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Freedom From FibromyalgiaYour Complete Guide To Pain Relief |
Natural Treatments for Fibromyalgia
Finding relief from fibromyalgia’s symptoms can often be as big of a challenge as dealing with the illness itself. Fortunately, there are numerous natural treatments for fibromyalgia that may prove to be just the trick for those who have tried everything and those who prefer alternative treatments to traditional medication and treatment.
Before you decide to try one of the following natural treatments for fibromyalgia, discuss your options fully with your doctor or your rheumatologist. You may also want to spend some time researching and reading about the alternative fibromyalgia medicine to decide which is best for you.
Hydrotherapy. Hydrotherapy is an excellent fibromyalgia natural treatment, and many with fibromyalgia are seeking hydrotherapy to relieve at least some of their fibromyalgia symptoms. Hydrotherapy is simple and relaxing: ice packs, or cold/hot compresses are applied to relieve muscle pain. Some hydrotherapy includes taking a hot bath in a whirlpool.
Aromatherapy. Aromatherapy, an alternative fibromyalgia medicine, uses the senses in an attempt to alleviate pain and other fibromyalgia symptoms. In addition to improving the moods of those with fibromyalgia, aromatherapy has also been credited with increasing the patient’s level of pain tolerance and improving their overall circulation.
Perhaps the best part of aromatherapy is you can engage this alternative fibromyalgia medicine at home, although you should seek the advice of an aroma therapist to determine which oils are best for your needs. While you can inhale the oils, most aroma therapists administer the oils via massage techniques.
Light therapy. Another fibromyalgia natural treatment that has helped those with chronic pain is light therapy. In essence, when you undergo light therapy, light is beamed to selected spots on your body. In turn, your body will release natural hormones that will lead to healing.
As with any fibromyalgia treatment, light therapy does have its side effects, but they tend to be mild and include nausea and irritation of the eyes. Discuss your interest in light therapy with your doctor. If you’re doctor gives you the green light, ask for a recommendation. Light therapy is usually conducted by doctors, psychologists, and physical therapists.
Eliminate MSG and Nutrasweet. A natural fibromyalgia treatment, although not always
easy to achieve, can be found by eliminating as much as possible MSG (Monosodium glutamate) and Nutrasweet (aspartame) from your
diet. MSG and Nutrasweet are both proven to initiate pain.
MSG is found in most processed
foods, such as potato chips, canned soups, canned beans, frozen fish, and
pickles. You’ll find Nutrasweet, or aspartame, in soda, gum, pudding, pudding
fillings, yogurt, and frozen desserts. Always check the ingredients of food you buy for MSG and Nutrasweet.
Eliminating MSG and Nutrasweet is both an effective and inexpensive
fibromyalgia treatment.
(For more information on MSG and
Nutrasweet, see The Aspartame Debate
below).
Cognitive Behavioural therapy. Cognitive behavioural therapy, one of several complementary approaches to relief from fibromyalgia, offers fibromyalgia patients the chance to be proactive in alleviating symptoms. You’ll work with a psychotherapist to determine the correlation between your feelings about having fibromyalgia and your symptoms. Together, you and the psychotherapist identify detrimental behaviour and how to change that behaviour.
Cognitive behavioural therapy has helped fibromyalgia patients alleviate their pain and to help them sleep better. Most psychotherapists recommend between six and twenty sessions.
Hypnosis. Hypnosis, another excellent fibromyalgia natural treatment, when administered by a licensed clinical hypnotist can teach you how to relax your body, in essence helping to control your pain. Hypnosis has helped fibromyalgia patients have an easier time relaxing, sleeping, and alleviating muscle pain.
Acupuncture. Recommended by the World Health Organization as an effective treatment for numerous illnesses, including chronic pain, acupuncture is an ancient Chinese therapy whereby tiny needles are placed into the skin at specific points, known as acupoints. Those needles are said to release endorphins that naturally relieve pain. As pain is a predominant fibromyalgia symptom, treating it with acupuncture could prove successful.
Even if you’re afraid of needles, you might want to consider acupuncture as a viable fibromyalgia treatment. In fact, once you feel the initial sting of the needle being inserted, the rest is relatively painless. Consult your doctor about acupuncture, and ask him if he can refer you to a licensed therapist.
Exercise. One of the best, and most effective fibromyalgia treatments is exercise. Be forewarned, however, that doesn’t mean you should go out and start a rigorous workout. Rather, you’ll want to start slow until you build your stamina. Also understand that you may be tired and sore after you exercise, particularly in the beginning, but the soreness will go away the more you exercise.
The trick is to find a happy medium where you do enough exercise to give your muscles the workout they need but not so much that you suffer a flare-up. Discuss your exercise options, as a fibromyalgia treatment, with your doctor. The most popular types of exercise with fibromyalgia patients are walking, cycling, and water exercises.
Nutrition. While a healthy diet is essential to leading a healthy life, it’s even more important for fibromyalgia patients. A natural fibromyalgia treatment is ensuring you’re eating a healthy diet. Talk with your doctor about the best foods to eat, or you may want to see a nutritionist to work on a menu plan.
Whatever road you choose, make sure you adjust your diet accordingly; you’ll be surprised at just how effective of a fibromyalgia treatment it is, helping to alleviate some of your symptoms. Start by reducing your intake of chocolate, caffeine, red meat, fried foods, potato chips and other so-called junk food, alcohol, and sugar.
Vitamins and supplements. Vitamins and supplements should be used as a complimentary fibromyalgia treatment with a healthy diet. They should never be considered a substitute for a good diet. Recommended vitamins and supplements include: vitamin A, vitamin D, iron, magnesium, potassium, and calcium.
Also, the 8 essential sugars known as Glyconutrients have shown some tantalising promise in treating the symptoms of Fibromyalgia.
See the section Glyconutrients – the 8 Sugars that Heal, below.
Therapy or a support group. Being diagnosed with an illness like fibromyalgia, which has an array of life-altering systems, is often difficult to accept. A vital fibromyalgia treatment, especially in the beginning, is learning how to cope with your illness and the lifestyle adjustments you must make.
To help you cope, you may consider going to a therapist to talk about how your life has changed. The therapist may be able to offer you simple yet effective fibromyalgia treatment ideas.
You may also want to join a support group, where you’ll be able to share your feelings and frustrations with others who know exactly what you’re going through. You can also share experiences with different fibromyalgia treatments, and what works best for alleviating your symptoms.
Ultimately, you have many fibromyalgia treatment options, and your most difficult decision will likely be which treatment to try first. Regardless of which fibromyalgia treatment you try first, remember to stay proactive and positive, and you will eventually be able to alleviate your symptoms to some degree.
One of the best fibromyalgia natural treatments is pet therapy, simply because anyone who has ever adopted an animal knows the meaning of unconditional love. While adopting a pet is a huge responsibility, it also gives the fibromyalgia patients a sense of purpose. After all, as much as you may hurt and as tired as you may be, your pet needs you to take care of him and to love him.
© Health Research Today
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