The National Fibromyalgia Association is the leading non-profit organization dedicated to improving quality of life for people with Fibromyalgia. Their website has been a great resource for me as an FM patient, advocate, and support group leader. The NFA is focused on creating programs dedicated to spreading Fibromyalgia Awareness, like the Fibro Focus events that took place last year, which my support group was fortunate to participate in.

The NFA truly is the leading authority on Fibromyalgia, so when they asked me to help spread the word about the free online version of Fibromyalgia AWARE magazine, I was more than happy to help.

Fibromyalgia AWARE Magazine

Published by the National Fibromyalgia Association, Fibromyalgia AWARE is the first and only consumer magazine dedicated to the subject of fibromyalgia.

The comprehensive publication offers straightforward, insightful information and support. This reliable resource will help to improve the quality of life for people affected by fibromyalgia. The magazine includes:

• The latest news in research
• Helpful information on general health and well-being
• A balanced approach to treatment options
• Lifestyle and self-management techniques

As a non-profit organization, the NFA relies on purchases of the print version of the magazine to help them continue their mission. But now they are offering a free online version to reach and help as many people as possible.

Now we all have free access to the great stories and editorial produced in each quarterly issue. For example, here is a small sample of what you can find in the Winter 2009/10 issue of Fibromyalgia AWARE:

• Making the Invisible Visible: The Science Behind Fibromyalgia
• How to LIve a Balanced Life: Lessons from Practice of Tai Chi
• Your Best Night’s Sleep: Tips to Get the Rest You Need
• Making the Right Online Connections

There is even a special section dedicated to Disability – determining if it is right for you, dealing with the myths and landmines.

So there you have it. Quality information from a quality organization. Bravo to the NFA for creating this free online version and making this valuable information more accessible. I am happy to support their efforts and get the word out to all of you.

If you haven’t already, click on the link above to the Winter issue and get your free copy. Happy reading!

Following up on the Progressive Relaxation guided technique of week one, in week two we learned a simple and useful technique called Mini-Practices.

Mini-Practices

For relaxation to benefit you the most, you need to learn how to relax and calm yourself upon your command. This skill can be very helpful when you are feeling increased tension or pain, but are unable to go to a secluded area to do progressive relaxation.

To Do a Mini-Practice:

1. Stop yourself in whatever you are doing
2. Take a deep breath
3. Say the word “relax” to yourself
4. Slowly exhale
5. As you exhale  focus on the sensations of relaxation
6. Allow your jaws to relax, allow sensations of heaviness to flow downward from your shoulders throughout your body
7. After 30 seconds go back to what you were doing – regardless of how well you have succeeded in relaxing

Reminders to do Mini-Practices

Your goal is to do about 5 mini-practices the first day and then gradually build up to about 20 mini-practices a day over the next few weeks. You can remind yourself to do a mini-practice in many different ways. Some people do a mini-practice every time they feel annoyed or tense. Other people do one every time they stop at a stop light or pick up the telephone. You can remind yourself to do a mini-practice by placing adhesive “dots” around the house (by the door, near your mirror) or on personal belongings (such as a watch, or pocketbook). Every time you see a “dot” you will be reminded to do a mini-practice.

It doesn’t matter how you choose to remind yourself to relax, what is important is that you practice frequently. Little by little you can develop a habit of keeping yourself relaxed throughout the day.

Learning to relax really is a skill. We live in a constant state of flight or fight. Learning to shut that down, even if it is only for 30 second increments is a powerful tool.

After practicing this technique for a week I can say it is something we should all learn and add to our coping skills toolbox. I have not counted to confirm that I am up to 20 mini-practices a day, but the cumulative affect of the number I am doing is very positive. I have a greater feeling of control over my emotions and enjoy the short sensations of relaxation. They are kind of addicting! I find myself doing one each time I wash my hands – and I am compulsive hand washer.

Try it for yourself. It is such a simple and useful technique there really is no reason not to try it. The researcher did mention that some people have an aversion to the word “relax” (feels too harsh), and if this is the case with you, it is perfectly acceptable to find your own word – chill, easy, breath, etc.

Be sure to get yourself a pack of the adhesive dots. They are a fun and useful way to remind yourself to relax.

One year ago today I sat down at FibroHaven for the first time and wrote this – Welcome!

In my very first post I shared what I hoped and intended to accomplish with my blog:

I have found the blogs I like best are the ones whose authors are aware they have an audience, yet they speak with a realness and simplicity.  They are authentic.  I image if I met the author they would be exactly as they sound on their blog.

That is the approach I hope to take in my writing.  I want to be real.

One year later I think my blog is exactly as real as I was hoping it would be and so much more.

I had no understanding at the time of the relationships I would form and the people who would reach out to me because something I wrote made an impact on them. I knew there was a need for a positive voice in the Fibromyalgia community, but I had no idea how much it would come to mean to me to be that voice.

My heart, soul, love, hope, spirit, and joy are in this blog. I doubt that I have ever been more proud of a personal accomplishment. Maybe that game winning home run I hit as the only girl on my little league baseball team. That was pretty cool! But seriously, FibroHaven is my baby.

Every time I read a comment like this from a recent post, I know I am doing what I am meant to do:

Thank you so much for sharing! I have only recently realized how important it is to reach out to those around me instead of hiding. I’m not weaker as a result of my illness. It is people like you that have helped me realize this. -Terri Simmons

Heart warming!

I have changed so much over this past year, and I doubt any of it would have occurred without this blog.

• I am more accepting of my illness
• I understand that I need to be my own best health advocate
• I understand the value and importance of researching every possiblity
• I recognize that there is no quick fix, no magic bullet
• I do not blame anyone or anything for my current state of health
• I have become more mindful of how my lifestyle choices contribute to my wellbeing
• I have a new spiritual awareness through yoga and meditation
• I am more in tuned to my body and my environment
• I am hopeful
• I feel loved
• I believe with all my heart that I will continue on this path to wellness and one day be symptom free
• I accept that there will be setbacks and obstacles, but that progress is still being made

If I had to give a number to my symptomatic improvement over this past year, it would be about 15%. Fifteen percent better than I was one year ago today. Wouldn’t you take that? Using the most basic of math, and not taking any variables into account, if I continue at a “15% a year” rate of improvement, I will be symptom free in just under seven years. After 13 years of living with a range of Fibromyalgia symptoms, seven years is acceptable to me.

But I don’t believe it will take seven years, simply because I cannot ignore the variables. If I had to give a number to my emotional and spiritual improvement (the variables) over this past year, it would be 60%. I am happier and more hopeful than I have ever been. I am at peace with who I am, and excited about who I am becoming. And I contribute the work I have put into FibroHaven for guiding me into who I am becoming.

I have put the work in, and I will continue to do so. I will continue to share and relate my experiences here. Some you will relate to, some you will not. But by taking the time to research and read, you are becoming your own best health advocate. Knowledge is power.

Thank you all for reading and commenting here. You are a big part of the reason I am feeling so loved and hopeful.

It was several years ago now that my therapist tried to help me resolve my physical pain by dealing with my suppressed emotions. Ironically, her recommendation to me was to write. She believed that through the process of writing, my muscles would begin to let go of everything they had been storing. Unfortunately I did not get very far with her. Maybe I was not ready to hear her and understand then. Maybe the time was not right. But today as I sit here writing about it, I am so much more aware and accepting of where she was trying to guide me.

My muscles are full of emotions I have spent the last 40 years avoiding.

The pain is stored there because that is how I unconsciously chose to process it. I stuffed it deep down inside to avoid facing it, but it doesn’t just disappear, it simply manifests itself into a different kind of pain.

My muscles are inflamed and toxic because I did not have the skills to manage and deal with the crisis in the moment. Who does have the skills? They are not easy to acquire. I still do not have them, but I am working towards it. It may take me the next 40 years, but at least I am now aware.

Healing is not a simple process.

First we must really come to terms with the source of our pain. For the purpose of this post I am focusing on emotional pain, but as we all know there are many other components to our pain (trauma, infection, toxin, etc.) that make this process even more complicated.

So where do we start?

Again, there is no easy answer. Years ago I started in the most logical place, therapy, and yet it turned out not to be my actual starting point. I had years of stagnant suffering after that, waiting for my health to change, but not actively making the changes necessary for my health to improve.

Looking back on it now, I am learning from my time spent in therapy, but it made little difference in my life at the time.

My true starting point in understanding how my emotions have contributed to my pain is this blog. Writing here has allowed me to explore and examine myself in ways I never would have otherwise. It has allowed me to acquire new tools and resources to actively apply to my intention of wellness.

What does that mean?

Well it means I am no longer sitting on my couch with a tub of mashed potatoes, convincing myself that my misery entitles me to eat it. And it means that I am no longer waiting for better health to find me, I am actively seeking it out. And it means I am no longer discouraged by the many set backs, because I understand it took years for this damage to occur in my body, and it will take years for me to correct everything, but each step I take towards healing tips the balance to the path of wellness and a better life.

For me, the tools and resources I have acquired to deal with emotional pain are writing, yoga, and meditation. The combination of the three have given me a greater awareness of the mind-body connection, which I believe is essential for healing our emotional pain.

Yoga and meditation teach you to connect with and examine your body, scanning for places of tension and pain. They teach you to acknowledge and breathe into those places, and not ignore what you are storing there. It has been an amazing process of self-discovery, and both practices often leave me more emotional but less painful.

Writing is where I come to process everything. This is where I put the piece together and try to make sense of them. Without this blog, I am certain I would still be waiting for my health to change.

So how can you take what I have learned and apply it to your own path to wellness?

First, you have to be ready to take your journey. You have to be ready to do the work and the research to find the best tools and resources for you. Then you have to understand that it is a journey of endurance and not be discouraged by the inevitable setbacks. You have to believe that you are worth the effort and that better health is possible.

If you are not there yet, like I wasn’t not that long ago, keep reading, keep researching, don’t give up. Never give up! Better health is possible. Once you believe it is, your journey will begin.

I spent my twenties in a haze of parties and adventure. Oh the fun I had! I paid for that fun in my thirties. My thirties have been a decade of pain and frustration. After developing Fibromyalgia in my late twenties, I spent most of my thirties a slave to my symptoms.

But that is all changing. It started with this blog, and all the research I do to stay informed and up to date. Knowledge is power I tell you. I am learning more and more that I can feel better, and that there are things I can do to take back a measurable amount of control over my health. These are all resources and tips I have shared with you in the hundred plus posts I have written. I try very hard to practice what I preach, and the more I do, the better I feel.

So bring on forty. Forty is going to be my decade for health and healing, for wealth and wellness. I am ready for forty!

Pardon me while I spend this week celebrating. I have many things I want to share with you – like the great support group meeting I had last week attended by Lynne Matallana of the National Fibromyalgia Association. What a treat that was! But I am not going to be sitting in front of my computer too much this week. Instead I am going to be practicing yoga and meditation, going to lunch with family and friends, getting pedicures with my big sis, and honoring my health as much as possible to prepare for this next decade.

I am so looking forward to what forty will bring, and I am grateful to have this space and all of you to share it with. You are a gift I treasure each day. Thank you for taking the time to read what I write and occasionally leave a comment when the mood strikes. I appreciate you more than you know!

Happy Birthday to me!

Today I want to share with you this very important video of a presentation Lynne gave in 2007 at a patients conference. It is important to note that she is speaking to patients here. This is not an intro to Fibromyalgia. She is speaking to her peers, to all of us.

The video is an hour in length, so keep that in mind when you prepare to view it, but please do watch it. It will give you comfort to know that the most recognizable Fibromyalgia leader understands and is actively working to better our lives and provide us hope for our future.

Here are some highlights Lynne covers in the presentation:

• We are all different
• You can get better
• There is no magic bullet
• What you are experiencing is real
• You can take back control of your life
• Listen to your intuition
• Give yourself permission to take care of you
• You are a person first, a patient second
• This is our journey

On this journey you are going to learn not only the things that are going to help make you feel better, but maybe even help make you a better person. I think I am much more compassionate. I think I am much more sensitive. I think I am much more aware. Lynne Matallana

videoplay?docid=6512742079926657347#

Are you able to work?

Did you have to change careers?

Do you work full-time or part-time?

Are you self-employed?

Do you work from home?

Are you on disability?

Can you work while on disability?

Topics for a very interesting conversation, right? (In fact the latest edition of Fibromyalgia Aware Magazine is focused on this topic. If you are not already subscribed, I highly recommend you do and start receiving this valuable resource.) But then you know what happens when you bring together thirteen passionate, enthusiastic and well-spoken women… I lost control of the meeting very early on, and had a great time letting the conversation go where it will. And I think the topic of work might have actually come up once or twice.

As usual, I was touched by many of the things shared, and impressed with the generosity and compassion of the group. There were sad moments and funny moments. Moments of anger and frustration, and moments of joy and hope. I took notes as I always do, and I thought I would share with you a few quotes from the day – starting with my favorite:

“You can’t be sad on rollerskates.”

“I’m rewriting my own life commandments.”

“My ego would love to do it, but I have to say no.”

“I do not fight my pain anymore. I breathe into it.”

“I am an athlete and competitor in my mind.”

I’m not sure if there is anything in my life I am more proud to contribute to than this group. I am usually left depleted after each meeting, but I happily give each ounce of my energy it takes. It fulfills a need in me for community and giving, and it hopefully fulfills a need for each member that makes the commitment to attend and participate – even on the days when their facilitator loses control!

It is remarkable to me the quality of people who develop Fibromyalgia and chronic illness. In fact I wrote a post on my Everyday Health blog with each person I know with FM in mind. I would love for you to read it. I think you may see yourself described there. Take a look and tell me what you think: Remember Who You Are

I intended to write this follow-up post on my experience with Dr. Whitcomb and his Neurologic Relief Centers Technique last Monday, but have been sidelined by a bad flare-up. Yes, I do attribute my flare to the workshop and testing technique, but even so, I intend to give you a fair account of the workshop, although as with everything on my blog, it will be full of my opinions. It may be a lot to follow, so I hope I have managed to present a readable review.

The logistics of the day went like this:

I was initially invited to the workshop by a local acupuncturist who I will call “Dr. J.” The workshop began at 1PM on Friday, July 24. The local acupuncturist as well as several other local chiropractors actually paid for a training session with Whitcomb. They spent all of Thursday and Friday morning training to learn his technique. Then at 1PM on Friday, myself and the other patients whom each practitioner invited arrived for a lecture by Whitcomb. After the hour long presentation, we broke off with the practitioner who invited us to be tested to see if the technique would benefit us.

So What is This Technique?

The technique involves several minutes of firm pressure to either the anterior or posterior neck trigger points. The pressure is intended to release the tension on the nerves that travel through the meninges, and relive the pain and symptoms this tension causes. Whitcomb attributes most symptoms of FM to this compression. His name for this is meningeal compression, which he uses interchangeably with Fibromyalgia.

I brought three of my support group members with me. As you can imagine, given my impression of Paul Whitcomb and his clinic, I approached this event with a healthy amount of skepticism. Adding to my skepticism was the information one of my resourceful members shared with me about Whitcomb. He is still under investigation by the California Board of Chiropractic Examiners. There is still a possibility that he may lose his license for charges of administering “excessive treatment” and making “sensational statements which are intended to deceive the public.” He has recently closed his practice in South Lake Tahoe and is traveling nationwide to teach his technique. The reason he gave during the presentation for this move is to eliminate the need for patients to travel to him.

Whitcomb’s Presentation

The presentation Whitcomb gave was full of dramatizations: “Fibromyalgia patients are closest to prisoners of war.” “The Fibromyalgia patients who came to my clinic did not want to continue living.” “Eighteen percent of Fibromyalgia patients commit suicide.” I am really curious to know where he got that number, but unfortunately he did not allow for Q & A. He never once described Fibromyalgia patients as type A, as givers, or as overachievers, which in my experience is closer to the truth. Instead he painted a very bleak and desperate picture of us. Most of his claims were dramatic and over-the-top. He did not share anything about FM that I did not already know, but he did supply us with many statistics about his practice and the tremendous results he gets; such as 85% of his patients remain symptom free, only 6% lost the benefit of his correction and treatment after leaving his clinic. It makes me wonder why he would choose to close up shop.

As we moved on to the testing part of the workshop, we were all required to sign a waiver agreeing to let our test be recorded on video and used at their discretion. I refused, as did the other members of my group. I attended this workshop to research and share as much information as I could about Whitcomb’s technique. I would not agree to have my image shown in support of it and without my knowledge. Dr. J expressed our concern and they agreed to let him test us without being filmed.

I think because we were not being filmed, Whitcomb basically left Dr. J on his own, while paying closer attention to the chiropractors he trained and their patients who were being filmed. Also, Whitcomb unfairly sold Dr. J on training with him. He told Dr. J that “the test is the technique,” but then during the presentation he said just the opposite, because the chiros learning the technique also learned a particular adjustment that an acupuncturist like Dr. J is not legally qualified to perform. When I questioned Dr. J about this he said, “Yeah, I guess he kind of fooled me there.” So the “technique” that Dr. J paid to learn and implement into his practice is not complete. I really feel like Whitcomb snowballed Dr. J and any other non-chiro who paid to learn his technique.

And Now I Share Why I Have Been in a Flare

My first instinct was to not be tested, and I wish I had followed it. Instead I sat and watched many patients receive the technique and seemingly have instant improvements. One older gentleman with Parkinson’s had a noticeable reduction in his tremors. Another man was able to lift his arm above his head for the first time in months. I should note that we were not all fibromyalgia patients in the room, although the presentation was geared specifically to FM. After observing for some time, I was just too curious to opt out, so I hopped up on the table and let Dr. J proceed. After a short palpation he concluded I was sorest and tightest at the trigger points on the side of my neck below my ears. I concurred with this assessment.

He used metal rods with soft ends to place steady, firm pressure on my neck for five minutes. It did not take long for me to begin to feel nauseous. I tried to breath through it. Dr. J frequently check with me to see if I had a reduction in pain. I had rated my pain a 6 on the 1-10 scale, with 10 being worst. That day my neck, head, shoulders, upper back and hips were painful. I did not feel any change as I laid there. He asked me to focus on my hips. Laying still I felt no difference, but when I moved my hips, I eventually felt a reduction in pain. After the test, upon standing, my right hip was free from pain, and my left was improved. There was no improvement to my neck, head, shoulders or upper back.

I remained nauseous for sometime after the test. I had driven my members, and did not feel well enough to drive right away, so it gave us an opportunity to stay and talk about the workshop. The test had zero effect on two of my members, and two of us had a slight decrease in our symptoms. For one member the pressure was too painful to bear. Her pain level had been very low to start the day, and after her reaction to the test, Whitcomb remarked he wasn’t sure why she was even being tested if she had no pain. He told the second member who did not experience any relief that she was just being difficult. When I remarked to him that I did not experience any relief in my upper body he said I just needed to have the test performed longer. We all felt underwhelmed by the experience. It did nothing to change my opinion of him that his care for FM patients is motivated most heavily by his bottom line.

Conclusion

The proposed follow-up with Dr. J was to involve an initial consultation, and then three consecutive days of treatment, which would require three visits each day. After the three days of visits he would reevaluate and propose further treatment. It is expected to take weeks or months for complete healing, and then there is likely to be maintenance to assure the meningeal release holds. Given that I have been in a flare since receiving the test at the workshop, and that the improvement I felt in my hips lasted only an hour or two, I called Dr. J and told him I was not interested in pursuing this treatment. He then told me hed decided not to implement the technique into his practice, and that he too was underwhelmed by the experience. I have to say I think he made a very wise decision.

So there you have my experience and my opinion on the matter. I feel like a little guinea pig, but I am happy to have had this experience to share. When Whitcomb had his Web site up, there were a lot of testimonials of people who swear by his technique. One of my members who attended the workshop has personally spoken with several of his former patients who claim to be symptoms free. She was considering attending his clinic and did a tremendous amount of research. She was the most hopeful of us last Friday that his technique would benefit her, but unfortunately she was one of the two it did not.

If Whitcomb comes to your community to teach his technique, I cannot recommend that you attend his workshop, but as we all know, what works for one will not for the other. Even after this particularly bad flare, I still plan to keep an open mind about treatment options available and useful to us. But I most certainly will not be having my meninges released anytime soon!

NOTE: On Tuesday October 27, FibroHaven was moved from a WordPress domain to its own URL. In doing so the comments of each and every post have been affected. They are no longer chronological or nested (if they were a direct reply to a previous comment). It happened on each post, but because this particular post has been so active it is especially troublesome to try and follow the comments logically. I apologize for this confusion and we are trying to fix it, but it appears it may not be possible.

I can assure you no censoring or editing of comments has occurred. If you are interested and brave enough, feel free to read the comments and try to piece them together. I do warn you against taking things out of context as that has already happened. To avoid any more confusion, I am turning off comments on this post until the issue is resolved. If you have something you absolutely must say in response to this, feel free to email me at fibrohaven@gmail.com.

Cheers,

Dannette

10/28/09

Fibromyalgia is a Puzzle!

Do you remember the press release I shared with you about Dr. Sarkozi and his new book The Missing Pieces of the Fibromyalgia Puzzle? Well he is the guest speaker at my support group meeting tonight. I am very pleased to have been able to schedule him.

Dr. Sarkozi is a rheumatologist specializing in the treatment of Fibromyalgia. His technique is a blend of traditional and complimentary treatment, which intends to promote effective self-managed wellness. I am looking forward to his presentation. I personally believe very strongly that our best health will not come from Western medicine alone, but in combination with the many alternative and complimentary treatments out there. You can be sure I will share with you the details of his presentation and my impression of his book.

Not Interested!

Interestingly, I have a few members in my group who are completely uninterested in hearing his presentation. To them it is just one more person claiming they have the answer. There are so many claims out there of “the” cure and “the” answer, which turn out not to be the answer at all – just a way for unscrupulous people to line their pockets off the desperation and determination of some very frustrated chronically ill people. I believe that every possibility needs to be explored and considered though, because what if it just happens to be even a part of “the” answers we are all so diligently searching for.

Free Your Mind and Your Meninges

I try very hard to keep an open mind. So hard in fact, on Friday I am going to a presentation for a new technique based on the teachings of one Dr. Whitcomb. You may remember I was none too pleased with this controversial chiropractor’s claims of a “cure” for Fibromyalgia. If you need a refresher you can read my rant here and here, but I warn you – I was in a BAD MOOD! (I just read back over both posts for the first time, and am shocked actually at the frustration and desperation behind my writing. I am just realizing that in the months that have passed, I have grown a lot through this blog, and am currently much more at peace and open-minded.)

The workshop I am going to on Friday is based on the belief that Fibromyalgia symptoms are caused by a build up of tension at the base of our skulls that causes irritation to the nerves. The build up can be caused by physical or emotional traumas (stress). The technique being taught in the workshop releases the tension in the meninges, thus releasing the irritation to the nerves.

What do you think? Does this sound like it could possibly be beneficial in the treatment of Fibromyalgia? I’m not sure either, and that is exactly why I owe it to myself, to my support group, and to everyone who reads this blog to check it out. Not sure if I am going to participate in the free demo, but I will certainly be taking notes. And you can be sure I will be reporting back on it as well.

It is too soon to know what, if any, impact this will actually have. The FDA is not required to follow the committee’s recommendation, although historically they do. At the very least it is a good time to consider what options you have to prepare for the possible ban. Prescription painkillers will always be available in some form. With complaints of chronic pain on an epidemic rise, drug companies will see to it. But prescription painkillers need not be the only option for Fibromyalgia pain treatment.

So what can I do to ease my pain naturally?

I am glad you asked! In the midst of a severe Fibromyalgia flare-up, there may be nothing as quick to bring relief as good old - insert your painkiller of choice here, but for daily maintenance and preventative health care, natural is best.

Foods & Herbs

Your food should be your first medicine. In a previous post I listed the many toxic foods to avoid if you have Fibromyalgia. Now lets take a look at foods and herbs beneficial for pain management.

Essential fatty acids are a must. EFAs like Omega-3s are necessary fats that humans cannot synthesize, and must be obtained through diet. Omega-3s have a natural anti-inflammatory quality along with a whole complex of other health benefits. Research indicates that omega-3s may be better absorbed from food than supplements.

Wild salmon is a great source of Omega-3s, as are other fatty fish like albacore tuna, halibut, and sardines. Not a fan of fish? Flaxseed oil and Canola oil are good choices too. Or how about walnuts? Try a sprinkle of walnuts on spinach salad for a nutritious and delicious double dose of essential fatty acids. Summer squash, cauliflower, and broccolli are all very good sources as well.

Herbal remedies also aid in pain relief. Natural pain relief — like herbal medicine, is an increasingly popular way to manage pain.

• Turmeric is gaining great recognition as a natural painkiller. Why not try sprinkling some on that piece of salmon you are grilling up?
• Fresh ginger helps with inflammation.
• Capsaicin applied topically may be beneficial for relieving pain.
• Feverfew has been found useful for treating migraines.
• Ginseng is listed by the American Pain Foundation as beneficial for Fibromyalgia pain treatment.

If you are serious about trying herbal remedies for pain relief, I advise that you consult with your physician or a licensed herbalist who understands how powerful these herbs can be.

Soak on it

More and more research indicates that Fibromyalgia patients suffer from magnesium deficiency. Magnesium is extremely important to many functions in the body, and a deficiency can cause several of the symptoms associated with Fibromyalgia. There are great benefits in taking an Epsom salt bath, rich in hydrated magnesium sulfate, which is easily absorbed through the skin.

As listed on the Epsom Salt Industry Council website, here are some of the health benefits to be had from an epsom salt bath:

• Flushes toxins and heavy metals from the cells, easing muscle pain and helping the body to eliminate harmful substances.
• Relieves stress. Excess adrenaline and stress are believed to drain magnesium, a natural stress reliever, from the body. Magnesium is necessary for the body to bind adequate amounts of serotonin, a mood-elevating chemical within the brain that creates a feeling of well being and relaxation.
• Reduces inflammation to relieve pain and muscle cramps.
• Improves oxygen use.
• Improves absorption of nutrients.
• Improves formation of joint proteins, brain tissue and mucin proteins.
• Prevents or eases migraine headaches.

I don’t think we could ask much more from a simple bath! Epsom salt baths are so relaxing and therapeutic, I recommend you take two or three a week – more if your level of pain dictates. Before bed is a great time, as you will find yourself so relaxed by the natural serotonin boost, you will be able to gently drift off into a restorative sleep.

Just Breathe

Yoga, Qigong, meditation and many other mind-body practices teach the healing properties of purposeful breathing. Conscious breathing can actually change your body chemistry by increasing oxygen supply to your cells and prompting the production of endorphins, which are the body’s natural pain killers. Deep breathing relaxes the muscles and calms the mind.

In her book Yoga for Fibromyalgia, Shoosh Lettick Crotzer teaches The Healing Breath technique. To practice this, begin in a seated pose with your feet flat on the floor and your arms resting lightly on your thighs. Close your eyes, follow the directions below, and let your breath heal.

Inhale and exhale slowly, focusing on how the air feels as it passes through your nose, into your body, and back out. Think of your breath as the gift of life – prana: life force. Let it feel soothing as it flows inside. If you have general pain, visualize this healing breath filling your whole body. If your pain is more specific, on inhalations, bring the breath directly to your pain. Then, for either type of pain, let each new inhalation bring energy to expand and soften, cleanse and release, rejuvenate. With the exhalations, let the tensions and heaviness of your pain flow out with the breath. Breathe slowly, and continue until you feel quiet, heavy, and more relaxed. Come out of the pose when you are ready. Notice the difference you have made in yourself.

Mindful breathing will bring you more in-tune with your body. It is something we should all practice everyday, regardless of our level of pain.

Good Health Requires Mindfulness

Self care is critical in the management of Fibromyalgia. There is no magic pill that will reverse all of the symptoms we live with. There never will be. So instead of waiting for the magic bullet, we should focus on simple and manageable things we can do to help improve our health and wellbeing. It may take a great combination of holistic and natural remedies, combined with the care of our doctors, to really achieve optimal results. Be your own best health advocate and practice the Healing Breath technique, cook yourself some salmon for dinner, and then take a relaxing epsom salt bath. You are worth the effort.