Fibromyalgia is a painful health condition that can cause the entire body to ache. Not only does it cause aches and pains, but there are numerous symptoms and health problems that go along with fibromyalgia. Doctors do not know what causes it and so far the main treatment has been pharmaceuticals which can have terrible side effects. Studies have shown that there are effective natural remedies that can help to alleviate and in some cases almost completely diminish fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia is not classified as a disease and there is still no known cause. In the not so distant past, a patient who went to the doctor with the symptoms of fibromyalgia might have been told it was all in their heads.
More recently doctors have come to understand that this is a real health condition and patients are suffering from fibromyalgia.
The Symptoms of Fibromyalgia
There are 10 million people in the United States that suffer from fibromyalgia and approximately 3-6% of the world’s population suffers from it. Women suffer more than men with about 75-90% of the cases being women.
Men can also suffer from fibromyalgia, but the low percentage for men could be they do not go to the doctor for a diagnosis.
Fibromyalgia is sometimes described as arthritis related or arthritis of the muscles even though fibromyalgia is not caused by inflammation of the joints.
Fibromyalgia is sometimes described as arthritis related or arthritis of the muscles even though fibromyalgia is not caused by inflammation of the joints.
The symptoms can start out as a dull pain or ache that starts in the muscles. In order for these pains to be considered fibromyalgia, the pain has to be widespread and not confined to one area.
According to the American College of Rheumatology, the criteria for fibromyalgia are widespread pain, below and above the waist on all four sides, for at least three months. Along with this widespread pain, there is more pain and tenderness at 11 of 18 tender spots on your body. The symptoms of fibromyalgia are:
Along with the above symptoms, the following symptoms have also been associated with fibromyalgia.
According to the American College of Rheumatology, the criteria for fibromyalgia are widespread pain, below and above the waist on all four sides, for at least three months. Along with this widespread pain, there is more pain and tenderness at 11 of 18 tender spots on your body. The symptoms of fibromyalgia are:
- Pain. The dull aching pain and some also describe this pain as stabbing or shooting pain. This pain is often worse in the morning.
- Sleep problems. Researches have found that people with fibromyalgia have sleep problems that keep them from getting restful sleep. While asleep, they are often interrupted from stage 4 sleep with a burst of awake-like brain functions.
- Fatigue, which is due to the lack of restful sleep and continuing pain. Fatigue is described as profound exhaustion. This is a different feeling of fatigue as you might have after a long day of work.
Along with the above symptoms, the following symptoms have also been associated with fibromyalgia.
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Stomach pain
- Hypersensitive to heat or cold
- Dry mouth, nose, and eyes
- Chronic headaches
- Inability to concentrate and brain fog
- Numbness in fingers and toes
- Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ)
Natural Remedies to Relive the Symptoms of Fibromyalgia
There are several prescription medications that doctors do prescribe for fibromyalgia which work for some people and not others, and some of them have nasty side effects.
Western doctors are sometimes wary of prescribing natural remedies over prescription medications, though doctors today are realizing that complementary therapies along with prescriptions can also help relieve fibromyalgia. Below are some natural remedies and or complementary therapies you can try.
Changing Your Diet
Reliable studies have shown that what we eat and drink can cause us to feel bad and unhealthy. We are all different and certain foods can affect people differently.
There are diets that can detoxify your body and make you feel much better. One of the best ways to cleanse your body is a strict vegetarian, vegan diet or a whole food plant-based diet. A diet like this will have you eat nothing but whole and natural foods, no animal foods, no dairy, and no oils. This will eliminate all of the chemicals in your diet.
New studies are finding that certain chemicals in fast food and processed foods can cause certain health problems and cause health problems. A strict vegetarian diet will have you eliminate processed foods, caffeine, sugar, white flour products, and meat.
All of these foods have been shown to aggravate fibromyalgia. One of the best books to learn about a cleansing vegetarian diet is “The Starch Solution” by Dr. John McDougall.
The following video from Dr. Michael Greger includes studies that prove a strict vegetarian diet can help with fibromyalgia.
New studies are finding that certain chemicals in fast food and processed foods can cause certain health problems and cause health problems. A strict vegetarian diet will have you eliminate processed foods, caffeine, sugar, white flour products, and meat.
All of these foods have been shown to aggravate fibromyalgia. One of the best books to learn about a cleansing vegetarian diet is “The Starch Solution” by Dr. John McDougall.
The following video from Dr. Michael Greger includes studies that prove a strict vegetarian diet can help with fibromyalgia.
SAM-e Can Relieve Fibromyalgia
S-Adenosylmethionine or SAM-e naturally occurs in our body. As we age, the amount of SAM-e decreases. Studies have found that taking SAM-e supplements can relieve the pain and depression symptoms of fibromyalgia.
One study found that 11 out of 17 patients with fibromyalgia reported less depression and a reduction in the number of trigger points [2].
Another study with SAM-e found improvements with pain, morning stiffness, fatigue and mood [3]. For more information, you can read Relieve the Pain of Osteoarthritis and Fibromyalgia with SAM-e.
Warning, do not take SAM-e if you also take medication for depression, you are bi-polar or you take Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs). Always talk to your doctor before taking any supplement.
Another study with SAM-e found improvements with pain, morning stiffness, fatigue and mood [3]. For more information, you can read Relieve the Pain of Osteoarthritis and Fibromyalgia with SAM-e.
Aspartame and MSG
Aspartame and MSG are known as excitotoxins and can cause serious health problems in some people. Sugar substitutes that contain aspartame like Nutra-Sweet and Equal Classic can aggravate the symptoms of fibromyalgia the same as MSG.
Some report an amazing reversal of their pain and symptoms when they eliminated all foods containing aspartame and MSG from their diets. MSG and aspartame are in so many processed foods, you really have to read the ingredients.
And MSG can show up under different names on a list of ingredients. The following video from Dr. Michael Greger explains how avoiding aspartame can alleviate symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Nightshades and Fibromyalgia
Research is showing that nightshade vegetables can also aggravate arthritis and fibromyalgia in a small percentage of sufferers. The nightshade family of common vegetables includes tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers.
The list of nightshades does not include sweet peppers or black pepper (peppercorn). Those that have an intolerance from nightshades report that eliminating all nightshades from their diet felt better and of those on medication are able to reduce or stop the medicines.
For more about nightshades, please read Are Nightshade Vegetables Bad For Your Health.
Low impact exercise and stretching is recommended for everyone who has fibromyalgia. Starting out slow, over time, exercise can reduce the pain from fibromyalgia. Walking is recommended as a good exercise. Tai Chi is also a great exercise for everyone including those with fibromyalgia.
Tai chi is a slow exercise which includes stretching, exercise and proper breathing. Tai chi has been called meditation in motion. Tai chi will not only help your body but also calm your mind of the anxiety and depression symptoms.
Exercise and Fibromyalgia
Low impact exercise and stretching is recommended for everyone who has fibromyalgia. Starting out slow, over time, exercise can reduce the pain from fibromyalgia. Walking is recommended as a good exercise. Tai Chi is also a great exercise for everyone including those with fibromyalgia.
Tai chi is a slow exercise which includes stretching, exercise and proper breathing. Tai chi has been called meditation in motion. Tai chi will not only help your body but also calm your mind of the anxiety and depression symptoms.
Fibromyalgia and Electromagnetic Radiation
Some people have found that by reducing their exposure to electromagnetic radiation can reduce or even get rid of their fibromyalgia.
Electromagnetic radiation (EMI) can be caused by electronic sources nearby such as cell phones, laptops, high tension power lines, electrical boxes, and other sources.
It is advised to limit exposure to these devices by keeping them out of the bedroom while sleeping, hold a cell phone about 4 inches from your head while using a cell phone and turning off a heating blanket before going to bed.
It is advised to limit exposure to these devices by keeping them out of the bedroom while sleeping, hold a cell phone about 4 inches from your head while using a cell phone and turning off a heating blanket before going to bed.
For much more information about how to reduce EMI, you can read How to Protect Your Health from Electronic Pollution.
Cigarettes contain hundreds of chemicals that can cause all sorts of health problems. Tobacco is also a plant from the nightshade family and as many as 40% of fibromyalgia sufferers reported that their pain and other symptoms diminished when they quit smoking.
Quit Smoking
Cigarettes contain hundreds of chemicals that can cause all sorts of health problems. Tobacco is also a plant from the nightshade family and as many as 40% of fibromyalgia sufferers reported that their pain and other symptoms diminished when they quit smoking.
A study conducted at the Mayo Clinic found that those who used tobacco had worse fibromyalgia symptoms [1].
Other Alternative or Natural Remedies for Fibromyalgia
There are other remedies that are recommended for those who suffer from fibromyalgia including, chiropractic, massage, water therapy, light aerobics, myofascial release therapy, heat and cold, breathing exercises, acupressure, and acupuncture.
Vitamin and Supplement List for Fibromyalgia
According to WebMD, there are certain supplements that could be helpful for the various symptoms of fibromyalgia, especially pain and depression. You can find these helpful supplements on Amazon:
Many people also use turmeric to relieve inflammation and pain. You can use it in recipes and sprinkle on all types of foods and soups. Some people even make a tea with turmeric.
Note: Always check with your doctor before taking any supplements. Supplements taken with medications can be dangerous.
About the Author
Sam Montana is a certified Food Over Medicine instructor from the Wellness Forum Health Center and certified in optimal nutrition from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Copyright © Sam Montana February 2012-2019
References:
About the Author
Sam Montana is a certified Food Over Medicine instructor from the Wellness Forum Health Center and certified in optimal nutrition from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Copyright © Sam Montana February 2012-2019
References:
[1] The American Journal of Medicine - Evaluation of SAM-e in primary fibromyalgia
[2] PubMed - Oral S-adenosylmethionine in primary fibromyalgia. Double-blind clinical evaluation. Scand J Rheumatol 1991;20(4):294-302.
[3] PubMed - Weingarten TN, Podduturu VR, Hooten WM, Thompson JM, Luedtke CA, Oh TH. Impact of tobacco use in patients presenting to a multidisciplinary outpatient treatment program for fibromyalgia. Clin J Pain. 2009 Jan;25(1):39-43. doi: 10.1097/AJP.0b013e31817d105e. PMID: 19158544.
