If you have fibromyalgia, you know the often severe and sometimes debilitating pain that occurs with the condition. Certain herbal remedies can reduce your pain and ease other fibromyalgia symptoms. You should discuss any herbal formulas with your doctor before taking them, however, because some herbs can interact with certain medications that you may be taking.
Capsaicin
Capsaicin comes from cayenne peppers, and is the substance that makes them "hot." Capsaicin has pain-relieving properties: According to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, a study of 45 people with fibromyalgia found that those who applied capsaicin cream four times daily for four weeks reported less pain and tenderness than those who used the placebo cream. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends applying a cream that contains 0.025 percent capsaicin, up to three times daily.
Chlorella
Taking an herbal remedy containing chlorella, a type of blue-green algae, may also help in treating your fibromyalgia. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center cites a double-blind clinical trial involving 37 fibromyalgia patients that found taking 10 g of chlorella each day for three months significantly improved their symptoms compared to placebo.
Essential Oils
A preliminary double-blind study found that topical applications of an essential oil mixture that included rosemary, camphor, orange, lemon, aloe, peppermint and eucalyptus helped to treat fibromyalgia symptoms, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Antioxidant Remedies
Green tea and rhodiola offer anti-stress, antioxidant and immunity-boosting benefits, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center. Take 250 to 500 mg per day of green tea standardized extract or 100 to 600 mg of rhodiola each day.
Anti-Inflammatory Herbs
Herbal formulas containing turmeric, cat's claw and bromelain may help to reduce inflammation and ease pain, says the University of Maryland Medical Center. For anti-inflammatory, antifungal and immunity-boosting effects, take 20 mg of cat's claw three times each day. To ease fibromyalgia-related inflammation, take 300 mg of standardized turmeric extract three times daily. Taking 40 mg three times daily of bromelain standardized extract can help to reduce pain and inflammation.
