Natural Ways to Address the Complexities of Fibromyalgia


By Erika Dworkin, Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition®


other chronic conditions? If so, you may have fibromyalgia syn- drome (FMS), the physical and psychological challenges of which can vary among patients but are very real. Though you should not attempt to diagnose or treat yourself, you can begin to heal by learning about your condition’s symptoms, potential causes, and available natural treatments.


D Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) Defined and Potential Causes


FMS is often described as a musculoskeletal disorder similar to chronic fatigue syndrome that predominantly affects middle-aged women. Unlike chronic fatigue, however, an FMS diagnosis in- cludes chronic pain or stiffness in three body locations for at least three months, in addition to at least four other symptoms, including chronic fatigue, chronic headache/facial pain, sleep disturbance, neurological and psychological ailments, joint swelling, irritable bowel syndrome/abdominal discomfort, irritable bladder, chest pain, cognitive disorders, depression, anxiety, and/or variance in symptoms due to physical activity, stress, or weather/environmental sensitivity. FMS pain generally affects the fibrous tissues, muscles, tendons, or ligaments, and the 18 “trigger points” throughout the body that can be abnormally sensitive to the touch tend to cluster around the neck, shoulders, chest, knees, elbows, and hips. Since there is no specific FMS diagnostic or lab test, practitioners diagnose it by ruling out other conditions whose symptoms can mimic those of FMS (candidiasis, chemical sensitivity, viral and bacterial infec- tions [hepatitis C, Lyme disease], and various autoimmune diseases [lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis]).


While there is no known cause of FMS, onset may be initiated


by mitochondrial dysfunction (inability of cellular powerhouses to produce adequate energy, called adenosine triphosphate, or ATP), obesity, physical or mental stress, elevated inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, TNF), inflammation from co-occurring health condi- tions, nonrestorative sleep, injury, and/or or infections (including


o you suffer from chronic or severe pain throughout your body? Have your traditional physicians concluded that your symptoms are psychosomatic after tests ruled out


Fibromyalgia (fi·bro·my·al·gi·a) is a condition that causes pain all over the body, sleep issues, fatigue, and often emotional and mental stress. People with fibromyalgia


may be more sensitive to pain. This is called abnormal pain perception processing. Fibromyalgia affects about 4 million US adults, about 2% of the adult population. The cause of fibromyalgia is not known, but it can effectively be treated, managed, and even eliminated. —Dr. Dorothy Martin-Neville, PhD


respiratory mycoplasmal infection). Current research suggests that hormonal imbalances may also play a role. FMS patients may thus suffer from deficient levels of serotonin, melatonin, or growth hor- mone, or a dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (primarily responsible for the stress response). No genetic compo- nent of FMS has been identified.


Conventional Treatment


In treating FMS, practitioners generally incorporate both drug and non-drug therapies, including education, physical therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy. To address the individual symptoms, they frequently prescribe pain relievers, sleep aids, NSAIDs, anti- depressants (Cymbalta®, Savella®), muscle relaxants, Botox®, and anticonvulsants (Lyrica®). Unfortunately, all of these have potential side effects and none address the complete scope of FMS symp- toms. Buprenorphine is one largely unknown, minimally addic- tive narcotic that has shown some promise in treating chronic or severe symptoms, especially pain, insomnia, and depression.


Diminishing Symptoms Through Lifestyle Changes


As with all chronic conditions, wellness must begin with dietary and lifestyle changes. Both vegetarian and candida diets have demon- strated effectiveness against FMS symptoms. With the introduction of


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