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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Intro

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating condition characterized by persistent and overwhelming fatigue that is not improved by rest. Treatment options for CFS are often limited, prompting interest in alternative therapies such as acupuncture. Recent studies have explored the potential benefits of acupuncture for alleviating fatigue in individuals with CFS and idiopathic chronic fatigue. This research highlights the potential of acupuncture to improve symptoms and reduce the severity of fatigue, offering a complementary approach to conventional care.

Acupuncture, when combined with usual care, helps improve fatigue symptoms in individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome and idiopathic chronic fatigue (Kim 2015 – multi-centre non-blinded RCT, n = 150). A systematic review and meta-analysis by Zhang (2019) included 16 studies with a total of 1,346 participants. The analysis found that acupuncture had a favorable effect on the overall response rate. Acupuncture also significantly reduced the severity of fatigue in patients.