Fibromyalgia is a clinical term used to describe a constellation of symptoms characterized by widespread, non-specific pain lasting for three months or longer. The condition is diagnosed through a physical exam that tests pain at several points on the body. Some of the symptoms include stiffness, aching and sometimes sharp or stabbing in the joints and muscles. Dr. Robert Bennett, of the Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland, Oregon, points out that treatment seldom leads to a cure, but some patients are able to find relief from a multidisciplinary approach to their care.
Step 1
Eat only whole grains that are gluten-free and stop eating wheat, all white flour and sugar and dairy products. These foods might encourage allergic reaction in some people, causing pain in the muscles and joints, fuzzy thinking, depression and fatigue.
Step 2
Give up eating nightshade vegetables. These include eggplant, potatoes, tomatoes and peppers, including paprika and cayenne. Nightshades contain a toxic compound known as solanine that most people can handle, but a few who are sensitive react with a pain cycle similar to that of fibromyalgia.
Step 3
Check your foods for monosodium glutamate, or MSG, and eliminate them from your diet. Laura A. Coleman and R. Roubenoff discuss the effects of MSG on chronic pain in their book, "Nutrition and Rheumatic Disease." Many side effects from MSG mimic the symptoms of fibromyalgia, such as headaches, body pain, aching, stiffness, mental disorientation, fogginess, fatigue, dizziness and depression.
Step 4
Get a good night's sleep. This will help to relax your body and relieve pain. Take 1 or 2 teaspoons of organic raw honey mixed in a glass of warm milk at bedtime. Honey and milk are high in potassium and help release the brain neurotransmitter tryptophan, which relaxes the body and encourages sleep.
Step 5
Hire a massage therapist and get regular massages to relieve muscle pain.
Step 6
Add nutritional supplements and herbs to your daily plan to help relieve pain. Turmeric, bromelain, fish oil, ginkgo biloba and ginger have all been shown to offer relief from pain and stiffness in muscles and joints, help improve cognitive function and reduce fatigue.
Step 7
Try homeopathy. This is an alternative medical treatment that offers options for treating chronic pain, depression and fatigue. Homeopathic remedies that are useful for fibromyalgia are Bryonia, which treats severe pain made worse from motion; Ruta Gravolens, which is helpful for pain and soreness in the tendons and ligaments; and Rhus Tox, which treats pain and stiffness that is worse from the first movement and then lessens with continued movement. In a double-blind study reported on by the Complimentary and Alternative Review Board in September 2009, Rhus Tox was shown to offer significant improvement for people suffering from fibromyalgia-like pain. Consult a homeopathic practitioner for the correct remedy for your case, including directions and dosing instructions.
Tips and Warnings
- Add one supplement at a time to your routine to assess its efficacy.
- The information provided is for educational purposes and is not meant to replace medical advice.
Things You'll Need
- Turmeric
- Bromelain
- Fish oil
- Gingko biloba
- Ginger
- Massage therapist
- Milk
- Raw honey
References
- Chronic Widespread Pain and Fibromyalgia Construct: Dr. Bennet
- Swedish Fibromyalgia Double Blind Study
- "Nutrition and Rheumatic Disease;" Laura A. Coleman and R. Roubenoff; 2008
