Fibromyalgia Healing Place » Fibromyalgia Diet

Self Help For Fibromyalgia: Herbs That Help

admin — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 07:19:12 +0000

Fibromyalgia seems to be a growing problem for many people these days with around 5 million sufferers in the US alone. With no as yet identified cause or cure, self help for fibromyalgia is becoming a very popular topic.
Herbs can be used as a natural fibromyalgia treatment. These substances can relieve symptoms by decreasing inflammation, enhancing the production of necessary hormones, giving a boost to the immune system and easing pain. Below are some of the common herbal treatments – not all have been proven in the treatment of fibromyalgia, but they may offer relief for some.
St. John’s wort is known a natural substitute for prescription antidepressants. This drug positively affects the adrenal gland hormones to aid in managing stress. St. John’s wort also influences the nerves and is good for nerve pains. It also fights virus. A dose of 100mg three times a day has shown to improve some fibromyalgia symptoms.
(Caution: Do not take if with prescription antidepressants.)
Siberian ginseng is an energy boosting herb that can help deal with the fatigue brought about by fibromyalgia. It’s recommended that you select an extraction with 0.8 percent eleutherosides and take 100 -300mg a day. Taking siberian ginseng too close to bedtime can cause insomnia and take care not to exceed the recommended dosage. After six or eight weeks take a one to two week break, after which you may use the herb again for another six to eight weeks.
(Caution: do not take with heart or blood pressure medications)
Turmeric assists in reduction of inflammation and pain. You can take this in capsule form three times a day, or alternatively try dissolving half a teaspoon of turmeric powder in water.
Garlic detoxifies and builds the immune system. Consider a daily intake of 5,000 mcg of allicin three a day. Aged garlic like Kyolic is even better.
(Warning: large amounts of garlic can hinder blood clotting abilities).
Ginkgo biloba enhances circulation of the blood and may improve the memory function of the brain, although this is not proven.
Devil’s claw root is a natural alternative to anti-inflammatory medicines, and can be used to cure rheumatic disorders. It also acts as an effective analgesic.
Likewise, Willow bark, from which aspirin is derived from, is an anti-inflammatory and serves as an effective pain reliever.
Licorice root offers similar benefits to cortisone, but without the risk of the artificially produced counterpart.
(Caution: do not use if suffering from high blood pressure)
Dandelion decreases pain and invigorates the connective tissue. You should try for an intake of 1 tbsp. juice or 1 cup tea two times a day from four to a maximum of six weeks.
Skullcap and valerian root enhance deep sleep.
Teas brewed from dandelion, burdock root, and red clover may facilitate treatment for fibromyalgia by purifying the bloodstream and building the immune system. Mixed up or used as herbal teas, you’ll want to try for an intake of 4 to 6 cups every day.
Local applications of cayenne powder with oil of wintergreen can alleviate muscle pain. Cayenne has capsaicin an ingredient that prevents the release of neurotransmitters responsible for relaying pain signals that communicate pain sensations. For every 1 part cayenne powder, use 3 parts of oil of wintergreen.
Grape-seed and Pine-bark extracts are natural anti-inflammatory medicines. These alleviate pain. A good intake is 50 milligrams, two or three times a day.
Ginger is a great substitute to aspirin to alleviate pain. You can take this as a powdered supplement or grate ginger root and take as a tea.
For more natural methods of treating Fibromyalgia and other self-care tips sign up for the free Fibromyalgia newsletter below.
The list of natural fibromyalgia treatments is growing all the time. The good news for anyone searching for natural treatments for fibromyalgia is that there are many to consider. Self help for fibromyalgia is now more readily available than it ever has been before. However, it is important that you talk with your own doctor before you begin taking any herbal alternatives to try and manage your fibromyalgia symptoms.

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Fibromyalgia And Reiki: An Alternative Approach

admin — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:29:40 +0000

Scientific studies have been established directly linking fibromyalgia as a source of arthritis or rheumatism with symptoms associated with prolonged and radiating pain centered in the soft tissues like tendons, joints and muscles, complicated further by the fact that it also causes, among others, insomnia, headaches, numbness in the hands – worse, anxiety and depression. There are a number of treatment options and one gaining in popularity is fibromyalgia and reiki.
Fibromyalgia is a common chronic disease affecting millions of people worldwide – with women mostly targeted by this illness. In the United States alone, studies indicate that fibromyalgia affects 3 to 6 million Americans, afflicting women – on average – 8 times more than men.
As pain is mainly associated with fibromyalgia, an age-long natural method for treating pain-related illness known as Reiki is rapidly gaining a popular following among many fibromyalgia patients due to its therapeutic and natural healing benefits.
So, just what are the healing benefits of Reiki and how can they help someone with fibromyalgia?
Reiki primarily endorses healing through natural ‘touch’ therapy and self-healing. This healing benefit also contributes to relieving stress and invokes a positive disposition in fibromyalgia patients, thereby relieving anxiety and depression.
Reiki is a traditional Asian form of therapeutic treatment coined from two Japanese terms, ‘rei’ meaning ‘a higher degree of power and universal force’ and ‘ki’ for ‘life force’, through which healing is induced by ‘light touch’ patterns. Literally by the placement of the Reiki master’s hands near or above the patient’s body during the process.
Reiki uses ‘touch’ therapy by using specific hand positions and patterns that corrects and improves energetic imbalances in the human body to restore energy levels, improve health conditions and relieve emotional stress.
Reiki has actually been practiced for thousands of years in Asia, predominantly by Japanese and Chinese spiritual monks, which over the course of time may have been disregarded due to medical and technological advancements, specifically with the introduction of chemical-based medicines to treat diseases, limiting the practice of Reiki.
During ancient times, the healing benefits of Reiki ranged from the treatment of debilitating diseases like lupus, joint inflammations and even terminal illnesses, but as time progressed, the exact science of Reiki has never been exhaustively and comprehensively passed on to generations.
It was only during the late 19th century that Reiki’s natural healing benefits was resurrected by a Buddhist monk and teacher named Dr. Mikao Usui, who studied the ancient therapeutic practice and adopted the method to cure his patients.
The natural healing benefits of Reiki so captivated Japanese-American Hawayo Takata, who trained under a Reiki master in Japan back in the 1930′s, and introduced the practice to the West. Reiki was used to treat illnesses ranging from cardiovascular diseases, insomnia and impotence, however, Reiki took a backseat as an alternative treatment since only very few scientific studies have come out documenting its success stories during that time.
To read about other natural remedies to help you overcome fibromyalgia sign up for the free newsletter below.
Currently, Reiki is firmly taking a strong foothold as an alternative treatment for many diseases, including fibromyalgia treatment and its popularity is spawned by the many positive testimonials that it has generated.
The healing benefits of Reiki are more than just a therapeutic method that helps in the treatment of pain and stress-related diseases. It is reminiscent of the time when conditions were not just treated by herbal remedies or alchemic concoctions, but the human body was regarded as a tool that has a mechanism to heal itself from ailments.

Fibromyalgia and Your Diet

admin — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 04:47:26 +0000

Fibromyalgia is otherwise called Muscular Rheumatism, Tension Myalgia or Fibromyositis. This fibromyalgia is a syndrome where the patient suffers from chronic muscle pain. This is complicated syndrome wherein the pain can be all over the body or just in certain muscles around the joints. The majority who are affected by this are women over the age of 30, who suffer from pain in the neck, back and shoulders. They would generally complain of stiffness, tenderness, and pain in the joints. It may seem that the problem is with the joints, but in fact it is a muscular pain that causes the problem. This can appear in anyone including children and men of all races and is the second most common disorder as per rheumatologists.

Due to the steady pain, the person tends to show signs of stress, sleeplessness, extreme moodiness, and even depression. This may not be constant but can escalate with the pain and uneasiness. The cause of this may be due to certain pain stimulating chemicals in the body and the increase or reduction of serotonin in the body making it sensitive to pain. Fibromyalgia causes the pain to be centralized, wherein you feel the pain elsewhere in the brain or spinal cord. This can be triggered with just a slight touch or even external factors like light and sound. It may seem psychological due to this, but in reality the pain is genuine and caused due to these factors.

There is no specific recommended diet for fibromyalgia but a healthy diet rich in vitamins and minerals can certainly help in coping with the illness. Magnesium rich vegetables are recommended for patient’s suffering from fibromyalgia. Cutting down on wheat and dairy products, having food rich in B12 and proteins, avoiding food with yeast and preservatives can also help. Caffeine, aerated drinks, chocolates and tea can be not only healthier but also reduce the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Turmeric is a powerful antiseptic and analgesic, 400-500 mg of turmeric everyday can help reduce inflammation and heal the tender skin. Ginger is also effective in relieving pain in the body. Ginger juice can be mixed with some honey or lemon juice and had as a refreshing drink.

You need to have food that reduces your anxiety levels. Cutting down on coffee can help you sleep better and open up ways to better health as well. Dairy products can be avoided, as they would trigger the irritable bowel syndrome that commonly affects fibromyalgia patients. Dairy products tend to increase anxiety in some patients and have a negative impact on the nervous system. Having whole grain diet affects some who complain of insomnia and muscle tensing. It is better to avoid it since the components are high in phytic acid and subsequently reduce zinc absorption in the system. Plenty of fruits, vegetables and nuts are recommended in the diet, as they are rich in magnesium.

Saturated fats in the diet can help reduce anxiety even though they tend to make you put on weight. Research has shown that the anxiety levels in the person decreased with the increase in cholesterol levels in the person. Spices tend to increase anxiety; hence, a less spicy diet can have calming effect, as it does not stimulate the body or the mind. Acidic food can reduce the absorption of magnesium, which helps relax the muscles. When there is a magnesium deficiency, the muscles tend to get cramped and tense. Plenty of vegetable juices and soups along with coconut water or any fresh juice can be very refreshing and healthy. Just the simple green salad with lemon juice dressing can be full of the necessary vitamins.

Patients with Fibromyalgia symptoms should avoid vegetables like broccoli, okra, potatoes, and cabbage. They should make it a routine to sleep early in order to avoid stress and fatigue. Some of the patients who suffer from this prolonged joint pain can be allergic to wheat. A gluten free diet is recommended for them, foods that can be avoided are high fat dairy products, fried foods, red meat etc. Research has shown that food rich in sodium and fried stuff can aggravate the pain and inflammation. As mentioned there no specific diet for fibromyalgia, you could try each one and decide which one suits you best as health food and as a way to nursing yourself back to health.

Hailey Harris is an expert in dealing with Fibromyalgia after suffering for more than 8 years with health problems. She is now symptom free and living a pain free life. She developed Ridfibromyalgia.com found at http://www.ridfibromyalgia.com to help others learn to do the same. To receive tons of info, tips, and healing strategies for free visit http://www.ridfibromyalgia.com/how.html .
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Effective Fibromyalgia Treatment Reached Through a Healthy Diet

admin — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:59:12 +0000

Many Americans, mostly women, suffer from a chronic condition known as fibromyalgia. Fatigue, tender points, and chronic pain in muscles, ligaments, and tendons characterize fibromyalgia. The condition is not progressive or fatal, but it is extremely uncomfortable for the sufferer. Fibromyalgia treatment can help alleviate the symptoms, but they may never truly disappear. Such treatments will also improve the patients overall health.
The basics of treating fibromyalgia include reducing stress, getting enough sleep, getting regular exercise, pacing activity evenly, and eating a healthy, well balanced diet. Fibromyalgia and diet go hand in hand. Healthier foods help alleviate the symptoms even though there is no actual proven fibromyalgia diet.
Depending on the patients individual symptoms, a particular patients diet will vary. It is wise for any fibromyalgia patient to consult his or her doctor before engaging in a special diet. Fibromyalgia diet nutrition not only helps most fibromyalgia sufferers, but would also serve to benefit almost anyone. One of the most highly recommended dietary changes is to eat smaller meals more frequently each day. Eating smaller meals five or six times a day compared to the traditional three meals a day can greatly reduce fatigue.
When engaging in an effective fibromyalgia diet it is beneficial to balance meals. This means to eat equal amounts of proteins, carbohydrates, dairy, fruits, and vegetables with each meal. While eating balanced meals will help, many fibromyalgia patients benefit greatly from vitamin supplements. Vitamin supplements not only provide a boost of vitamin and mineral necessities but also help the body to better absorb such nutrients from food.
Because a healthy diet is so important to treating fibromyalgia, there are foods to avoid. First and foremost, if the patient has any food allergies, it is wise to eliminate those foods from the diet entirely. It is also important to limit the sugar, caffeine, and alcohol intake on a daily basis. Drinking all natural juices and avoiding high fructose corn syrup can greatly reduce the amount of sugar in the diet. While caffeine gives a boost of energy, it may also inhibit healthy sleep patterns therefore should only be ingested in the morning. Alcohol can also affect sleep patterns and dehydrate the body.
Other foods to avoid when adjusting to a fibromyalgia diet are preservatives, artificial sweeteners, and glutamates. A healthy diet, especially for fibromyalgia sufferers should be comprised of all natural ingredients. Artificial ingredients, even at a miniscule level can act as toxins within the body.
An excellent way to see if the fibromyalgia diet is working is to keep a food diary for a period of time. A food diary of sorts kept by a fibromyalgia sufferer is found online in Fibro Diet Part I and II. The food diary will help the patient reflect on what he or she ate and how it made them feel. This will help identify harmful food patterns that could be worsening the symptoms.

Kevin Pederson is the webmaster of Diethealthclub. This article explains that ahealthy, well-balanced diet can help alleviate the symptoms of fibromyalgia
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The Wide Spectrum of Fibromyalgia Symptoms

admin — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:28:48 +0000

Fibromyalgia is a complex neurological disorder with a pronounced chronic character. Although the most common symptoms generated by fibromyalgia are generalized pain and fatigue, the disorder can cause many other manifestations. Most people with the disorder have a wide diversity of physical symptoms that evolve latently, rarely becoming visible. Due to the fact that most fibromyalgia symptoms can’t be detected by medical examinations, some people consider the disorder to be self-induced. However, the truth is that fibromyalgia is a serious condition and its symptoms are real.

Most people with fibromyalgia complain about ongoing pain felt throughout the entire body. This primary symptom generated by the disorder can vary in intensity from a person to another and it is usually associated with a generalized state of fatigue and body weakness. Fibromyalgia pain is felt deep within the muscles, bones and joints and it can sometimes become very intense, taking over the entire body. Most people affected by fibromyalgia also experience muscular stiffness and poor mobility of the joints. Although medical examinations can’t reveal the presence of physical abnormalities in people with fibromyalgia, most physical symptoms are very similar to those generated by rheumatoid arthritis or osteoporosis.

Apart from these common symptoms of fibromyalgia, people with the disorder may also experience sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal problems or urinary problems. People with fibromyalgia often suffer from insomnia or sleep apnea. Even when they get enough sleep, people affected by fibromyalgia may still have a pronounced feeling of fatigue. Many people with fibromyalgia also suffer from paresthesia, experiencing sensations of numbness and tingling in the muscles.

Although the specific causes of fibramyalgia remain unknown, it is believed that the disorder occurs on the premises of increased nervous excitability. Medical scientists believe that most of the symptoms generated by fibromyalgia are the result of neurological dysfunctions that determine the nervous system to perceive external stimuli at a higher intensity than normal. This pertinent theory can easily explain some fibromyalgia symptoms such as ongoing pain, sensations of tingling, numbness, increased sensitivity to light and increased sensitivity to temperature. This theory can also explain why the symptoms of fibromyalgia can’t be effectively revealed by medical examinations. Apart from a wide range of physical symptoms, fibromyalgia also generates psychological manifestations such as depression, anxiety and sudden changes in mood, suggesting the multifaceted nature of the disorder.

There is no specific cure for fibromyalgia and the disorder can’t be effectively overcome with the means of medical treatments available today. Due to poor understanding of the actual causes of fibromyalgia and due to the multitude of generated symptoms, most medical treatments can only provide temporary relief for people affected by this type of neurological disorder.

If you want to find out more information about Fibromyalgia please visit this website. You will also find valuable information about Fibromyalgia alternative therapies and Fibromyalgia symptoms.
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Understanding Progesterone Fibromyalgia Treatments

admin — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:28:44 +0000

Fibromyalgia is a disabling condition that affects between three to six million Americans, with predominantly more women being diagnosed than men. It has become a common condition that has traditionally been misdiagnosed. People who suffer from fibromyalgia experience a variety of symptoms that can sometimes make daily life unbearable. There is no one treatment for fibromyalgia, rather a integrated approach seems to work best and progesterone fibromyalgia treatment is one of the options.
One of the main difficulties with fibromyalgia is that it can’t be diagnosed easily. Such a disorder cannot be diagnosed through lab tests or seen through x-rays. The only diagnosis being done to detect such a condition is through locating multiple tender points in several characteristic areas in the body, the existence of widespread chronic pain and ruling out any other causes for the pain. A lot about fibromyalgia is yet unknown.
There are a number of probable causes that many physicians think may trigger it. Some physicians attribute the cause of fibromyalgia to a substantial lack of deep sleep. Sleep disorders are common in fibromyalgia patients and have always been thought of as a symptom, however more research is required before a definitive answer can be given. There are also some doctors who believe that the cause of fibromyalgia might be hormonal in nature and that low levels of progesterone may be related to the onset of fibromyalgia.
Low levels of progesterone are seen to happen more likely in women who suffer from fibromyalgia. This is seen to be a reason why there are four times more women who seem to suffer from fibromyalgia than there do men. Progesterone is used by the body in women in order to balance out estrogen.
Low levels of progesterone may make women estrogen dominant which can cause a number of fibromyalgia-like symptoms in women. Such symptoms may include aching all over, frequent fatigue that can last all day, headaches, numbness and tingling, crampy abdominal and pelvic pain, diarrhea, fluid retention and several other symptoms. One possible solution to counter such symptoms is the use of progesterone creams.
Continue reading to find out more about progesterone and how it may help and to sign up to the free combating Fibromyalgia naturally newsletter.
Progesterone fibromyalgia treatments are now being used to help people cope up with the symptoms of fibromylagia. The treatment usually makes use of applying transdermal progesterone creams in various parts of the body including the neck, elbows, knees and arms to alleviate pain. Some women have also found that insomnia associated with fibromyalgia has improved while taking natural progesterone.
The applied progesterone may help in trying to alleviate some of the symptoms suffered by fibromyalgia patients. If women are interested in trying progesterone fibromyalgia treatment then they should consult with their physicians before they under take any type of treatment to help them cope up with such a disabling disorder like fibromyalgia.

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