Fibromyalgia: Natural Home Remedies

Fibromyalgia is a syndrome, a collection of symptoms that consistently occur together. The primary symptom of fibromyalgia is widespread musculoskeletal pain, but there are many other possible symptoms to accompany pain.

Fibromyalgia - Image of a woman's back covered with a black fern that looks like a spine, ominously

It was once very difficult to get a diagnosis of fibromyalgia. Today, if a person has widespread pain for more than three months, they might be daignosed with the syndrome.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

To receive a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, you must exhibit several of the following symptoms:

Widespread musculoskeletal pain
Anxiety
Depression
Debilitating fatigue
Sleep disturbances
Chronic headaches
Heightened sensitivity to cold and/or heat
Brain fog
Incontinence
Irritable bowel syndrome
Stiffness
Numbness or tingling in the fingers and feet
Memory issues

PREVALENCE

The National Fibromyalgia Foundation estimates that 3-6% of the world’s population suffers from this condition.

ALLOPATHIC TREATMENT

Standard treatments might include cognitive behavioral therapy, exercise to improve sleep and reduce pain, and medications (all of which have risks of side effects). There are a number of home treatments you can try for relief. If you are taking prescription meds, always check with your doctor before using herbs, spices and supplements for healing. Check all your medications for possible interactions.

SELF-TREATMENT

DIET

A healthy immune system is always the first line of defense against disease and inflammation. To promote a healthy immune system, it is important to eat a balanced diet, with as much variety as you can manage, with lots of whole, fresh vegetables and fruits, quality protein and healthy sources of monounsaturated fat. The Zone is an excellent starting point.

FOODS THAT MAY PROMOTE HEALING

Apples for the malic acid
Bone Broth
Bananas
Maca
Spirulina
Raw garlic

FOODS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES TO AVOID

Alcohol
All inflammatory foods
Processed foods of any kind
Processed sugars
Smoking

TEAS AND OTHER LIQUIDS

While teas with caffeine have useful compounds for the Fibromyalgia sufferer, it is best to consume them early in the day so they do not interfere with a good night’s sleep. Try two cups a day and see if that helps. More might help some of your symptoms but then you might just have other problems from too much caffeine.

Black tea
California poppy
Dang Shen
Green tea
Licorice root
Nettle
Saw palmetto
White tea

HERBS AND SPICES

Alfalfa
Ashwagandha
Astragalus
Echinacea
Eleuthero
Ginger
Ginkgo
Ginseng
Lemon Balm
Pau d’arco
Peppermint
Reishi tincture
Rosehip
St. John’s Wort
Turmeric

ESSENTIAL OILS

Essential oils can be administered via a diffuser for inhalation, administered topically in a carrier oil like coconut, or undiluted drops can be added to a hot bath.

Basil
Bergamot
Black Pepper
Clary sage
Cypress
Geranium
Grapefruit
Jasmine
Leavender
Lemon
Peppermint
Petitgrain
Roman Chamomile
Rosemary
Sweet Marjoram
Ylang Ylang

OTHER SUBSTANCES AND SUPPLEMENTS

The cost of having a blood test to determine if you have nutritional deficiencies is likely to be negligible compared to over-consuming expensive supplements that you do not need.

Check for iodine deficiency and supplement if necessary. Test can be with urine or a patch test.
Check for low ferritin, folic acid, 25-hydroxy and supplement accordingly (and eat foods rich in whatever substances you need)/
Co Q10
Colloidal silver
Copper
Glutathione
5-HTP, a natural amino acid, may ease symptoms of pain, anxiety, fatigue and stiffness.
Iron supplements (test before taking any iron supplements because iron overload is very common)
Lysine
Magnesium may reduce pain and tenderness.
Melatonin
Potassium
Probiotics
SAMe may improve rest and mood.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B6
Vitamin C (deficiencies often found in cancer patients)
Vitamin D
Vitamin E
Zinc

HYDRATION

Water is essential and a main nutrient for the human body. Without it, you cannot survive for many days. Staying hydrated is fundamental for a healthy body, so how much is enough? There are so many differences in people (i.e., how much we sweat), as well as the diets we consume (a lot of water comes from healthy, whole foods), but a general rule is to consume enough water that your urine is clear, but not so much that you dilute your nutrients. If you are taking certain supplements that make your urine yellow, then you can start out with the formula of drinking ½ ounce to 1 ounce of water for each pound you weigh. If you weigh 130 pounds, drink 65 to 130 ounces of water a day. Definitely drink when you are thirsty.

EXERCISE

Inactivity weakens muscles and makes them more sensitive to pain. Try low-impact aerobic exercises or cardiovascular exercise. If you are ill, you will want to take it easy, of course, but there is always something you can do to support your body. Do what you can do without making yourself feel worse. Exercise in fresh air whenever possible.

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT

Stay calm. Anxiety undermines health. Practice relaxation exercises, talk to a friend, join a support group. Do what works for you to keep mellow.

OTHER THINGS YOU CAN DO

Check for adrenal fatigue (can be done with a urine test).
Check for food sensitivities.
Check for low thyroid and adrenal dysfunction. Either can cause fatigue.
Consider a sleep test for apnea if you snore or stop breathing many times while sleeping.
Diatomaceous earth for detoxification
Either don’t watch TV or work on a computer an hour before bed, or at the very least use blue light filtering. You can use blue light filtering sunglasses.
Practice relaxation exercises, like Yoga, Tai Chi and Meditation, to minimize stress or depression.
Rule out possible allergens.
Rule out infections and toxic overload.