The fibromyalgia, like most modern “syndromes”, is considered ‘idiopathic’ – a fancy word for “do not know”, and often used as an excuse not to look deeper into the root causes of the suffering of the patient. Conventional treatment is palliative at best, and harmful at worst – all the more reason why natural methods are sorely needed.
Fortunately, a significant body of research has accumulated natural methods and solutions for fibromyalgia that focus on diet modification, avoiding exposure to chemicals, and the use of orthomolecular nutrition, i.e., vitamins, biological cofactors, minerals, etc.
Table of Contents
The Gluten Fibromyalgia Connection.
A recent study indicates that wheat consumption may play an important role in fibromyalgia, a condition characterized primarily by long-term pain in the joints, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues, but which has also been linked to fatigue, depression, anxiety, sleep problems, and headaches.
“The remarkable improvement achieved for all outcome measures after one year of uninterrupted gluten-free diet in 7 women with celiac disease previously categorized as severe Inflamed Bowel Syndrome and Fibromyalgia patients.”
Researchers pointed out that fibromyalgia syndrome is a disease whose causes remain enigmatic, with no currently available imaging technologies or analytical tests available for objective diagnosis.
Greater reason why, its results are very promising in the treatment of patients with this disease through the elimination of gluten, and perhaps in the identification of the condition, as one of the hundreds of possible extra-intestinal manifestations of sensitivity to the celiac gluten, or non-celiac.
They summarize:
“The surprising results of the present trial suggest that an inflammatory process of activation related to autoimmune gluten within the gastrointestinal tract, may end up contributing to the appearance or increase of the sensitivity of the central nervous system, the system responsible for the fibromyalgia disorder in some people sensitive to gluten. ”
“This hypothesis seems to be consistent with the increased prevalence of fibromyalgia, described in women with different chronic inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract, and with the fact that our patients reported a long-term history of generalized gastrointestinal complaints for decades. prior to the onset of fibromyalgia symptoms.
In particular, the comorbidity triad of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, chronic fatigue and musculoskeletal pain has been considered surprising, and other authors have suggested that it may point to a common mechanism of underlying food hypersensitivity.”
Additional natural interventions for fibromyalgia.
Research on fibromyalgia has expanded significantly over the past two decades, with many natural interventions now gaining attention and increasing clinical validation. These include:
Magnesium.
It has been known since at least 1994 that fibromyalgia patients have lower levels of magnesium in their red blood cells than normal people. Additionally, a 2008 study found that fibromyalgia patients have an association between fatigue and serum magnesium levels.
As early as 1995, researchers confirmed in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study that a combination of malic acid (200 mg) and magnesium (50 mg) is an effective treatment for patients with primary fibromyalgia.
A 1999 study found that fibromyalgia patients had higher levels of calcium and magnesium levels in their hair, and that supplementation with these minerals reduced the number of tender points, indicating their potential therapeutic role in treatment.
Vitamin D.
The vitamin D deficiency is common in patients with fibromyalgia and occurs most often in patients with anxiety and depression. A 2009 study found that vitamin D treatment in fibromyalgia patients resulted in a slight short-term improvement in the global fibromyalgia impact score.
A more recent study from 2014 found that optimizing vitamin D levels in fibromyalgia patients had a positive effect on pain perception.
Cell food.
A single-blind, crossover, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in 2007 involving 320 subjects found that a supplement known as Cell food (deutrosulfazyme), increased oxygen levels while reducing oxidative stress in the body, improved symptoms of fibromyalgia and quality of life.
Coenzyme Q10.
A 2007 study found that levels of the mitochondrial antioxidant and cofactor and coenzyme Q10 are approximately 40% lower in fibromyalgia patients compared to healthy controls, indicating a possible therapeutic role in their use to address this deficiency.
D-Ribose.
A 1985 study found that D-ribose significantly reduced clinical symptoms in 66% of patients suffering from this disease and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Vitamin C and Broccoli.
A 2000 study found that a combination of a food-based vitamin C supplement (100 mg) and broccoli (400 mg) resulted in a 20.1% decrease in pain and a 17.8% decrease in pain. fibromyalgia impact scores.
Avoid the following toxins.
In addition to these palliative remedies and dietary changes, it should be brought to the reader’s attention that environmental exposures are among the top causes on the list, contributing to fibromyalgia. The following should be taken into account:
Breast implants.
Fibromyalgia and chronic pain have already been discussed as a possible negative consequence of them.
Statin drugs.
Linked to more than 300 adverse health effects in the biomedical literature, this class of drug chemistry, the statin, for lowering cholesterol, can devastate human health.
Muscle pain and damage, of course, is one of the best-known side effects of statin drugs. It is not surprising, therefore, that research points to its link to fibromyalgia.
Aspartame and MSG (Monosodium Glutamate).
A case study from 2001, established the therapeutic value of removing aspartame and MSG from the diet of fibromyalgia patients, was shown again in 2012 to be particularly problematic for fibromyalgia patients.
Adjuvant vaccines.
It has been hypothesized that the use of aluminum-based adjuvants, such as aluminum hydroxide in vaccines to stimulate the TH2 pole of immunity, may result in musculoskeletal pain consistent with conditions such as fibromyalgia.
Complementary therapies for fibromyalgia.
Finally, and perhaps most interesting, is the fact that there have been more than 20 different therapeutic actions studied to improve patients, including:
Mindfulness training.
A 2007 study found that mind training improved depression in patients with this condition, as in a similar 2009 study. A 2009 study found that it reduced their psychological distress.
Yoga.
A 2007 study found that the practice of yoga has therapeutic effects in fibromyalgia patients, as did a similar 2010 study, which resulted in an improvement in standardized measures of fibromyalgia symptoms and functioning, including pain, fatigue and mood, and in pain from traumatic experiences, acceptance, and other survival strategies ”.
A 2011 study found that an eight-week yoga intervention resulted in improvement in pain, psychological functioning and attention, and changes in cortisol levels in women with fibromyalgia.
Guided Imaging.
A 2006 study found that guided imagery improved functional status and sense of self-efficacy in managing pain and other symptoms of fibromyalgia.
A 2008 study showed that relaxation in combination with guided imagery improved the condition of fibromyalgia patients.
Raw food.
A 2001 study found that 19 out of 30 patients with this condition experienced a significant improvement in their condition after implementing a diet of mostly raw foods.
We hope this article reveals the promise of a functional, naturally oriented medical model. Identify the root causes i.e., dietary triggers, chemicals, nutritional deficiencies and eliminate them.