FAVORITE HEALTH QUOTE:

"He that takes medicine and neglects diet, wastes the skills of the physician." - Chinese proverb.  

3430-D Anderson Hwy., Powhatan, VA  23139

(804) 598-5352 www.herbalconsultant.com

MAY, 2007 NEWSLETTER

      FIBROMYALGIA

Do any of these statements sound familiar to you?

 “I ache all over.” “I just feel soooo tired all the time.” “My brain is foggy.”

In 1978, I went through a series of several devastating emotional traumas and stressful situations. I was only in my mid-20’s, but I began having mysterious aches and pains, trouble sleeping, irritable bowel, memory problems, jaw pain, and constant fatigue. I felt like I was 85 years old. I went to doctor after doctor, none of whom found anything wrong. Tests for rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and other autoimmune disorders came back negative. Very few medical professionals knew about fibromyalgia at that time or if they did, it didn’t come to mind. They all recommended anti-depressants. The pain wasn’t making me feel happy, but I knew I wasn’t clinically depressed.

For over 20 years I suffered in silence. Finally, in my mid-40’s, I met with a naturopathic physician from Canada. She not only correctly diagnosed the fibromyalgia, but she made several recommendations for diet, herbs, and supplements that resulted in dramatic and long-lasting improvements. Since then, I have felt 95% better and am virtually symptom-free most of the time. It was because of this experience I began studying natural medicine and became a certified herbalist. Fibromyalgia changed my life in more ways than one.

There are numerous signs and symptoms of fibromyalgia. Following are the most common, although the list can be much longer than this. Also realize that some of these symptoms could indicate other problems, so an accurate medical diagnosis is recommended.

§         Anxiety

§         Depression

§         Disturbed sleep

§         Dizziness

§         Fatigue

§         Frequent urination

§         Headaches

§         Hearing sensitivity and heightened sense of smell

§         History of traumatic injury or mental trauma, usually within a year before the symptoms started.

§         Irritable Bowel Syndrome

§         Joint pain and swelling

§         Memory lapses

§         Muscular pain, aching and/or stiffness (especially in the morning)

§         Symptoms are almost always worse in cold or humid weather.

The exact diagnosis is difficult to pinpoint and nobody knows the exact cause of fibromyalgia, but all doctors will look for widespread pain in all four quadrants of the body for a minimum duration of three months and tenderness or pain in at least 11 of 18 specified tender points when pressure is applied (most are in the neck, shoulders, and hip areas).

Physicians will usually prescribe low doses of tricyclic antidepressants or benzodiazepines to treat sleep disturbances and psychological issues. For pain in the bones and muscles, lidocaine, cortisone, or procaine injections may be prescribed. Topical capsaicin creams may help and ibuprofen or other over-the-counter pain relievers can briefly reduce muscle pain.

Instead of taking drugs, I followed a natural protocol that eliminated the majority of my discomfort almost completely. Since each person’s symptoms are unique, treatments can vary, but here are the suggestions I recommend that worked well for me:  

1. Eliminate all food allergens from the diet. Common allergenic foods are dairy, soy, citrus, peanuts, wheat, fish, eggs, corn, and tomatoes. I found I felt better when I eliminated dairy products and meats.
2. Decrease refined carbohydrate intake; increase unrefined carbs & healthy protein; eat fats in moderation.
3. Eliminate inflammatory foods such as refined foods, sugar, fried foods, saturated fats from meat and dairy products, alcohol, artificial sweeteners, sodas, and caffeine.
4. Eat whole foods such as vegetables, whole grains, fruits, protein, cold-water fish, nuts, and seeds.
5. Drink lots of water. Green tea in moderation is good – herbal teas are better.
6. Vitamin C (500 - 1000 mg twice per day) reduces swelling and helps your immune system function better.
7. 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HPT - 100 mg one to three times per day) may help with depression and insomnia.
8. B vitamins help reduce the effects of stress: B-complex (100 mg twice a day)
9. Calcium and Magnesium – 500 mg calcium + 250 mg magnesium 2 times daily for muscle tone & bone strength. Then add an extra 400 mg of magnesium before bed to relax muscles and spasms.
10. Psyllium husks or other fiber daily because many people with fibro have irritable bowel, too.
11. Multi-vitamin supplement with minerals daily.
12. Essential fatty acids from flax oil, fish oil, primrose oil, etc. EFAs are essential for cell health, brain development, nerves, inflammation, and overall good health. 1000 mg 2 to 3 times a day is recommended.
13. Try an extra B-12 sublingual tablet when you’re feeling run down. It gives a burst of energy when needed.
14. The following herbs may help increase resistance to stress and strengthen the immune system:

Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus)

Schizandra berry (Schizandra chinensis)

Ashwaganda root (Withania somnifera)

Gotu kola (Centella asiatica)

Astragalus root (Astragalus membranaceus).

15.  Herbs that alleviate pain and tension include the following:

Black cohosh (Actaea racemosa)

Kava kava (Piper methysticum – Should not be used if you’re an alcoholic or have liver disease of any kind)

Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora)

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnate)

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)

Turmeric (Curcuma longa), a powerful anti-inflammatory which is also a good detoxifier.

16.   Herbs for nerves and memory include Gotu kola (Centella asiatica) and Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgo biloba)

       Physical medicine and exercise can also be used to treat symptoms of fibromyalgia. Two to four cups of Epsom salts in a warm bath can soothe aching muscles. Massage reduces stress and improves circulation. There are a few well-designed studies showing that acupuncture can help improve fibromyalgia symptoms and the National Institutes of Health recommend acupuncture as a treatment for this condition. Because fibromyalgia generally includes low back pain and/or neck pain for which spinal manipulation is beneficial, chiropractors commonly treat people who have this condition. In one small study, women with fibromyalgia reported that they experienced a 77% reduction in pain intensity, 63% improvement in sleep quality, and 75% improvement in fatigue level after receiving 30 chiropractic treatments. Finally, gentle exercise like yoga, Tai Chi, swimming, and water aerobics can stretch and tone muscles and relieves pain.

        I have personally experienced great relief from changing my diet, taking herbs and supplements, and doing gentle exercise five days a week. The pain only returns when I experience something stressful in my life; however, by practicing stress-reduction techniques, it usually diminishes in a short time. Fibromyalgia may never completely go away, but many natural and drug-free methods are available to treat its symptoms. Hopefully, you will gain energy, reduce pain, and improve your quality of life by trying some of these suggestions.

BACK