Have you been feeling tired lately? Are parts of your body tender and painful to touch? If yes, then, you could be suffering from fibromyalgia. This is a common and chronic disorder that is characterized by diffused tenderness in joints and tissues, pain and fatigue. Although this condition is considered to be an arthritis related issue, it is not really a form of arthritis as it doesn’t cause any damage or inflammation to the joints, tissues and muscles. Like arthritis though, it does come with fatigue and pain which could hinder carrying out day to day activities. Fibromyalgia is a rheumatic condition that weakens tissues and/or joints causing chronic pain. Apart from pain and fatigue, this ailment can also have other symptoms like: Headaches, morning stiffness, temperature sensitivity, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, cognitive and memory problems, tingling or numbness of the extremities, Restless Leg Syndrome, Painful menstrual periods, Increased sensitivity to bright lights or loud sounds.
Treating fibromyalgia can be quite difficult. Although, there is medication available for pain relief, fibromyalgia, unfortunately cannot be cured. It is best to consult a general internist or a rheumatologist to help treat pain caused due to fibromyalgia and its other symptoms. There are also home remedies for fibromyalgia to help you manage these symptoms better, these are:
Fibromyalgia
De-stressing:
Chronic fatigue and tiredness can bring you down. Take time off and set limits on overexertion. Meditation and breathing exercises can help you de-stress.
Exercise Regularly:
Walking, yoga and aerobics help in pain relief from fibromyalgia. At first, exercising may seem to increase the pain but gradually it helps to decrease your symptoms.
Sleep:
Getting enough sleep is very important. Develop good sleeping habits by going to bed early and waking up at the same time every day. This helps create a routine which your body starts to get used to.
Diet:
Certain vegetables have properties that could contribute to muscle and joint pain, these are peppers, potatoes, tomatoes and eggplants. Eliminate these vegetables from your diet. It also best to avoid processed foods that contain MSG, which elevate symptoms of fibromyalgia, instead eat raw and organic food products in reducing some of the symptoms of this condition.
Alkalizing your Body:
The pH levels in your body veering towards being alkaline causes the pain to be reduced. . The use of foods is the easiest and the most effective way to change the alkaline levels in the blood. Foods like organic cider vinegar, cream of tartar, lemons and lemon juice, tart cherry juice and alkaline forming grains like millet and quinoa help in increasing the levels of alkaline in the blood.
Use of Curcumin:
The Indian spice ‘turmeric’ also known as curcumin, is known to have anti-inflammatory effects which help in fibromyalgia pain treatment. It comes in the form of supplements or you can add a pinch of turmeric powder to a glass of milk before you go to bed.
Herbs:
Teas made from burdock roots, dandelion, and red clover help by cleansing the bloodstream, and boosting the immune system. It is recommended that you drink at least 4 to 6 cups a day. St. John’s wort is an herb that has proven to be very effective for people suffering from fibromyalgia due to its anti-depressant properties. You can take them in the form of supplements.