Fibromyalgia

Diet and Nutrition: (references)

• Eliminate foods that cause an allergic response or to which there is a sensitivity (fast, use an elimination diet, or allergy test to isolate such foods)
• Avoid sugar, refined foods, nuts, peanuts, caffeine, and all food additives and preservatives
• Eat lots of blueberries, blackberries, and cherries for their anthocyanidin content

Vitamins and Minerals: (references)

• Vitamin C: 3 - 6 gm.
• Vitamin E: 2,000 - 24,000 I.U.
• Vitamin B6: 50 mg.
• Vitamin B-Complex: take as directed on bottle
• Folate: 2 - 5 mg.
• Vitamin D: 200 - 400 I.U.
• Selenium: 200 - 300 mcg.
• Zinc: 30 mg.
• Copper: 2 - 4 mg.
• Calcium: 1200 mg.
• Magnesium: 600 mg.

Supplements: (references)

• Bromelain: 2500 mg. TID between meals
• Quercetin: 250 mg. TID between meals
• Melatonin: 3 mg. at 9 PM
• 5-Hydroxytryptophan: begin with 50 mg. TID, increase up to 200 mg. TID if necessary (Note: approximately 1-3% of oral tryptophan enters the brain compared to 70% of oral 5-HTP)
• L-Carnitine: 3 gm.

Botanicals: (references)

• Liquid Extract - *Passiflora incarnata (1), *Corydalis bulbosa (2), *Valerian officinalis (2), *Filipendula ulmaria (1), *Piscidia piscipula (1): 1/4 tsp TID
• Chlorella pyrenoidosa extract - tablets or liquid QID

• Individual botanicals to be considered for this condtion:
  Corydalis bulbosa (Corydalis)
  Filipendula ulmaria (Meadowsweet)
  Passiflora incarnata (Passionflower)
  Piper methysticum (Kava kava)
  Piscidia piscipula (Jamaican dogwood)
  Valeriana officinalis (Valerian)

Homeopathic Remedies: (references)

• Aching pain in muscles:
  
  achy, acon, alet, am-caust, ant-t, ARN, ars, aster, bell, brach, bry, calc, calc-p, carb-s, caust, cimic, colch, dulc, eup-per, ferr-p, GELS, harp, hist, ign, lat-m, LAC-AC, led, lyc, mag-s, man, merc, merc-c, morph, nat-f, nat-m, op, phyt, plb, ptel, puls, pyrog, ran-b, rauw, rham-cath, rhus-t, ruta, sal-ac, sil, staph, stram, stry, sulfa, tab, tarax, thal, thuj, valer, verat, verat-v, zinc
• Aching neck pain extending to the shoulders:
  
  verat-v
• Myositis:
  
  arn, bell, bry, calc, ham, hep, kali-i, merc, mez, rhus-t, ruta

(For an overview of Homeopathy, click here.)

Other Therapies: (references)

• Tonic IV therapy
• Hot sitz baths (end with cold)
• Structural massage is very important - to break up adhesions
• Stretching and ROM (range of motion) exercises for affected areas
• Aerobic exercise on a regular basis
• Avoid even low levels of exposure to toxic chemicals
• Fasting (water-only) has been beneficial in some cases
• Acupuncture is often very beneficial

Recommended Labs:

• Rule out allergies: IgG Food Allergy Antibody, IgG and IgE Inhalent Allergy Antibody
• Rule out anemia: CBC with Diff
• Rule out autoimmune disorders: ANA with Reflex
• Rule out candidiasis: Candida Panel
• Rule out diabetes: Fasting Glucose, Fructosamine, Hemoglobin A1c
• Rule out Epstein Barr infection: EBV Capsid IgG and IgM
• Rule out heavy metal poisoning: Hair Analysis
• Rule out hepatitis B and C: Hepatitis Panel
• Rule out HIV: ELISA, Western Blot
• Rule out Lyme Disease: Western Blot
• Rule out occult malignancies: Antimalignant Antibody
• Rule out osteoarthritis: X-Ray
• Rule out rheumatoid arthritis: ANA, Rheumatoid Factor
• Rule out thyroid disorder: Thyroid Panel with TSH

*  The recommended use of this supplement or therapy is based on a physiological mechanism or empirical data and is not necessarily supported by peer-reviewed research studies.

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).