FMS trigger points

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I've yet to know a person with FMS who didn't have more tender points than

the 18 that are used to diagnose it. The diagnosis is based on at least 11

out of the 18 diagnostic points being tender. Often you can only tell the

points are tender when you press them, but sometimes the person can feel

soreness at the point without it being pressed on.

 

The 18 FMS diagnostic tender points are not necessarily the best points to

use to treat the underlying Roots of FMS with acupuncture or acupressure.

Flaws does recommend Spleen 10 for treating FMS, and it does correspond to

one of the 18 FMS diagnostic points. The other points he recommends in

addition to Spleen 10 are Stomach 36 (one that gets used in a lot of

different conditions - the 3 Mile Point), Spleen 6, Kidney 3, Liver 3

(another point used in a variety of conditions), Liver 8, Pericardium 6,

Heart 7, Small Intestine 3, and Bladder 62. This is his core treatment. He

recommends other points that can be added to take care of specific problems

like diarrhea.

 

Note that I said these points are what he recommends for treating the

underlying roots of FMS. He also makes a suggestion for treating the pain.

Needle ever how many of the 18 diagnostic points that are tender that day

with a special technique called " sparrow-pecking " .

 

In TCM you learn to identify and treat Roots as well as relieve symptoms.

Sometimes the two are the same - what treats the Root(s) also relieves some

of the more troubling symptoms. Flaws's treatment for FMS is an example of

a case where there are separate treatments for the Root(s) and some of the

symptoms (pain in this case).

 

In this case the Root(s) and symptoms are treated at the same time. In a few

cases you will treat symptoms before you treat Root(s). One example of when

it's appropriate to treat symptoms before Root(s) is the case of very high

fever that can result in brain damage or death. In these cases you want to

bring that fever (symptom) down if possible before attacking the Root(s).

 

Flaws goes into detail about why he chooses certain points for FMS

treatment. I like the books that do this (like Maciocia's Foundations book)

because if you understand the reasoning behind certain points being chosen,

you can figure out other points to use in individualizing treatment even

more.

 

Victoria

 

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