Holistic Health Solutions for Fibromyalgia – Fibro Pain Management,
the Natural Way
By N. Howell
I am living proof that you don’t have to live
with fibromyalgia pain.
Don’t give up! Keep trying different combinations of supplements, different types of movement and address fully
underlying spiritual, emotional, and mental thought patterns.
Discover what works for you. Try a natural therapy for Fibromyalgia and see if it helps.
Fibromyalgia Pain Relief: Holistic Health Approach, Part Two
As discussed in Part One of this Fibromyalgia Report, I approach my own physical challenges
from a holistic health perspective, believing that the body has an innate wisdom and genius for healing just about
anything, if given the proper support, prayerful intent, and synergistic supplementation of nutrients and natural
health-building substances. I also said in part one that this path of healing is certainly not for everyone. One
must be willing to take responsibility for your health fully to benefit from the approaches I’ll be sharing.
For example, if choosing the holistic self-treatment path to health, one must also be willing to go through the
inevitable detox and/or healing crisis that is the body’s natural way of letting go of poison. What is toxic must
evacuate the body, and when that release occurs, there is often a period of discomfort or even a temporary reappearance
of earlier symptoms.
I now consider these signs to be good ones and indications that my body is healing from the inside out. My approach
to dealing with fibromyalgia has been similar to my approach with any physical imbalance, both personally or with
anyone I counsel on wellness. I believe that the natural state of our body is one of health and that whenever physical
imbalance has manifested, it has some kind of non-physical precursor, or core cause. It began either as an emotional,
mental or spiritual level of imbalance.
This doesn’t mean that I ignore the physical or the laws of the physical body. I support the body with herbs, foods
and other supplements that are known to contain properties that assist the body in healing but also am aware that,
unless the non-physical precursors are healed, the relief will be less than permanent.
Getting to the root of emotional or mental factors requires patience and commitment. Counseling was invaluable to
me, as I sought to cope with this pain. Through a two-year period, I worked within groups and in individual counseling
to heal my emotions and my thinking. This indirectly has very direct bearing on my pain level with the fibromyalgia.
Also of significant importance was that I learned to Meditate, to take time every day
(or at least every few days) to cease all activity (even thinking) and just “be.” Though very difficult
for me at first, meditation came to be a rewarding and strengthening experience. Among other things, giving myself
that quiet time every day somehow helped me to recognize the subtle triggers I had missed before, that would signal
that the pain would be getting worse. I began to see a correlation between certain kinds of thoughts or reactions
and the onset of more pain. It taught me the same way biofeedback teaches, by observation and corrective action.
Body work was wonderfully supportive of release and healing, and continues to be something that is very important
to my overall wellness regimen. I am a foot reflexologist so if I can’t find anyone else to do it for me, I give
myself a treatment. It’s not hard to learn and sometimes, just working the area on the foot that corresponds to the
area that hurts from the fibro, I’m able to get relief. As often as I possibly can, I get massage and/or reflexology.
I also get healing work, such as Reiki. If you are unfamiliar with foot reflexology, this may also help you.
Reflexology is easily self-taught with the use of a good guidebook or online class.
Gentle Stretching
The body can cope with pain better when it is not crunched up and tensed. The normal tendency with pain is to tense
up and you may not even realize you are staying tensed all the time. This is a terrific strain on your muscles and
bones. Remember to gently stretch when in pain, to keep the muscles from spasm and cramps and to keep your body energy
flowing so you release toxins, like lactic acid. One of the most gentle and healing forms of therapeutic movement
of which I’ve become aware is Qigong. Not only is Qigong itself a well recognized
health promoting discipline but the the videos created by Wuji Productions are excellent.
Big Rubber Ball
One of the most effective ways to gently stretch the body that I’ve ever found is by use of a common beach ball.
I roll on my back, on the ball, and then turn over and roll on my stomach. It works great and I can control the amount
of stretch.
Learning to Let Your Body Do The Stretching
While getting in the habit of stretching the body daily is tremendously beneficial over time, I also learned the
vital importance of the opposite approach. Through a conscious choice to very closely observe the connection between
my own body and my mental/emotional responses, I discovered in personal experience what I had known intellectually;
that my body tenses because of my thoughts, reactions and feelings. It is not the natural state of the muscles.
Anything in the vein of fear, anger, worry, guilt, or resistance toward some situation will cause the entire body
to assume a “fight or flight” stance. Over time, it gets sort of frozen in that response and this process
does tremendous damage to our body’s ability to self-regulate and heal. Watching the thoughts and learning to recognize
our body’s response to them, which happens so fast and so automatically that we don’t even notice unless we pay attention,
can be vital to healing fibromyalgia or other conditions involving muscle, joint or tissue pain. So, what do you
do when you notice that your body has tensed? Well, first I get still if I do it right. My tendency may be to immediately
try to force the body to relax but it’s tensing for a reason and I need to know the reason so I get still and just
allow the pain to be there. Then, I ask two things:
What is this about?
This is a question I’m asking my subconscious mind, with a desire to learn more about what kinds of thoughts and
feelings are causing me to hurt myself in this way. If this type of question sounds like a waste of time, or if you
feel silly doing such a thing, that’s ok. Just try it. And be quiet long enough to hear the answer. Now, how will
the answer come? Any number of ways. In my own experience, I may suddenly think of an event in my past. If I pay
close attention to my feelings and thoughts when you remember that event, you will begin to see that there is some
underlying feeling that is yet unresolved about that situation. It is that clue which provides a beginning point
for healing. Other times, I may not remember any event but just suddenly have a feeling. I follow the feeling to
a point of release with the next question.
What do you need to do?
This is a question I am asking my body, specifically the part that is hurting. If patient enough, and still despite
the desire to make the tension leave by stretching, I find that my body has a natural wisdom within it and it will
begin to stretch, move and release in the best possible way if I will simply pay attention and allow it.
I am living proof that you don’t have to live with the pain of fibromyalgia. Don’t give up? Keep trying different
combinations and working with your spiritual, emotional, and mental thought patterns. Healing those aspects of yourself
are just as vital as the physical and often must precede it. Find a competent holistic healthcare practitioner and
work out a regimen that fits with your lifestyle and your comfort zone.
Important note: This article details some of my own experiences with fibromyalgia, or fibro as it is called by some,
which started in 1988. My approach to health challenges is very holistic and spiritual. This information is given
for educational purposes only. I am not a medical doctor and do not prescribe or diagnose. If under a doctor’s care
for any known condition, please consult with your chosen healthcare practitioner before altering any existing regimen.
Recommended Reading for Fibromyalgia Education
What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia – The Revolutionary Treatment That Can Reverse The Disease
Fibromyalgia is a painful disorder for which mainstream medicine has no solution other than heavy, and often ineffective,
use of painkillers, along with lifestyle changes. It affects 20 million Americans, with high rates of occurrence
in women.
Related to rheumatoid arthritis, it too is an autoimmune disorder involving muscular pain, fatigue, insomnia, headaches,
and depression. ‘What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia’ is the first book to offer a treatment program
combining diet and exercise recommendations with the use of guaifenesin, a well-known medication available over
the counter.
A common ingredient in cough medicine, guaifenesin is so safe it is one of the few drugs in the Physicians’ Desk
Reference (PDR) with no known side effects listed. Dr. St. Amand was inspired by his own fibromyalgia to research
available treatments, and he developed this revolutionary program as a result. More
Information
Organic Sulfurs for Fibromyalgia Pain Management
Organic Sulfur (MSM) may proven beneficial for fibro pain management.
MSM is a natural form of organic sulfur that very important in health and in healing, and something we have less
of as we grow older.
MSM directly benefits the connective tissues of the body and insures the integrity of cellular tissue. It is also
vital to protein synthesis and sound health. MSM also equalizes water pressure inside the cells, which makes it
very beneficial for anyone with joint inflammation and pain.
T.J.
Clark Liquid MSM is Inexpensive, and Works Faster than Capsules
It may take as long as three weeks on MSM before you see changes in mobility, less morning stiffness, soreness,
etc. than before. There are lots of good MSM products out there. Dosage is an individual matter but I typically
take between 250 and 500 milligrams a day.
Surprising Relief from Cramps and Spasms
I was having a bad bout of connective tissue spasms. It had been so very
long since I’d felt that bad (probably not since 1988) that I was a little shocked by it and didn’t quite know
what to do. Then, a friend suggested that I try some colloidal minerals.
It made sense to me because mineral deficiencies can cause cramping and drawing up but pills would not work fast
enough for an emergency like this one. I not only took some colloidal minerals but rubbed some directly on the
muscles. It was amazing. I felt the effects rapidly and within less than an hour, the spasms and cramping had stopped.
The next morning, I had no pain at all. There are many good colloidal mineral supplements. One of the pioneers in
colloidal is a company called T.J. Clark. They must be doing something right.
Essential Oils for Natural Pain Relief
Pure essential oils have been an important part of my fibro management
regimen. They work quickly and on so many levels. I use pure essential oils for relaxation (lavender) and pain
relief (Basil and Marjoram, mixed with massage oil and rubbed in is wonderful and fast for spasms and cramps; Peppermint
oil stops that dull aching pain).
I must advise you that I only use pure, therapeutic grade oils, organically grown, harvested at peak times, and
distilled at low heat very slowly, with no solvents or additives.
Using cheaper oils that may not be pure or may have been processed at high heat (which destroys the delicate constituents
of the plant) as many of the cheaper oils are, will probably not give the same effect as pure therapeutic grade
oils. One of the essential oil blends that I use with success is lavender and peppermint, about 4 drops of each
mixed with sesame oil and applied to areas of pain.
Mountain Rose Herbs – Excellent Essential Oils and Aromatherapy Supplies
