Treating Fibromyalgia Naturally
Fibromyalgia is a disease often confused with arthritis, which affects 4% of the population, especially women between the ages of 40 and 50. It causes pain in the joints and muscles, but it does not make them inflamed. Learn more about what it is and how to treat fibromyalgia naturally in the following article.
Features of Fibromyalgia
It is a disease or condition that is becoming more common in the world. It is difficult to diagnose and the first symptoms usually go unrecognized, because people think it is due to wrong movement, poor sleep or overexertion.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic disease characterized by a generalized muscle pain in the bones, increased tenderness and discomfort in certain parts of the body. It is felt in the muscles with no apparent damage seen in medical examinations, although the patient does show a sensitivity to changes in temperature or physical contact.
It is associated with health problems such as joint stiffness, depression, anxiety, fatigue, headache, abdominal pain, muscle cramps, swollen feeling (subjective) or poor sleep quality.
The causes of fibromyalgia, as well as the way in which this disease develops, are still unknown. However, there is certain data on the mechanisms that can lead to this problem. These are:
- Imbalance in the neurotransmitters of the nervous system.
- Change in the levels of certain substances responsible for neurochemical processes.
- Disturbance in the blood flow of certain brain functions.
- Genetic predisposition
- Chronic or viral infections
- Inflammatory processes
- muscle diseases
- Depression
The most common symptoms of fibromyalgia are general and chronic pain in certain areas in particular, such as the extremities, around the back, neck, arms, shoulders, spine, hips, or muscles.
The pain is continuous and is most severe in the morning when you wake up, improves slightly during the day, but then gets worse in the evening or at night. The pain gets worse if the person stays in the same position all day (like in front of the computer, for example), if he or she lifts weight, or as a result of climate change and emotions.
Even more symptoms
Other common symptoms of fibromyalgia are psychological and physical exhaustion for many days in a row that does not go away even after rest. There are also people who experience the following symptoms:
- Changes in sleeping habits
- Muscle stiffness
- muscle spasms
- Headache
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Intolerance to certain drugs
- Dry eyes and mouth
- Cold limbs
- Increase in sweating
- jaw pain
- Anxious Palpitations
- Concentration and memory problems
- instability
- muscle spasms
- Sensitivity in the stomach
- leg cramps
- Swelling of the feet and hands
- Severe menstrual pain
- Nausea
Home remedies and recommendations for fibromyalgia
Herbs and plants with relaxing properties for the muscles are highly recommended for the treatment of this condition. Some of the natural remedies are:
- Make a tea with two tablespoons of dried thyme and half a liter of water. One cup in the morning and the other when you want or when the pain starts (in the afternoon for example).
- Same infusion as above with thyme and water. Fill the bath with warm water. Stay in the tub for fifteen to twenty minutes (or until the water cools).
- Dip a cloth in apple cider vinegar and then rub it over the painful area affected by fibromyalgia.
- Boil two ounces of willow bark and a cup of water for five minutes. If you don’t have this plant at home, you can find it in natural or health food stores. Drink two to three cups a day, starting with breakfast. Willow contains salicin, as well as many pain relievers, which is why it can reduce pain.
- Take two teaspoons of ground or grated ginger in a glass of room temperature water. Drink it right away. Do this twice a day.
- Boil a small tablespoon of St. John’s wort in a cup of water for five minutes. Remove from heat, then let cool and strain. Drink it warm and repeat twice a day.
- Boil 100 grams of dried horsetail in a liter of water for half an hour. Remove from heat, strain and drink two cups a day.
- Pour 35 grams of marigold leaves (dry or not) into a quart of 45 proof clear alcohol. Leave it for fifteen days while you follow another natural remedy for fibromyalgia. Keep it well covered in a glass container. Once this time has passed, dip a cotton ball or cloth in the liquid and use it as a compress on the affected area.
Some Tips for Treating Fibromyalgia
Eat foods rich in magnesium
Some of the options include spinach, asparagus, lettuce, brewer’s yeast, and wheat germ.
Add more selenium to your diet
This nutrient is found in oranges, apples, cucumber, pumpkin, garlic, onions and cabbage.
Use more calcium
Dairy products are not the only products that give you more calcium, but also green leafy vegetables such as spinach or Swiss chard.
Eat more vitamin C
While everyone thinks oranges are a greater source of this vitamin, in reality there are other foods that can help, such as strawberries, blueberries, and cherries.
