Summary And Quick Facts For Fibromyalgia
- Typically present in young or middle-aged women, fibromyalgia is a condition of soft tissue pain, muscular stiffness, unremitting fatigue, disturbed sleep and cognitive slowing that is often associated with a variety of additional unexplained symptoms, psychological depression and impairment of activities of daily living.
- This protocol will summarize several potential triggers of fibromyalgia symptoms and outline steps that can be taken to identify and address them. Using convenient blood tests to uncover potential imbalances or deficiencies and targeting them with scientifically studied natural therapies may improve the quality of life for those with fibromyalgia.
- Most experts in the field of fibromyalgia recommend a multifaceted, tailored treatment program incorporating both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic therapy . An appropriate fibromyalgia management program should be aimed at symptomatic treatment of pain, fatigue and sleep quality, as well as improving physical capacity and emotional balance.
Top Five Supplement Mistakes And How To Avoid Them By Dr Courtney Craig
In this video Dr. Craig, a recovered ME/CFS patient, examines how to choose supplements that work, mistakes people make when taking supplements, and how to streamline your supplement regimen to save you money.
First she refers to an ebook by Dr. Charles Lapp and Dr. Bruce Shepherd that proposes that supplements for ME/CFS should meet three criteria before they recommend their general use by the ME/CFS population:
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- It must be safe.
- There must be a scientific basis for its effects.
- It must cause a positive effect in at least fifty percent of those who take it.
The Five Best Supplements For Fibromyalgia
Managing fibromyalgia syndrome is notoriously difficult, with widespread pain, chronic fatigue, brain fog and sleep disturbances making daily life a real challenge. Due to this complexity, a multi-dimensional treatment approach is usually required to help you feel your best. Cardio exercise, resistance training and rTMS can all help significantly with the symptoms, but ensuring that you dont have any nutrient deficiencies is also critical.
Research shows that levels of certain vitamins and minerals are commonly low in FMS sufferers, while others have been found to help with managing the symptoms. We scoured the latest research to find you the five supplements that show the most promise.
Several studies have found that magnesium deficiency is common in people with FMS, and that those with the lowest levels tend to have the most pain. This is believed to be due to magnesiums ability to block certain nerve receptors, which are believed to play a role in FMS pain. Having low magnesium has also been found to reduce a persons tolerance to exercise, as well as increasing the amount of inflammation in their body, giving FMS sufferers multiple reasons to consider adding this into their daily routine.
There are a lot of different forms of magnesium available, and the number of choices can be overwhelming. We recommend Ionic magnesium, as this form is easily absorbed by the body and is gentle on the gut.
Note:
Posted on 19th April 2022
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Muscle pain has been associated with deficiencies in amino acids, magnesium, selenium, vitamins B and D, as well as with the harmful effects of heavy metals, such as mercury, cadmium, and lead. Research indicates that patients deficient in certain essential nutrients may develop dysfunction of pain inhibitory mechanisms together with fatigue and other FM symptoms. Additionally, mercury and other toxic elements may interfere with the bioavailability of essential nutrients. This review examines the many effects of metals and vitamins in pain evaluation of FM patients.
Dietary guidance is therefore critical for FM patients to help them in correcting a suboptimal or deficient intake of essential nutrients. When optimal levels of nutrition are achieved, pain levels are usually lowered.
B Vitamins
Some FM patients might have B vitamin deficiencies, especially B12. The positive effects of B12/folic acid supplementation for FM patients have been reported. In this study of FM patients who reported themselves as much improved subjects had been given higher, more frequent doses for a longer period. Furthermore, increased levels of homocysteine in the cerebrospinal fluid and low levels of B12 in the brain of FM subjects were described and further associated with FM-related musculoskeletal pain. In many of these cases, FM patients may benefit from B vitamin supplements.
B Vitamin Supplement: .
Vitamin D
Vitamin D Supplement: .
Magnesium
Nutrients. 2020 Sep 12: 2664.
Iron
Dietary Supplements For Fibromyalgia
What dietary supplements benefit fibromyalgia sufferers? Researchers are considering a number of natural supplements as potential therapies for fibromyalgia patients. Studies have been conducted on creatine, fish oil/ omega-3 fatty acid, the amino acid S-adenosyl-L-methionine, 5-hydroxytryptophan, mineral magnesium, vitamins B12, C and D, coenzyme Q10, soy, capsaicin/ chili peppers, and herbs such as turmeric, valerian, St. Johns wort and ashwagandha. Some show more promise than others. Some may treat more than one fibromyalgia symptom , . Unique beings as we are, its good to have a variety of supplements so we can choose the ones that offer us the most benefits.
This article considers sevennaturalsupplements with strong properties that may improve quality of life for fibromyalgia sufferers. Again, always consult your healthcare provider for diagnoses, accurate medical information and permission before taking any supplements. Theres no medical evidence to support dietary supplements curing, treating or preventing disease and disorders, including fibromyalgia.
1. Vitamin B12 ,
2. Vitamin D
Vitamin D3 is known for stimulating our immune system, improving cognitive faculties, bone health and mood , . Studies found that patients with fibromyalgia had low levels of D3 in their systems. Insufficient levels of this vitamin can disrupt those functions. Patients who were given vitamin D3 had their levels restored .
3. Magnesium
4. Ashwagandha
5. Turmeric
6. Coenzyme Q10
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Cannabidiol For Fibromyalgia Pain
Cannabidiol is an active ingredient extracted from the flowers, leaves and stems of industrial hemp plants. These plants are specially selected to ensure high levels of CBD but low levels of the psychoactive substance, THC found in marijuana. CBD is mixed with olive oil, coconut oil or hemp seed oil to maximise its absorption.
Cannabidiol or CBD oil has direct effects on the brain to reduce pain perception, relieve anxiety, lift mood and promote refreshing REM sleep. It works by enhancing the effects of other brain chemicals, such as serotonin, and through effects on the brains own endocannabinoid systems. CBD does not produce a high and is not addictive.
CBD oil is antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory effects to improve pain and stiffness. It also has a direct analgesic effects on pain perception in the brain, is relaxing and promotes feelings of well-being. CBD oil also improves sleep quality by promoting deep and refreshing REM dream sleep.
See the best CBD oil products at Healthspan.co.uk , or .
How To Fight Fibromyalgia Fatigue
Besides pain, anxiety and mental fog, fibromyalgia patients may also suffer from chronic fatigue symptoms. But natural remedies can go a long way toward restoring lost energy. Heres an expert guide to what really works for fibromyalgia fatigue…On bad days, Holly Scott can barely drag herself out of bed, shuffle to the couch and sit down. Ordinary activities seem virtually impossible.When my fibromyalgia flares up, I miss my daughters soccer games and dance recitals, says the 39-year-old Tucson mother of two. Im too tired even to sit through a movie with my husband. Scotts exhaustion is typical of fibromyalgia, a condition that causes widespread muscle pain and tenderness, and can often bring about debilitating fatigue.Thats the result of the body trying to fight chronic pain both physically and mentally, says Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D., author of From Fatigued to Fantastic! and a leading expert on both fibromyalgia support and chronic fatigue. After a flare-up, women with fibromyalgia find themselves with lagging energy levels because theyve spent a great deal of battling the depression and emotional anguish associated with the disease, Dr. Teitelbaum says.
For optimum fibromyalgia support, meditate at least once a day for a minimum of 10 minutes, Dr. Yee suggests.Build up to twice a day: once in the morning and once at night.Heres how to get started:
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For Immune System Function
Bromelain
Bromelain has digestant activity and has anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anti-diarrheal, anti-carcinogenic and wound-healing properties.
The mechanism of the putative antiinflammatory activity is not well understood. It may be accounted for, in part, by activation of plasmin production from plasminogen and reduction of kinin, via inhibition of the conversion of kininogen to kinin.
Bromelain also increases T-cell activation, and enhances antigen-independent binding to monocytes. It has been shown to help in chronic bronchitis and chronic sinusitis because it also thins mucous.
Contraindications: Avoid if allergic to pineapple.
Precautions: May cause blood-thinning activity in some people.
Adverse Reactions: Sometimes minor GI symptoms.
Interactions: Increases serum levels of amoxicillin and tetracycline. May enhance anticoagulant activity of warfarin and aspirin.Dosage: 500-2000 GDUs taken 1-3 times a day.
Magnesium
Magnesium is an essential mineral in human nutrition with a wide range of biological functions. Magnesium is involved in over 300 metabolic reactions. It is necessary for every major biological process, including production of cellular energy and the synthesis of nucleic acids and proteins. It is also important for the electrical stability of cells, the maintenance of membrane integrity, muscle contraction, nerve conduction and the regulation of vascular tone, among other things.
Adverse reactions: Usually none in doses of 350 mg a day or less.
Supplementation And Diet For Fibromyalgia
As part of this protocol, I strongly recommend a botanical combination of curcumin, turmerones from turmeric essential oil, boswellia, and frankincense oil to address the inflammation and pain, and also improve the mental outlook and sense of focus for patients suffering from fibromyalgia.
Curcumin from turmeric is a highly effective pain reliever and should be part of a diet for fibromyalgia. In a double-blind crossover trial, participants taking curcumin two days before and three days after a physical workout experienced moderate to large pain reduction and slightly increased performance. Exercises included gluteal stretches, squat jumps, and single-leg jumps.2
Another four-day study featuring curcumin-assessed reduction of delayed onset muscle soreness and muscle damage in healthy adults following downhill running. The curcumin group showed a 17% lower pain score, fewer inflammatory markers, and less muscle damage than the placebo group.3
Curcumin can also significantly increase BDNF, brain-derived neurotrophic factor . BDNF helps create neurons, maintain existing ones, and is essential for learning and plasticity.4-8 Curcumin has been shown to address rheumatoid arthritis a condition some researchers connect to fibromyalgia.
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Foods To Include In A Fibromyalgia Diet
Now lets look at a healthy fibromyalgia diet. Replace the foods mentioned above with nutrient-dense clean proteins, raw dairy, fermented foods, organic fruits and vegetables and other foods listed in my healing foods diet.
Many fibromyalgia patients have underlying nutritional deficiencies and may be deficient in key nutrients including vitamins B12, C, and D, as well as folic acid and the essential mineral magnesium. The goal is to reduce inflammation and build the bodys natural defenses. Simply put, this requires a change in diet, a radical change for some people.
Magnesium-Rich Foods: Include lots of green leafy vegetables, pumpkin seeds, yogurt or kefir, almonds, and avocados in your diet to increase magnesium levels. Aim for a minimum of three servings a day of these foods to help ease the pain and discomfort associated with fibromyalgia.
Melatonin-Rich Foods: As sleep disorders are common among fibromyalgia symptoms, increasing the sleep hormone melatonin is recommended. Melatonin supplements are considered generally safe, but it can interact with certain medications, including immunosuppressants, birth control pills, anticoagulants and diabetic prescriptions.
Fortunately, there are many foods you can eat to get the melatonin you need! Melatonin-rich foods include the following:
- Tart/Sour Cherries and Cherry Juice
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Supplements That Might Improve Fibromyalgia Symptoms
Vitamin D supplementation might improve pain symptoms of fibromyalgia among people with low levels of vitamin D, but there is no evidence that vitamin D supplement is beneficial among people with adequate levels of vitamin D.
One study suggested that taking 5-HTP along with certain antidepressants may improve pain symptoms among people with fibromyalgia better than either 5-HTP or antidepressants alone. However, the study did not include a placebo control group and not all conclusions asserted by the researchers were supported by data analysis, so it’s not possible to know with certainty that 5-HTP is beneficial.
Taking creatine may slightly improve muscle strength in people with fibromyalgia, but it doesn’t appear to improve other symptoms such as pain or sleep quality.
Several small studies suggested that CoQ10 may improve symptoms of fibromyalgia when used alone or along with the standard treatment.
Preliminary research suggested that taking acetyl-L-carnitine improved depressive symptoms, but not anxiety or pain, in people with fibromyalgia.
A small, preliminary study suggested that SAMe slightly reduced pain at rest and fatigue, but not pain during physical activity, depression, or sleep among people with fibromyalgia.
Cellfood has been promoted as improving symptoms of fibromyalgia based on results from a small study showing that Cellfood reduced symptoms among women with this condition, but these findings are not reliable due to poor study quality.
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Vitamin D For Fibromyalgia Pain
Once upon a time, vitamin D was all about calcium absorption and healthy bones. Now vitamin D is recognised as a hormone that has wide-reaching effects in the body, including cell growth, nerve conduction, muscle fibre contraction, and can help fibromyalgia through the regulation of mood, pain perception, sleep and by reducing fatigue.
Recent studies show that low vitamin D levels are common in people with fibromyalgia. Twelve studies, involving 1,854 people with chronic widespread pain, found they were 63% more likely to have low vitamin D levels than healthy controls. Conversely, those with low vitamin D levels are 93% more likely to experience chronic widespread pain, and 77% more likely to experience depression than those with normal vitamin D levels.
Its now also known that low vitamin D levels can heighten pain sensitivity and increase pain processing.
A study involving 30 women with fibromyalgia who were also deficient in vitamin D, gave half oral vitamin D supplements, while the other half received placebo. Within a week, those taking the vitamin D supplements experienced improvements in physical function, with reduced morning fatigue and a marked reduction in pain compared with placebo.
See the best vitamin D3 supplements at Healthspan.co.uk, Boots, or . Tablets and oral sprays are equally effective.
Five Supplement Mistakes You Don’t Want To Make With Fibromyalgia Or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
by Cort Johnson | Sep 28, 2014 | Homepage |
Over the past fifteen years Ive spent thousands of dollars on supplements, most of which had absolutely no effect on my symptoms. Dr. Courtney Craig Youtube video
To take or not take supplements is a big question in disorders like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia where the list of FDA approved drugs is short and not particularly impressive.
Hope springs eternal with supplements. Better than hope, though, is a good guide.
Where there are no drugs, though, there are always supplements each purporting to be helpful each suggesting it might provide the critical nutrient you need to turn your health around. Hope springs eternal with supplements and maybe it should. The supplement field encompassing herbs, vitamins, minerals, neutraceuticals, probiotics, medical foods, etc. is enormous. With thousands of combinations available and new possibilities coming out regularly, supplements can potentially make a major impact on our health.
The very size of the field, though, makes the challenge of picking the right supplements and using them correctly a daunting one. Its an area you can very quickly dump a lot of money into without results.
In this first part of a two-part blog we check out some of the supplement mistakes we all may have made in Dr. Courtney Craigs video, The Top Five Supplement Mistakes and How to Avoid Them.
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Hormonal Influences And Stress
Although a causal link has yet to be established, some evidence suggests a role for sex hormones in the etiology of fibromyalgia. For example, fibromyalgia predominantly affects middle aged women a population whose hormones have begun to decline or fall out of youthful balance . Furthermore, the fluctuating hormone levels caused by endocrine dysfunction commonly produce symptoms that are similar to those of fibromyalgia . In one clinical trial, taking the selective estrogen receptor modulator raloxifene every other day for 16 weeks led to significant improvements in pain and fatigue scores reduced tender points and sleep disturbances and greater recovery of usual activities compared to placebo among 49 women . These findings implicate estrogen signaling in fibromyalgia etiology.
Likewise, perturbations in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis have been demonstrated in fibromyalgia patients, indicating a possible therapeutic role for dehydroepiandrosterone supplementation and stress management strategies . It is thought that stress functions to cause alterations in corticotropin-releasing hormone , with associated effects on the neuroendocrine axis. More information is available in the Stress Management protocol.
For more information on hormone testing and natural hormone replacement, refer to the Female Hormone Restoration Therapy protocol.
What Are The Side Effects Of Fibromyalgia Support Supplements
Most fibromyalgia support supplements come with some side effects and may interact poorly with some medications. These side effects may include dizziness, gastrointestinal issues, rash, and itching that could be mild, severe, or of no consequence, depending on the person.
Some supplements with herbal ingredients are not recommended for children, pregnant women, and people with weak immune systems. We always suggest that you consult your doctor before purchasing or taking any fibromyalgia support supplements. Also, make sure your medications dont clash because consuming an excessive component can negatively impact your health.
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