Fibromyalgia
Overview
Fibromyalgia can be thought of as having a pain component which includes muscle aches, and a metabolic component which includes symptoms such as debilitating fatigue, low immunity, brain fog, and non-restorative sleep. Patients can have muscle aches or a combination of muscle achea and metabolic symptoms. When patients have just the muscle ache component, one herbal formula alone can often help them recover. However, when patients have both components, metabolic support formulas or WT3 therapy must be added, depending on the severity of the condition. In fact, addressing the metabolic component is sometimes enough to take care of the muscle ache component as well.
Chronic Pain
Jamaican Dogwood (Piscidea erythrina) is used to treat many types of pain, including nerve and muscle pain and spasm. Additionally, its mild sedative properties promote better sleep, important in the treatment of FMS. It is also helpful forarthritis, sciatica, and other neuralgias.
Reduced Tender Points
The Journal of Nutritional Medicine published a study demonstrating the efficacy of combined magnesium and malic acid therapy in decreasing tender point pain in the treatment of FMS.
Immune Stimulant
Boneset (Eupatorium perfolatum) has been shown to possess immune stimulating properties in addition to its traditional use as a tonic for the treatment of rheumatic and muscular pain.
Improved Mood
The wonderfully versatile herb Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) has anti-rheumatic and anti-spasmodic properties. It is also useful in the treatment of depression, anxiety and weepiness, which are common complaints of FMS. Black Cohosh also has hormone balancing properties which make it of use in the treatment of dysmenorrhea, uterine spasms, PMS and menopause.
References:
1. Della Loggia R, Zilli C, Del Negro P, Redaelli C, Tubaro A. Isoflavones as spasmolytic principles of Piscidia erythrina. Prog Clin Biol Res 1988;280:365-8.
2. Abraham G, Flechas J. Rationale for the use of magnesium and malic acid. J Nutr Med 1992;3:49-59.