Fibromyalgia is a condition characterized by chronic widespread muscle pain associated with weakness, fatigue and sleep difficulties. Other symptoms may include morning stiffness, headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, painful periods, restless leg syndrome, tingling and numbness in hands and feet, sensitivity to extreme temperatures and depressed mood.
Herbs and supplements such as capsaicin, S-adenosylmethionine and St John's wort may help individuals suffering from fibromyalgia. Consult with your physician before taking herbs or supplements for fibromyalgia symptoms.
Capsaicin
Capsaicin is the key ingredient in chili peppers. A comprehensive review of six clinical studies designed by Lorna Mason, M.D. and associates assessed the efficacy of capsaicin cream in various conditions associated with neuropathic and musculosketal pain, including fibromyalgia. The review was published in the March 2004 issue of "British Medical Journal." Researchers concluded that capsaicin cream is better than placebo for treating chronic pain and may be useful alone or in combination with other therapies especially in individuals who are intolerant or do not respond well to the standard therapy.
According to Michael Murray, N.D. and author of "The Pill Book Guide to Natural Medicine" capsaicin has an A rating for treatment of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and pain disorders. An A-rated supplement yields excellent results in multiple double blind clinical studies.
SAMe
S-adenosylmethionine, or SAMe, is produced naturally in the body from the combination of methionine, an essential amino acid and adenosine-triphosphate, which is a molecule that creates energy for various cellular reactions.
In a double blind study published in the 1991 issue of "Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology," S.Jacobsen and colleagues assessed the efficacy of 800 mg SAMe daily over a six week period on 44 participants. Individuals who received SAMe had improvements in disease activity, pain, fatigue, morning stiffness and depressed mood compared with the placebo group. Researchers could not fully explain if the benefits of taking SAMe are derived from its anti-depressant effect alone or if there are other mechanisms that contribute to pain relief.
St. John's Wort
St. John's wort, also known as Hypericum perforatum L., is a well researched herb used for reducing symptoms of depression. Since depressed mood is a common symptom of fibromyalgia, and antidepressants are commonly prescribed for this condition, St. John's may be helpful for fibromyalgia sufferers.
K. Linde and colleagues published in the 2008 issue of "Cochrane Reviews" a summary of 29 clinical studies studies involving over 5,000 individuals suffering from mild to moderate depression. The efficacy of St. John's wort was compared with either antidepressants or placebo for up to 12 weeks. The researchers concluded that St. John's wort extracts used in the studies worked better than placebo and were as effective, but with less side effects than conventional antidepressants. The researchers also noted than German studies had more favorable results for using St John's wort and one explanation was that in Germany this herb is prescribed by conventionally trained doctors.
Considerations
Since herbs and supplements may interfere with conventional drugs and may have side effects, it is highly recommended to consult a qualified practitioner before using them.
References
- BMJ: Systematic review of topical capsaicin for the treatment of chronic pain
- Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology; Oral S-adenosylmethionine in primary fibromyalgia. Double-blind clinical evaluation; Jacobsen S, Danneskiold-Samsoe B, Andersen RB; 1991;20:294-302
- Cochrane Reviews: St John's wort for major depression
- Arthritis Today: Fibromyalgia, Treatment Options
Member Comments