Kiyak, E. K. (2009) A new nonpharmacological method in fibromyalgia: the use of wool. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 15(4): 399-405. doi:10.1089/acm.2008.0456.
http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/acm.2008.0456
In this short, six week experimental study Turkish nurses provided woolen undergarments and woolen bedding to one group of 25 women with fibromyalgia and cotton undergarments and synthetic bedding to another group of 25 very similar women with fibromyalgia.
The study was conducted from January through March, the coldest months. At the beginning of the study, there were no significant differences between the groups with respect to tender point count or pain level, age or other characteristics. The two groups were well matched.
The women who used woolen undergarments and bedding described less pain and fewer tender points than the women with cotten underwear and synthetic bedding. They said they felt good on more days, felt anxious and depressed less, and reported better sleeps. They also missed fewer work days, and used fewer drugs (antinflammatories and painkillers) than the women who were given cotton and synthetics.
Although a longer study covering more seasons, with both men and women participating would tell us more, this study is interesting because of the remarkable differences after six weeks.
Most of us would hesitate to buy woolen underwear, but most wool is soft, not scratchy. Nova Scotians and others have been buying Stanfield’s woolen underwear for more than 100 years – http://www.stanfields.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=wool
An interesting way to celebrate 100 years since Stanfield’s patented their two piece adjustable design underwear in 1915 would be to conduct a longer, larger study with both men and women. Yes, we could do that in Nova Scotia.
lunenburg county woolen mill 