Fibromyalgia, the Misunderstood Disease
These are a growing army of walking wounded, the ‘vertically ill’ people with
fibromyalgia who are too sick to function
adequately but are commonly not quite sick enough to become ‘horizontally ill’, actually bed bound,
although this is all too often an outcome in severe examples.
Fibromyalgia is a widely misunderstood condition that causes widespread pain and fatigue.
If you've been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and are trying to learn all you can about the condition, you may come
across some myths and misconceptions about this condition.
Chronic illness like the Fibromyalgia syndrome produces an excess of free radical cells
that damage healthy cells. Fibromyalgia has symptoms
that resemble those of rheumatic illnesses and lupus.
These are autoimmune diseases in which a defective
immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own healthy tissue, producing systemic inflammation and pain.
Most modern maladies such as Fibromyalgia are caused by prolonged exposure to a combination
of negative lifestyles and toxic environmental factors, including
junk food and malnutrition, pesticides, antibiotics, microwaves, chemical
pollution of food, water and air, lack of exercise, and
chronic stress.
These factors are further aggravated by the failure of
modern medicine to recognize them as agents of dis-"ease" and death and
the consequent failure to take preventative measures against them. By rebuilding
immunity, health is naturally restored and disease disappears. If health
and immunity are thereafter conscientiously maintained, the individual
is no longer vulnerable to disease
The sort of health care required to restore health and prevent fibromyalgia disease
begins at home, not in the clinic, by eliminating factors which impair immunity and by providing the body with
vital nutrients that are missing in our Western diet. Though it requires individual effort, self-discipline and
personal responsibility, preventative health care is always a good investment, in time
as well as money, because once you fall ill, it takes a lot more time and costs a lot more money
to acquire vibrant health again.
Ten Causes and Symptoms of Fibromyalgia
Unless there is an underlying awareness
of the true nature and causes of such conditions, and until there is a real understanding of the ways
in which it is possible to offer encouragement for an abused and over-stretched immune system to
begin to restore health, many forms of proffered help (orthodox or alternative) will succeed
only in either masking or, at best, moderating the patient’s symptoms."
Leon Chaitow N.D., D.O., M.R.O. Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Therapeutic Bodywork;
Senior lecturer, University of Westminster, London
Immune System Overload - Chronic inflammation and immune system overload known as
autoimmune disorder. One of the most significant developments in
reducing chronic pain by modulating the immune system. This effectiveness has been well documented.
Joe Elrod, Ph.D.- Unique immune molecules are
remarkable because the recovery process has been expedited greatly. We are getting better results, especially
with the more chronic stages and conditions of the Fibromyalgia syndrome."
"I've had chronic fatigue and Fibromyalgia since August 1991. I've also had shingles five times in that period.
This winter I had shingles very bad from the end of September until the end of February
and still have them somewhat. I'm able to get up and
get dressed at this time. I started taking immune modulating supplement about six weeks ago,
and I am now sleeping through the night with no
sluggishness the next day. I have energy, and every morning I am able to get up at 7:30. My
husband will verify that it has been many years since
I've done that. I've been packing to move for 12 days straight and I have energy every single day. I was not able to cook a meal and
do the dishes in the same evening; I would cook a meal and do the dishes the next day, or possibly even the next, because I could
not stand on my feet. So I'm extremely excited about this immune modulating supplement and I want to
tell everybody that has fibromyalgia to please take this and get yourself well." B.F. Oregon
Nutrient Deficiency Repairing and rebuilding the body suffering from Fibromyalgia requires extra
nutrients. Your food alone is not enough.The one thing that all Fibromyalgia sufferers have in
common is a low intracellular magnesium level. A normal serum blood test doesn't measure this.
It takes a special test to determine the level within the cells themselves. If this test is run, the
magnesium will always be low. It is important to
address this deficiency since magnesium is essential in every energy and repair function. Edible clay
is a good source for vital minerals and trace elements. Other nutritional deficiencies include the
omega 3 healthy fats.
Fatigue - Malic acid is an essential ingredient needed to produce the energy cycle
for ATP. ATP is the energy source to move and think. This energy cycle is another vital area that must be
restored in order to overcome the fatigue that accompanies the Fibromyalgia syndrome.
Pain -The pain, soreness, and inflammation are other areas that must be addressed.
MSM (methyl sulfonyl methane), a source of dietary sulfur, has been used successfully to help these problems.
Stiffness and muscle wasting, which can also cause pain, can be helped with
Boswellia Serrata also known as Frankincense. N-acetyl cysteine is another ingredient that also helps with muscle wasting and pain.
Joint stress, which is common in FM, can result from the muscles compressing the joints.
Glucosamine and bovine cartilage help keep the joints moving freely. Boswellia Serrata and MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane)
are excellent natural pain relievers. It can be purchased at any health food store. This could be very useful in your recovery to help alleviate
pain until the program starts to take full effect. Use 500 mg, 4 to 6 times a day.
Digestive Aids - There is often a high incidence of digestive disorders
associated with Fibromyalgia. These can include Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Leaky Gut Syndrome (LGS),
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), and Disruption of Intestinal Flora. Digestive Enzymes
and Probiotics with EnzyGuard-D has proven to be effective in repairing the digestive tract and
restoring the proper balance of intestinal flora in people with Fibromyalgia. This could be one of the
most important factors in reversing Fibromyalgia, and restoring optimum health.
Hormone Balancing - For those women who may have need for hormone
balancing in addition to the Female Blend that is included in the Fibromyalgia Formula for Women,
there are two products that may be incorporated safely into the program.
Note: You may consider staying away from all MSG
and Aspartame. MSG is a preservative and
flavor enhancer common in many processed foods. Aspartame is an artificial sweetener.
These two substances have been shown to cause pain in Fibromyalgia sufferers.
Sleep "The only time your body heals is when you are in deep sleep.
A study concerning sleep problems was recently conducted on a group of normal, healthy people.
The test included sleep patterns of Fibromyalgia sufferers. After three days they all started showing symptoms
of Fibromyalgia." Dr. Cynthia Olson
"I was actually confined to a wheel-chair. The pain was so excruciating
that I feared I'd never walk normally again. I thought that after
struggling with Fibromyalgia for years, it had finally won.
Then I was introduced to the Fibromyalgia Recovery Program.
I now lead a totally normal life and am determined to tell everyone I can
reach that, despite what I'd been told, "You don't have to learn
to live with it." - Linda Baker
Matrix of Underlying Contributing Factors
"There are no simple answers to conditions where causes lie in a mix of nutritional deficiencies,
acquired toxicities, bowel dysbiosis, inadequate stress coping abilities, sensitivities
and allergies, inappropriate or excessive medication,
inadequate sugar control mechanisms, hormonal imbalances, poor posture
and breathing dysfunction, current or past viral, parasitic, yeast or bacterial infections,
impaired organs of digestion and elimination, and chronic
stress. There are certainly no magic bullets which
can remedy a situation which may have taken many years to evolve.
Perhaps you have been told by a well-meaning but uniformed doctor that you will
"just have to learn to live with it." Well guess what... you
do have options. The good news is, your symptoms can be diminished
or reduced by using natural, nutritional products that address these symptoms.
Our World Today is a Toxic Minefield
There is a large proportion of ME/CFS patients who complain of everyday
amounts of volatile chemicals triggering or worsening symptoms, i.e. multiple
chemical sensitivity (MCS). This has led some researchers to look down
this path for answers to the CFS puzzle. One study quotes
the rate of severe chemical sensitivity amongst ME/CFS patients at 20%-47%
The same study provides compelling evidence that the limbic system
(the emotional center of the brain) of susceptible individuals can become
sensitized by chemical, biological and psychological mechanisms and that
subsequent exposure to stimuli can cause dis-regulation of multiple body
systems including behavioral, autonomic, endocrine, and immune system functions.
Animal models have shown that sensitization can occur as a result of chronic
exposure to everyday amounts of volatile organic chemicals (VOC's).
In addition to these findings there is also strong evidence of abnormalities
of detoxification in ME/CFS. Glutathione, the body's most powerful antioxidant,
is consistently found to be low (14, 15). Glutathione may become
depleted due to chronic exposure to high levels of toxins.
This could potentially be as a result of exposure to toxins in the air
or from chemicals of gut origin in the presence of gut dysbiosis. Over activation
of the immune system also depletes glutathione so this may come as a knock
on effect from immune system abnormalities. What is certain is that low
glutathione leads to fatigue and muscle weakness and pain due to its role in energy metabolism.
Low glutathione also results in oxidative stress, meaning that highly reactive oxygen molecules
are not neutralized and are thus free to roam the body damaging cells and
interfering with potentially any body system.
Fibromyalgia and Raw Food Research Study
Malnutrition is the basis of all disease: "Man's body is a living
organism, made of living cells, which require raw living food in order to be
properly nourished and function well. When we put cooked food into our
body, loaded with contaminants, the body starts to break down. It begins
in the very young with colic, rashes, colds, earaches, upset stomachs,
swollen glands and tonsils. As the child grows older, their may be tooth
decay, pimples, the need for eye glasses, etc. Then as we enter adult life
there is arthritis, hypoglycemia, heart attacks, strokes, diabetes and cancers.
Lena - "My name is Lena Buhr and I've just turned raw...I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and a
possible melanoma a while ago, and since so many family members of mine,
keep dying and get sick in cancers, arthritis and thyroid, I decided to
do what many people don't think is possible; I became 100% raw. No coffee
or tea, or any cooked food whatsoever, no white bread or sprayed vegetables,
nothing!! I only eat raw vegetables, berries, nuts, sprouted seeds and
a lots of fruit everyday. I didn't believe in this at first and it scared
me a little bit but I thought I had nothing to lose. Today, I am almost
free of my symptoms and besides I feel so much better! I only wish You
would tell Mr. Fox about this... It would help him a great! So many people
around the world who is know free and cured from even severe cancer, with
only months left to live...Please do some research on how food effects
us, especially the kind of diet You eat in America--the Standard American
Diet--SAD! It would save so many from fear and agony about diseases and
pain! Yours Sincerely Lena Buhr."
Chronically Fatigued? Reading my testimonial might help!
"I was sick, and tired of being sick, and tired. Like many people today, I was working too hard.
Having gained weight, I felt like I was dragging a ball, and chain around
all day. My battery was dead, dead, dead! At the same time
I was trying to save my 19-year-old kitty's life, who had been diagnosed
with advanced stages of terminal renal
failure, (she experienced an amazing recovery!). To get
me started on my journey into health, the first thing I did was to remove
all empty carbohydrates and processed food from my diet. I drank alkaline
water and ate alkaline foods; I also
drank 12 ounce of diluted wheatgrass juice 2 to
3 times a day and I boosted my . I also
drank a delicious revolutionary nutritional beverage in a base blend of marine
phytoplankton. I also started breathing in the fresh air deeply while
walking out in nature daily. Each day, I added 5 minutes more to
my Nature Walk and gradually picked up my pace. WOOSH! The life force
ignited in my body and, I felt my energy soaring so high, it was unbelievable!"
The Road To Better Health may begin with a Healing Crisis
Chalford, Ph.D- "The body has an inherent desire for
perfect health. We have the ability to earn our way back to that state,
no matter how "normal" or bad our health is now. But in the meantime, the
body must go through an elimination process to achieve good health. The
elimination process is often referred to as the "
healing crisis." Once the healing crisis starts, reactions may be mild or severe. Expect ups
and downs as it takes awhile to get good health back. In a healing crisis,
every body system works together to eliminate waste products and set the
stage for regeneration. Old tissues are replaced with new."
As you move toward better health with natural healing programs and
better nutrition, healing begins to occur. As part of the healing process
the body will begin to discard toxic residues which have built up in your
body over the years.
Magnesium Deficiency's Role in Fibromyalgia, and Chronic Fatigue
Magnesium
deficiency is very common in the general US population. Not only
is our daily intake low, but we eat a diet which increases the demand for
magnesium. And unfortunately, urinary magnesium loss can be increased
by many factors, both physical and emotional. Magnesium loss increases
in the presence of certain hormones. Stress can greatly increase
magnesium loss. Even loud noises can extra magnesium loss. One article
on the web goes so far as to say that almost everyone is the United
States is at least marginally deficient in magnesium. So there is
an excellent chance that a person with fibromyalgia has a magnesium
deficiency. But since people with fibromyalgia often have high
levels of stress, and a disrupted hormonal system, they are more likely
to be candidates for magnesium deficiency. Magnesium utilization
is also increased by the presence of estrogen, and this might explain why
many women are diagnosed with fibromyalgia after
menopause, when estrogen levels would decrease.
Additionally, the sleep disruption which occurs in fibromyalgia might also
affect magnesium utilization, as sleep deprivation has been shown to cause
lower magnesium levels.
CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME: THE HIDDEN POLIO EPIDEMIC
Dr. William Campbell Douglas
Dr. Richard Bruno, New Jersey Medical School, Department of Physical
Medicine, pointed out, in the New York Academy report, that of more than
a dozen outbreaks of CFS before the introduction of the Salk vaccine, nine
occurred during or immediately after polio outbreaks and several of the
victims of CFS had been taking care of polio patients. As the polio vaccination
program opened the door for these opportunistic relatives of polio, the
CFS epidemic gathered steam and the new polio was upon us. One of the forerunners
in this research is Dr. Elizabeth Dowsett, a microbiologist from
Britain. Dr. Dowsett states unequivocally what you don't hear in this country:
True CFS (as differentiated from other fatigue states) "strikes one clinically
as being polio-like and it has often been diagnosed as 'nonparalytic polio.'
Sugar Free Products Alert!
Epidemic of fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis
and systemic lupus related to aspartame
(Aspartame is the technical name for the brand names, NutraSweet, Equal,
Spoonful, and Equal-Measure.)
According to researchers and physicians studying the adverse effects
of aspartame, the following chronic illnesses can be triggered or worsened
by ingesting of aspartame: Brain tumors, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, chronic fatigue syndrome,
Parkinson's disease, alzheimer's, mental retardation, lymphoma, birth defects, fibromyalgia,
and diabetes.
Complex Role of Toxic Exposures in Chronic Illnesses Fibromyalgia
Syndrome (FMS), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encepthalomyelitis (CFS/ME)
and Gulf War Illnesses (GWI) are characterized by similar chronic signs
and symptoms. This is why we proposed that GWI is a CFS/ME illness.
Other chronic illnesses, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Inflammatory
Bowel Disease, among others, also show many of these same signs and symptoms,
suggesting that there may be some overlap in the underlying causes of these
conditions or at least in the factors that may result in sickness (morbidity)
or illness progression. The treatments of chronic illnesses that are due
to toxic exposures from chemical or radiological agents are quite different
from the treatment of chronic infections. The treatment of chemically
exposed patients usually involves removal of offending chemicals from the
patient's environment, depletion of chemicals from the patient's system
and treatment of the signs and symptoms caused by chemical exposure(s).
Chemically exposed patients are often extremely sensitive to a variety
of commonly encountered chemicals, including perfumes and air fresheners,
petrochemical fumes, chlorine, cleaning solutions and solvents, among others.
They are also very sensitive to certain foods, and special diets are often
necessary, and in some cases direct skin contact with certain substances
can cause strong cutaneous reactions. Therefore, an important part
of treatment for chemical exposures requires limiting exposures to a variety
of common chemicals and gradual removal of the toxic chemical.
Homeopathic Remedies for Fibromyalgia
Homeopathy can often provide relief from the unpredictable, sometimes
debilitating, aches and pains of fibromyalgia. Nutritional supplements,
dietary monitoring, special types of exercise, and other natural approaches
are also helpful and may be used along with remedies.
Filled with practical advise on detecting unsuspected causes of our
sicknesses, building resistance to disease, and harnessing our own bodies’
natural desire to heal, Dr. Galland's innovative book represents mind/body
medicine at its best. For those whose illnesses haven't responded to treatment
or resist diagnoses, or for anyone who craves a high level of health, Power
Healing is essential reading.
"The best of all medicines are rest and fasting." ---Benjamin Franklin
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3. Pain Free. Bucci LR. The Summit Group. Fort Worth, TX. 1995.
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5. Management of fibromyalgia: rationale, for the use of magnesium and malic acid. Abraham, G. E.; Flechas, J. D. Journal of nutritional medicine 1992, 3 (1), 49-59.
6. Therapeutic activityof oral glucosamine sulfate in osteoarthritis: a placebo-controlled double-blind investigation.Drovanti A, Bignamini AA, Rovati, Al.. Clin Ther, 1930; 3(4) 260-272.
7. The MSM Miracle. Enhance your health with organic sulfur. Earl L. Mimdell, R.Ph., PhD
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9. Boswellin,The Anti-inflammatory Phytonutrient. Majeed M, Badmaev V, Gopinathan S, Rajendran R, Norton T. Nutriscience Publishers, Inc., Piscaway, NJ. 1996.
lO. Role of cysteine and glutathione in HIV infection and other diseases associated uqth muscle wasting and immunological dysfunction.Droege W, Holm E. FASEB Journal 1997, 11(13) 1077-1089.
11. N-acetylcysteine inhibits muscle fatigue in humans. Reid MB, Stokic DS, Koch SM, Khawli FA,
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