Fibromyalgia is a condition characterized by non-specific, wide spread pain, explains Dr. Robert Bennett of Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland, Oregon. Pain is felt primarily in the muscles and joints throughout the body and the diagnosis for fibromyalgia is made after a period of three months of unremitting pain, stiffness, swelling and related symptoms. Mental and emotion symptoms may also accompany physical pain, such as fatigue, weakness mentally and physically, depression and loss of cognitive function, to name a few. A multi-pronged approach to treatment has been found to be the best way to reduce symptoms helping people live more comfortably, and the use of herbal products is one way to help.
Turmeric
Turmeric has been used in Asia for centuries as an Ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of inflammation of all kinds. It is especially helpful in soothing sore joints and muscles, reducing redness, stiffness, pain and swelling similar to those symptoms found in rheumatoid arthritis, according to the Senior Journal.
Green Tea
Green tea and green tea extract is high in polyphenols, an anti-oxidant that may be effective in fighting pain from free radical damage. Some anecdotal evidence points to its efficacy in reducing pain and symptoms of arthritis, and other musculoskeletal conditions, such as fribromyalgia.
Ginkgo Biloba
The herb ginkgo biloba has been shown to have a positive effect on the heart and blood vessels, increasing blood flow to the head and brain, reports University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). There is some evidence that it may help in restoring the memory and increase cognitive function, improve thinking and help reduce feelings of depression. It has been used with Alzheimer's patients and in cases of dementia as well as conditions like fibromyalgia where symptoms fit, indicating the need for ginkgo.
Capsaicin
Who would have thought you could apply your Texas hot chili to your aching joints and found relief? The active ingredient in the hot chili is hot red peppers or capsaicin. Capsaicin is found in cayenne and other hot peppers and has been reported to be a highly effective pain reliever for many conditions, fibromyalgia included. You can either make a poltice of apple cider vinegar mixed with a pinch of cayenne and apply it with a cloth to you the area that hurts, or buy a tube of commercially prepared capsaicin for use on painful areas of the body. At first, it may feel hot when applied, so use caution. Over time, it binds with pain receptors sending a message to the brain to numb the aches and reduce pain in muscles and joints. The National Fibromyalgia Association recommends only applying it in small areas and not all over the body at the same time.
