Fibromyalgia is one of the fastest growing syndromes in the world today. Many of the patients that I see in my clinic are affected by it, so today I am delving into what it is, how it’s diagnosed, and some natural remedies and treatments that you can use to gain relief. Let’s start by taking a look at what fibromyalgia is!
Symptoms of fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a collection of symptoms that affect the body. The most common symptoms are wide spread muscle pain and tenderness. However, it is a syndrome, and so has many other accompanying factors as well. Patients with fibromyalgia may also experience:
- Insomnia, trouble either falling or staying asleep
- Fatigue or exhaustion, can be extreme
- Pain can be worse at night
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Excess gas
- Anxiety, mood swings or excess nervousness
- Pins and needles in extremities
- Hands can feel cold and tingly
- Depression
- Headache/migraines
- Stiffness
- Painful menstruation
- General irritability
What causes fibromyalgia?
This question is up for debate, and there is no one clear answer. What we do know is this; fibromyalgia is often triggered when a person experiences a very stressful event. There are some known risk factors for developing the condition, and they are:
- Genetics – a family history of the condition
- Poor support in life
- High stress that is not well managed
- Trauma, such as violence, abuse, emotional abuse etc – these things can be a trigger
- Females are 9 times more likely to develop fibromyalgia than males
- Viral infections can also trigger its development
- A diagnosis of lupus or rheumatoid arthritis also increases your risk of developing fibro
Unfortunately, there is no cure for this condition, and mainstream medicine has no specific treatments. Symptoms are simply ‘managed’ with medications for pain relief, depression/anxiety, inflammation etc. Masking the symptoms in this way can give rise to mediation side effects, often leading to weight gain, depression, fatigue, digestive issues and more.
How can Naturopathy help the fibromyalgia patient?
Naturopathy works to find the root cause of a patient’s condition, and the ways in which Naturopathic medicine can help the fibromyalgia patient are many and varied.
As a Naturopath I look at the whole person, and consider things like nutrient deficiencies, biochemical imbalances, undiagnosed food intolerance’s, gut health, toxic load, nervous system health, thyroid health and so much more. When we delve into these area’s during a consult, often the root cause of a patient’s condition becomes obvious. If it doesn’t, we use functional medicine and blood pathology testing to gather further information.
The beauty of this is that the naturopathic approach is different for every person, because each individual is so unique.
Once the root cause of is known, the treatment path becomes clear. Treatment for fibromyalgia may involve any of the following:
- Herbal medicine
- Nutritional medicine
- Dietary changes and advice
- Lifestyle changes – exercise, sleep, relaxation and stress management will all be addressed
- Massage
- Chiropractic
- Yoga or tai chi
- Meditation or mindfulness practices
What remedies are commonly used to help treat fibromyalgia?
When reading the following, keep in mind that each patient will receive a different prescription, even when they have the same condition.
Magnesium – this mineral is the supreme muscle relaxant. It is also very important in the formation of energy in the body. Most fibromyalgia patients will benefit from some form of magnesium. Speak to me or your practitioner for the correct form and dosage for your needs.
Vitamin D – it is well known in the scientific world that a vitamin D deficiency can give rise to muscular aches and pains. There are various studies that show this correlation, and Vitamin D levels should be tested in all fibromyalgia patients.
Herbal medicines – there are a number of herbal medicines that are used successfully in fibromyalgia patients. They are most often used for relaxing the nervous system, mood management, and to reduce inflammation. A herbal mixture is so truly unique to each patient, so I haven’t mentioned any specific herbs here. Just know that herbal mixtures are powerful allies for the management of pain, fatigue and low moods.
If this article resonated with you, please head to my bookings tab to secure your appointment. I look forward to guiding you on your path to wellness,
Nicky
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