Treating Fibro With The Power Of Natural Remedies

Fibromyalgia is believed to affect about five to six million Americans with the majority of the patients being females.
 When it comes down to choosing alternative medicines for fibromyalgia you will do well to take nutritional supplements which are a wonderful choice, as these supplements are very useful in conquering fatigue and pain that are known to be major problems among people suffering from a fibromyalgia condition.

The ancient wisdom of natural remedies stem from the beginning of time. The shamans, healers and ancient doctors never looked at the person as a collection of parts yet a system that is whole and thus is treated as whole.
 When you look in the mirror you may only see your body, but actually you are a lot more than that. 
You are your body, your emotional body and your spiritual body.
 And that is and was what the natural practitioner looks at when a person comes receive treatment.

Today when we feel as if we are getting further and further away from ourselves, surprisingly we have become a lot more accustomed to search for natural remedies.
 It is as if there is something in our hearts and in our intuition that is telling us that what we’re looking for is hidden and is yet to be discovered in the ancient wisdom of natural remedies.
 And that there is something that is a lot more close to our true nature.

Fact is conventional medicine suggest many different solutions but when you look at it closely they are basically treating the symptoms without suggesting a slightest cure for fibromyalgia.
 Fortunately with hundreds of years of knowledge and success in healing various ailments there is a glimpse of hope in finding smarter and more human friendly ways to treat fibro.

Alternative medicine is also known as complimentary medicine and as the word suggest, it compliments other treatments.
 Natural, plant based remedies are not the whole solution and should be taken as a complimentary aid.
 You should also make sure that you consult your physician with any changes in your diet or natural remedies you are taking to be on the safe side.

Below are a few examples that will give you a feeling of the different solutions that could safely alleviate pain and the many other symptoms that come with FBS:

Magnesium happens to be a good choice as far as effective alternative medicine for fibromyalgia goes as it works by relaxing your muscles and the mineral also prevents onset of muscle spasms.


Herbs can be used in any alternative medicine for fibromyalgia and among the best of these herbs you should consider using is ginkgo biloba which has antioxidant properties that help improve the functioning of the brain and in addition it also helps the blood to circulate in all parts of the body.
Ginger is used in alternative medicine for fibromyalgia mainly because it has anti- inflammatory properties that help to control pain as well as swelling.


Turmeric is a herb that is widely used in alternative treatment of fibromyalgia because it provides greater antioxidant properties which can prove to be very useful in combating damage of free radicals. In addition, turmeric provides good anti- inflammatory functions that aid in alleviating pain as well as swelling in the muscles.

Olive leaf too is a herb that should be included in your treatment for fibromyalgia, as it is very effective in boosting your immune system and it also works very well in dealing with fatigue. In addition, any alternative medicine for fibromyalgia that contains olive leaf will help to lift your spirits and could also help you feel better about yourself.
In this chapter we will go deeply into each therapeutic system and explain its benefits to handling and alleviating the pain that accompanies your condition.

Acupuncture and Acupressure


Acupuncture therapy is used to eliminate pain and treat other health problems. It aims to restore balance to the body, helping to improve the overall function. It uses thin, metallic needles to stimulate special points throughout the body. These points, called acupoints or acupuncture points, correspond to the specific areas in the body that causes health problems. Acupuncture needles can remain in the body for up to 20 minutes.
Acupressure therapy is very similar to acupuncture, only it does not use needles to restore balance to the body. Instead, pressure is used. Using the fingers, knuckles, palms, elbows, or feet, an acupressurist applies pressure to specific areas on the body. This pressure is held for between 3 and 10 seconds, providing relief from symptoms and restoring health to the body.

Acupuncture and acupressure have actually shown to relieve pain symptoms caused by fibromyalgia. In a recent study performed by the Mayo Clinic, fibromyalgia acupuncture treatment was shown to reduce pain and depression. Acupuncture for fibromyalgia was also shown to increase energy and reduce fatigue. Other studies have illustrated that acupuncture remains effective for up to one month after treatment.

Craniosacral Therapy


Craniosacral therapy is an alternative treatment technique that is very similar to osteopathy and physical therapy. Craniosacral therapy is non-invasive and uses gentle palpations on the skin in order to restore health, reduce pain, and increase resistance to disease.
There has been no extensive research on craniosacral therapy in treating fibromyalgia. Many studies suggest that craniosacral therapy is helpful for the first few sessions.

However, craniosacral therapy is highly regarded by many fibromyalgia sufferers. A large percentage of patients have tried craniosacral therapy at least once, and have found it to be extremely effective at reducing their symptoms of fibromyalgia syndrome.

Craniosacral therapy is purported to reduce widespread pain, reduce the number of chronic headaches, increase range of motion, decrease chronic fatigue, and improve mood. Herbal supplements are a non-conventional way of treating illnesses and symptoms of pain and discomfort.

By using naturally sourced herbs, berries, and barks, people can reduce various symptoms and even cure some illnesses.
Because fibromyalgia can cause so many different symptoms, there are a wide variety of herbal remedies that a patient can use to treat them.

The following are some of the most popular herbs used to treat the more common symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Depression:
 Up to 50% of fibromyalgia patients suffer from depression. One herbal medication that has been used for years to treat depression is St. John’s Wort. It helps to alleviate depression by inhibiting neurotransmitters, which influence mood. St. John’s Wort also helps to alleviate stress and anxiety. However, St. John’s Wort should never be taken with conventional antidepressants.

Muscle and Joint Pain:
 Nearly 100% of sufferers experience these symptoms. Juniper berries and Cayenne is often used to help reduce muscle pain and inflammation. Cayenne contains capsaicin, which inhibits neurotransmitters responsible for communicating pain signals. Cayenne is applied topically, to sore areas around the body and 3-4 juniper berries are consumed about an hour before lunch.

Immune System Deficiency:
 It is thought that fibromyalgia may be the result of an immune system disorder. If someone has fibromyalgia, his immune system may be compromised, preventing him from repairing much-needed muscles and tissues. Garlic, astralagus, and Echinacea are often used to help boost circulation, allowing oxygen and nutrients to flow throughout the body.

This helps to improve the immune system, and reduce a wide variety of symptoms.
Sleep Disorders:
Sleep disorders plague many men and women with fibromyalgia. Unable to get restful sleep, these sleep disorders can contribute to pain and fatigue. Skullcap and valerian root are both used to help restore sleep patterns while ginseng is used to help combat fatigue caused by sleep disorders.


Massage Therapy
: In massage therapy, the muscles and soft tissues are manipulated in order to relieve stress, reduce pain, and increase flexibility. Usually done with the hands, there are a variety of different techniques used to give a massage. Common techniques involve stroking, kneading, and palpating the muscles. Sometimes, a special instrument or device is used to help relieve tension in tight muscles.

Hot and cold therapies are also used during massages in order to increase blood flow and relax muscles.
It is believed that massage therapy actually enhances the production of certain pain blockers, including endorphins, serotonin, and nor epinephrine. These hormones work to counteract pain signals conducted by the brain, and this would explain why massage offers such dramatic pain relief. Massage therapy benefits include increased blood circulation to the muscles allowing for faster muscle repair, increased flexibility, increased range of motion, decreased stress and depression, reduced pain, reduced stiffness, and improved sleep patterns.

There are a variety of different kinds of massages that are on offer by a massage therapist. Some of the most popular massages are:

Swedish massage
: The Swedish massage technique is designed to increase the amount of oxygen that is delivered to the muscles. This helps to flush out toxins and improve the flexibility and health of your muscles. Swedish massage is characterized by long, gliding movements, which involve stroking the body with the thumbs, fingertips, and palms. However, Swedish massage also makes use of kneading and tapping techniques, and uses vibration to benefit the body.

Deep Tissue Massage: 
Deep-tissue massage is a vigorous therapy used to loosen areas of hardened or inflexible muscles and tissues. It targets the deep layers of the muscles and tendons, helping to release tension and chronic muscle pain. Deep, pressurized strokes are usually made along or across the muscles. Because deep tissue massage uses slower and deeper strokes than Swedish massage therapy, the patient may feel a little pain immediately following the treatment. However, this pain disappears within a day or so.

Myofascial Release: 
Myofascial release techniques help to relieve stiffness and tightness in the body’s fascia, caused by myofascial pain. The fascia is a thin layer of tissue that covers all of the muscles and organs. In fibromyalgia, sometimes the fascia can become extremely short and tense, resulting in pain.Myofascial release therapy uses stretching techniques to relieve this pain.

Trigger Point Therapy: 
Trigger point therapy is a touch therapy that is used to eliminate trigger points. It is sometimes called myotherapy. During trigger point therapy, the practitioner exerts pressure on the trigger points by using her fingers, knuckles, or elbows. This pressure is maintained for about 10 seconds and then released. Pressure is then reapplied in a pumping action for a further 30 seconds. After treatment, the muscles are stretched and lengthened to enhance flexibility.

Though acupressure and trigger point therapy may sound similar, they actually operate on different parts of the body. Acupressure focuses on specific energy pathways in the body. Areas that are blocked are palpated in order to restore energy flow. The patient cannot feel these blockages under the skin. Trigger point therapy however, works on palpable knots in the muscles that are unrelated to energy pathways.
Trigger point therapy can be highly beneficial for fibromyalgia patients.

Trigger point therapy is beneficial to fibromyalgia patients because it works to eliminate the tender points and the symptoms they cause. Trigger point therapy can reduce muscle stiffness, increase range of motion, increase flexibility, enhance circulation, allowing the body to heal, and ease depression and anxiety.

Hypnosis: 
Hypnosis is a non-invasive technique that encourages a person to achieve heightened levels of focus and sensation. People who practice hypnosis believe that there are two main components to the mind: the conscious mind and the unconscious mind. Through relaxation and suggestion, individuals are able to access their subconscious mind and stop behaviors or thoughts that may be contributing to pain or other unpleasant symptoms.

There are two main types of hypnosis techniques:

1. Hypnosis Performed by a Clinical Hypnotist: This type of hypnosis is performed in-office by a licensed professional. The hypnotist will explain what hypnosis is and how it works to reduce pain. He or she will then lead the patient into hypnosis through a series of relaxation exercises. Once they are in a hypnotic state, the hypnotist will make suggestions as to how they can change their thoughts or behavior in order to minimize their symptoms.


2. Self Hypnosis: Self hypnosis is a type of hypnosis that can be done by patients themselves in their own home. Self hypnosis can be learned either from a clinical hypnotist or from one of a number of books available on the subject. Self hypnosis techniques can be indispensable for fibromyalgia sufferers. Self hypnosis is usually used as a form of relaxation or meditation.
Many fibromyalgia sufferers attribute reduction in their symptoms to the power of hypnosis.

Fibromyalgia sufferers often use hypnosis as a way to limit their pain symptoms and increase their energy and comfort level. A study conducted by the NIH showed that fibromyalgia sufferers undergoing hypnosis reported 80% fewer pain symptoms than those who received no hypnosis treatment. Other benefits of hypnosis include decreased muscle pain, decreased morning fatigue; fewer sleep difficulties, and increased relaxation.

Biofeedback therapy: 
Biofeedback therapy uses a machine to record electric impulses emitted by the patient’s body, in the form of temperature, muscle twitches, and brainwaves. The biofeedback machine then “feeds back” these impulses to the patient in the form of lights and beeps, which are displayed on a biofeedback monitor. For example, when the patient’s temperature increases, the numbers of beeps that he hears also increase. The object of the therapy is to find a way to reduce the number of lights and beeps that are fed back to him. This will relax his body’s electrical impulses and reduce his symptoms. With training, he can eventually apply this knowledge without the use of a machine.
There are a number of different types of biofeedback therapy. They are often used together in order to achieve the best affect.

Electromyography (EMG)
EMG biofeedback is the most common type of biofeedback therapy and is especially useful for fibromyalgia patients. It is used to correct muscle pain and stiffness. A biofeedback device called electromyograph measures electricity given off by the muscles.

Peripheral Skin Temperature (PST)
 This type of biofeedback measures electrical impulses given off by the flow of the patient’s blood. This provides information about his skin temperature, which can be used to fight persistent cold or Reynaud’s phenomenon.

Electroderm Response (EDR)
EDR monitors electricity produced by the patient’s sweating reflexes, and is also known as sweating biofeedback. It is used to correct anxiety and depression.

Brainwave Electroencephalogram (EEG)
EEG biofeedback measures the type of waves that the brain produces. It is helpful in correcting all sorts of ailments, ranging from depression to sleep disorders.

Breathing Biofeedback 
 gives information about the pulse rate and how fast the patient is breathing. It is used to help correct anxiety and fatigue.
Biofeedback has proven to be very effective in reducing symptoms of fibromyalgia syndrome. It helps to increase physical function, decrease tender points, minimize pain, decrease disordered sleep patterns.

In one recent study, fibromyalgia patients who attended 15 biofeedback sessions experienced a decrease in their number of tender points, as well as improvements in their muscle stiffness and pain symptoms. These benefits lasted for up to six months.



Relaxation therapy helps to provide a person with physical, emotional, and spiritual relaxation. It actually involves numerous techniques that reduce stress and fatigue and work to invigorate the mind and body. Most relaxation techniques involve using both the body and the mind together; they often pair concentration with specific bodily movements or breathing exercise to achieve deep relaxation.
There are two main classes of relaxation therapy:


Brief Relaxation Therapy: Brief relaxation therapies require less time and skill to perform. They include: self-controlled relaxation, deep breathing and paced relaxation.

Deep Relaxation Therapy:Deep relaxation therapies take more time to learn and to perform, but can provide a more intense sense of relaxation. These therapies include: meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, and autogenic training.
Relaxation Techniques
 There are a wide variety of different techniques that can be used to help promote relaxation.
Deep Breathing 
Deep breathing techniques require a person to focus on his inhalation and exhalation.

This can be done by sitting or standing comfortably and placing the hands firmly on the stomach and then slowly inhaling through the nose. As a person inhales, his stomach begins to expand outwards – this is a sign that he is inhaling as much oxygen as possible. Repeating for 10 minutes, three or four times daily is vital.

Meditation
: Meditation is a technique that helps to relax the body and settle the mind at the same time. Meditation uses focused concentration in order to achieve relaxation. Either by repeating a word or sound, or by focusing on breathing, sufferers can clear their mind and achieve complete relaxation. They concentrate on inhaling and exhaling or repeating a special word. This process is continued for about 20 minutes.

Yoga: 
Yoga is both a physical and mental practice that can help the patients to achieve complete relaxation. It is a low-impact workout, which focuses on stretching and relaxing all major muscle groups in the body. This makes yoga an excellent choice for fibromyalgia patients, as it helps to increase muscle mass and strength. Yoga relaxation therapy also teaches how to control and monitor breathing, allowing individuals to relax and focus as they complete the workout.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation
: Progressive muscle relaxation is an excellent choice for fibromyalgia patients because it is so easy to do. Sufferers can do it while sitting in a chair or when lying in bed, whichever is the most comfortable for them. Progressive muscle relaxation works on all major muscle groups in the body. It helps to reduce tension and work out the muscles at the same time. Progressive muscle relaxation requires no equipment and can be done by all age-levels and abilities.
This technique reduces stress and tension by helping them to focus on particular muscles in their body. The ritual begins by tensing the muscles in the feet, holding this contraction for 8 seconds or so. Then releasing the tension and relaxing. Tensing of all the major muscles in the body, right up to the head is continued. By the time the ritual finishes, individuals are completely relaxed.
Many relaxation therapy techniques can be performed at home, while others can be performed under the guidance of an instructor at a relaxation therapy clinic.
By relaxing both the physical body and the mind, an individual can actually help to reduce the effects of stress. This is known as the relaxation response.

Relaxation helps to lower blood pressure and heart rate, and also helps to slow down breathing. Additionally, it promotes oxygen flow throughout the body, helping to heal damaged areas.
Relaxation therapy can also be extremely helpful in reducing the many symptoms caused by fibromyalgia. Meditation and progressive muscle relaxation techniques help to reduce insomnia and other sleep disorders. They promote the production of melanin in the body, which is essential for deep sleep.

Relaxation therapy has also been proven to moderately reduce anxiety and depression, which are also symptoms of fibromyalgia. Moreover, all relaxation therapies have proven effective in minimizing the intensity and duration of migraine headaches.

A Simple Relaxation Technique You Could Try Today

1. Find a location that’s quiet and where you know you won’t be bothered. You are looking for ten to twenty minutes of undisturbed meditation here. Turn off all telephones and anything else that could become a distraction.

2. Now, sit comfortably and quietly. Keep your back in position with your spine vertically aligned. Remember that posture is something that you need to make happen.

3. Commit to what you are doing right now. That means not allowing distraction to play a role now. Commit to not being interrupted by anything happening in the world around you. Most importantly, remove anything from the room or from your line of view that could be a potential distraction. Commit to performing meditation.

4. Select a word that fits into your natural belief system. For example, use “love” “peace” or others. If you are religious, select a work of a short phrase that signifies what you believe. “Hallelujah” or “Om” make good choices. Close your eyes once you’ve selected the right word. Closing your eyes helps you to enter into relaxation.

5. Now, we’ll go through the body and relax each of the muscles in it. Start with your toes. Consciously think to yourself that your toes should relax and feel them relax. Next, move to your feet, your legs and so on. You want to allow each of your muscles to relax. Make sure to include your neck, your jaw, your pelvis, back, your arms, fingers and hands, and shoulders. As this happens, feel the tension leave your body.

6. Continue to breathe through the process in deep, long breathes and repeat your mediation word over and over again. Breathe in, say your word, breathe out, and repeat. You don’t need to say the word out loud, but rather mentally pronounce it.

7. Use the passive attitude that we’ve talked about. If any thoughts come into your mind while you are sitting, relaxing, let them go out simply by telling yourself “oh well.” Most people will have trouble with this at first, so don’t worry about how well you are doing. Just let go of those words the best that you can. Keep repeating your meditation word, too.

8. Keep this going for ten minutes at least and strive for twenty. Don’t use any alarm to warn you, just open your eyes for a moment to check.

9. Sit and relax for several minutes once you’ve come out of your meditation. Keep your eyes closed for a couple of minutes before opening them. Don’t stand up just yet. Allow yourself time to come back into reality before doing so.

You should try to do this simple meditation at least once a day but two or more times per day really can have a positive effect on your daily stresses. Many people find that this simple meditation works well before they get their day started, when they are fully rested and before they have eaten breakfast.
When you have practiced this type of mediation for several days or even longer, you should learn the benefits of meditation and what it can offer. If you don’t feel any different, you may not be following each step appropriately. You need to focus on your body and breath and not on whether or not meditation is going to work or not.
 There are many other types of mediation that can easily be used just like that of the simple meditation.

In closing there are many ways to help with your fibro symptoms and I hope you can at least try a few to see what works for you! Let us know how it goes