and cons, it's a very safe and effective thing to at least try."

The fear for a lot of folks who've never tried acupuncture is that it'll hurt. "When most people think about needles, the first image they have is a big stick needle or a blood draw," Johnson says. "But acupuncture needles are incredibly tiny and flexible and sterile, so some people feel a slight pinch or sense of warmth for a quick second, but it goes away." However, convincing a kid that getting stuck won't hurt can be tough. "Needles can be scary, so it's important to find a practitioner who's good with children and knows how to gain their trust," Johnson adds.

Above all, though, it's imperative to find an acupuncturist who's licensed and has the proper credentials, says Johnson. The requirements for practicing vary from state to state, so she suggests going to the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine's website to learn your state's rules and find a capable provider. 

– Melaina Juntti

Read more: http://www.mensjournal.com/health-fitness/health/is-acupuncture-safe-for-children-20151228#ixzz3x8hHpvBL

The Leading Treatments: Manage and Ease the Pain of Fibromyalgia Naturally

Fibromyalgia and You

The chronic pain of fibromyalgia affects about 1 in 50 Americans. Because there is no cure for fibromyalgia and the cause is not understood, the quest to find the best fibromyalgia treatment is ongoing. Many people find fibromyalgia help through natural treatments — about 90 percent of those with fibromyalgia have tried some form of them. Because there are few clinical studies on most of these treatments, the only way to see if any work for you is to try them. Talk to your doctor about what might be most appropriate for you.

Vitamin D as Fibromyalgia Treatment

Both vitamin D and magnesium levels have been found to be low in people with fibromyalgia, but as of yet there is no evidence that taking vitamin supplements are an effective fibromyalgia treatment. Vitamin D, known as the sunshine vitamin, does have some effects on nerve and muscle function, and some studies have suggested that low levels of vitamin D may be associated with chronic pain of fibromyalgia. In a small clinical study published online in the January 2012 issue of Pain Medicine, fibromyalgia symptoms improved in 30 women after 8 weeks of vitamin D supplementation. However, other researchers have failed to find any association between fibromyalgia and vitamin D levels.

Fibromyalgia Help From Acupuncture

Acupuncture is one of the oldest forms of treatment for chronic pain and is based on ancient Chinese medical practices. There have been several studies on the usefulness of acupuncture in treating the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Three studies support the use of acupuncture combined with a pulsed electric current, a treatment called electroacupuncture. Although this fibromyalgia treatment seems to relieve pain, the results are not long-lasting.

S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) for Fibromyalgia

Because SAMe is a naturally occurring substance throughout the body and involved in many of the body’s processes, its role as a pain reliever has been studied. SAMe has been shown to relieve depression and the chronic pain associated with osteoarthritis. Some studies show that taking SAMe may reduce fibromyalgia symptoms of pain, fatigue, and stiffness. The studies supporting the use of SAMe for fibromyalgia help are small, and not all have found a benefit. More research is needed. SAMe is not found in food, but can be taken as a supplement in the form of a tablet.

Massage Therapy for Fibromyalgia

Massage therapy is another alternative pain treatment that is one of the most commonly tried for fibromyalgia. The benefits of massage are hard to demonstrate in a clinical study, but it does seem to be helpful for many types of muscle pain, including fibromyalgia. Massage is generally safe. It may certainly relieve tightness and promote relaxation, but it is not likely to provide any long-term fibromyalgia help.

Capsaicin Application for Fibromyalgia

Capsaicin comes from pepper plants and is considered a natural pain reliever. It’s the active ingredient in a variety of over-the-counter sprays and lotions. When applied to a painful area of the body, it stimulates the release of a body chemical called substance P. As substance P is depleted, the pain sensation seems to decrease. Capsaicin has been used for chronic pain in diabetes, cancer, and cluster headaches. It may also temporarily relieve fibromyalgia pain.

Biofeedback for Fibromyalgia Pain

Biofeedback is an alternative therapy that uses the mind-body connection to help you learn to control your chronic pain with the power of your mind. The feedback may come in the form of muscle tension, skin temperature, or brain wave measurements. Biofeedback is helpful for many painful conditions when it is used along with other therapies. There are not enough good studies to say for sure whether biofeedback is an effective fibromyalgia treatment yet.

Chiropractic Manipulation for Fibromyalgia Pain

Chiropractic medicine is an alternative form of treatment that uses spinal manipulation and realignment to relieve pain, improve function, and promote natural healing. Chiropractic has been studied in many chronic pain conditions. Most studies suggest it may be effective for relief of back, neck, or headache pain. As far as fibromyalgia help, the National Institutes of Health state there is insufficient evidence to recommend it.

Melatonin Hormone Help for Fibromyalgia

Melatonin is a natural hormone found in the body, thought to be involved in promoting sleep. Melatonin in pill form is often used as a sleep aid, but it has also been used for depression, chronic fatigue, and fibromyalgia. Again, the experts say there is not enough evidence to support its use for the chronic pain of fibromyalgia. However, many people do get fibromyalgia help from natural and alternative treatments despite the lack of research support. If you want to try one of these fibromyalgia treatments, always check with your doctor first.

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  2 / 9   Vitamin D as Fibromyalgia Treatment

  Both vitamin D and magnesium levels have been found to be low in people with fibromyalgia, but as of yet there is no evidence that taking vitamin supplements are an effective fibromyalgia treatment. Vitamin D, known as the sunshine vitamin, does have some effects on nerve and muscle function, and some studies have suggested that low levels of vitamin D may be associated with chronic pain of fibromyalgia. In a small clinical study published online in the January 2012 issue of Pain Medicine, fibromyalgia symptoms improved in 30 women after 8 weeks of vitamin D supplementation. However, other researchers have failed to find any association between fibromyalgia and vitamin D levels.