THE Launceston & District Fibromyalgia/CFS ME Support Group held their last ever meeting on Wednesday, September 8.

One of the requirements of being affiliated to a national organisation is the need to have a full committee at all times. As the committee was formed by people suffering from Fibromyalgia and CFS, the workload eventually took its toll and the group was unable to continue. All the members were informed of the situation but no one felt able to take over the positions on the committee and thus the decision was made to close the group down.

However, the last meeting was a great success and Mr Michael Clements was welcomed as guest speaker. He gave a very interesting talk about acupuncture and its use in treating conditions such as fibromyalgia and arthritis. He firstly explained the traditions behind the ancient practice of acupuncture; how it works on balancing the body when it is out of sync and causing illness. He then passed around examples of the needles that are used in a treatment and showed members where they would be placed on the body for different problems.

Michael, who practices at the Kensey Centre in Newport, said that he is also able to treat people with addictions and phobias, often with great success. After a busy question time with Michael, the members went on to enjoy a selection of cakes brought in by the committee. The chairman, Carol Mounce, gave a small speech and thanked everyone for a job well done, with special thanks going to Sheila Cottingham and the other ladies from the Launceston Lions Club for their help with the refreshments for the last few months.

If you or someone you know has recently been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, you can contact the national organisation via their website http://www.fmauk.org">www.fmauk.org.