Similar to rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia attacks the muscles instead of the joints. Stabbing, throbbing and burning pains targeting the lower back area, neck, shoulders, back of head and thighs point to the diagnosis of fibromyalgia, although any area of the body may be involved. Conventional treatment of fibromyalgia includes medications that have many serious side effects. Holistic treatment to threat fibromyalgia offer a more natural approach and less expensive means to manage the disease's symptoms.
Nutrition and Supplements
Natural and raw foods offer the best protection against more inflammation and pain to muscles, according to Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, author of "Prescriptions for Nutritional Healing." Sufferers of fibromyalgia often have an overgrowth of candida yeast in the intestines, reports Balch, and adding an acidophilus supplement or eating unsweetened yogurt has proven effective at reducing the pain and inflammation of fibromyalgia. Omega-3 fatty acids, available as supplements or by eating oily fish (salmon and tuna), reduce inflammation and improve immunity. Since rheumatoid disorders attack the immune system, building the immune system prevents an increase in symptoms. For the person that has never taken supplements in the past, a good daily multi-vitamin that provides no more than 100% of nutrients, may be a good start. Add six to eight glasses of water daily to flush toxins from the body.
Exercise
Yoga provides stress relieving and relaxation benefits to those feeling the chronic fatigue associated with fibromyalgia. Yoga practice combines gentle movements with static stretches without hard jerking movements that could possibly injure the muscles. Immersion in a warm pool while performing movements typical of an aerobics class offers a gentle resistance and sends more blood to the muscles thereby providing greater amounts of oxygen and pain reduction.
Herbs
Green tea, cat's claw, astragalus and bromelian herbs provide a boost to the immune system and help protect the body through anti-oxidant properties, according to Balch. Herbal oils of calendula and rosemary massaged into the skin provide pain relief to the muscles. Tea tree oil combined with a vegetable oil and rubbed into affected areas has the effect of a body balm, but may irritate the eyes and nose if used near the face.
Acupuncture
Acupunture practitioners assess a patients qi in order to treat fibromyalgia pain, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. The acupuncturist may recommend 'moxibustion' which is the practice of burning an herb over a specific energy point on the body.
Chiropractic
Sufferers of fibromyalgia report a significant reduction in their symptoms with an added benefit of better sleep quality after receiving chiropractic treatment for their symptoms.
References
- "Prescriptions for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis A. Balch; 2006
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Fibromyalgia
