Fibromyalgia
is a rheumatic disorder characterized by chronic achy muscular pain that has
no obvious physical cause. It
most commonly affects the lower back, the neck, the shoulders, the back of
the head, the upper chest, and / or the thighs, although usually described
as burning, throbbing, shooting, and stabbing.
The pain and stiffness is often greater in the morning than at other
times of day, and it may be accompanied by irritable bowel syndrome, and
temporomandibular joint syndrome ( TM ).
Other symptoms often experienced are:
premenstrual syndrome, painful periods, anxiety, palpitations, memory
impairment, irritable bladder, skin sensitivities, dry eyes and mouth, a
need for frequent changes in eyeglass prescription, dizziness, and impaired
coordination. Such activities as lifting and climbing stairs are often very
difficult and painful. Depression
ifs frequently part of the picture as well.
The most distinctive feature of fibromyalgia, however, is the
existence of certain “tender points”
--nine pairs of specific spots where the muscles are abnormally
tender to the touch:
Around
the lower vertebra of the neck
At
the insertion of the second rib
Around
the upper part of the thigh bone
In
the middle of the knee joint
In
muscles connected the base of the skull
In
muscles of the neck and upper back
In
muscles of the mid-back
On
the side of the elbow
In
the upper and outer muscles of the buttocks
Most
people with fibromyalgia also have an associated sleep disorder known as
alpha-EEG anomaly. In this disorder, the individual’s deep sleep periods are
interrupted by bouts of waking type brain activity, resulting in poor sleep.
Some people. Some are
plagued by other sleep disorders as well, such as sleep apnea, restless leg
syndrome, bruxism, and sleep myoclonus (a sudden rapid contraction of a
muscle or a group of muscles during sleep or as one is falling asleep).
Not surprisingly, give4n all these sleep difficulties, people with
fm. Often suffer from chronic fatigue that can range from mild to
incapacitating.
Fm is
much more common if females than in males, and most often begins in young
adulthood. In most cases, symptoms come on gradually and slowly increase
in intensity. They can be
triggered by a number of different factors, including overexertion, stress,
lack of exercise, anxiety, depression, lack of sleep, trauma, extremes of
temperature and/or humidity, and infectious illness.
In the majority of cases, symptoms are severe enough to interfere
with normal daily activities, a significant number of people with fm are
actually disabled by the condition. The
course of the disorder is unpredictable.
Some cases clear up on their own, some become chronic, and some go
through cycles of flare-ups alternating with periods of apparent remission.
The
cause: evidence points to a
problem with the immune system; certain
immunologic abnormalities are common among people with fibromyalgia.
Their significance and relationship to the syndrome are not
understood, however. A
disturbance in brain chemistry may also be involved, many develop fm have a
history of clinical depression. Other
possible causes that have been proposed include infection with the
Epstein-Barr virus, the virus that causes infectious mononucleosis, or with
the fungus Candida albicans; chronic mercury poisoning from amalgam dental
fillings, anaemia; parasites, hypoglycaemia, and hypothyroidism.
Some believe that fm may be related to chronic fatigue syndrome,
which causes similar symptoms, except that in fm, muscle pain predominates
over fatigue, whereas in CFS fatigue predominates over pain.
Possible Causes
Immunity-weak
-
Depression
-
Epstein-Barr
Virus
Candida
- detoxification, fungus control
Mercury
poisoning
Anemia
Parasites
- parasite cleanse
Hypoglycemia
- blood sugar balance
Hypothyroidism
-
Chronic
Fatigue - immunity, detoxification
Immunity
Internally: thyme, clove, cinnamon
Bath:
cypress, eucalyptus, frankincense, chamomile,
Topical
Use-massage: valerian,
lemongrass, thyme, niaouli, teatree, ravensara, thyme lianlool,
Sleeping:
neroli, rose, valerian, mandarin
Valerian:
muscle spasm, palpitations - anxiety, neuralgia, nervous indigestion,
insomnia, nervousness, agitation, nervous headaches, panic attacks
Cypress:
muscle cramps, edema, rheumatism like pain, poor circulation, immune
stimulant, stimulates sluggish intestines, colitis, eases PMS cramps,
regulates menstrual cycle,
Frankincense: excess mucous, anxiety, nervous tension, depression,
nightmares, indecision, slows breathing producing calm, obsessed ties with
past, chronic diarrhea,
Eucalyptus
Globulus: swollen glands,
immune stimulant - enhances effect of hamma & beta globulins), reduces
alpha globulins-primary inflammation reaction, aids hypoglycemia.
Avoid high blood pressure, epilepsy.
Thyme linalool: neuralgia, muscle pain, poor circulations, raises low blood
pressure?, infectious diseases, gastralgia, enterocolitis, depression,
insomnia, nervous stomach, nervous exhaustion, aids memory, trauma.
Avoid in pregnancy.
Lemongrass:
stimulates lymphatic detoxification, supports thymus gland &
spleen function, tones muscles, immune stimulant, activates resistance cells
RES-fibrocystes/histocystes/T-lymphocytes/granulocy-tes, stimulates
digestion and liver, colitis, gastro-enteritis, intestinal antiseptic,
intestinal parasites, sedative, lack of concentration, morning fatigue,
nervous exhaustion.
Niaouli:
muscle aches, poor circulation, viral infections, increases white
blood cells immuno-gloulins and antibody activity, swolllen glands, ulcers -
gastric duodenum, sluggish liver, diarrhea, intestinal worms, enteritis,
food poisoning, all urinary tract infections, vaginal irritaitons,
endometriosis, aids concentraion, reviving, clears head.
Avoid in
pregnancy.
Tea Tree:
stimulates circulation, immune stimulant, candida, oral mucosa,
inflammation, bacteria, parasites in digestive system, thrush, vaginitis,
nervous depression.
Ravensara:
neuro-muscular problems, joint pain, immune stimulant, monomucleosis,
Epstein Barr, stimulates gall bladder, useful in obesity, aids
detoxification, anxiety, stress, neuro-muscular problems, insomnia, relieves
depression - especially severely depressed. Avoid in pregnancy.
Chamomile:
inflamed joints, worries, neuralgia, anxiety, sedative, muxcle pain,
PMS irritability, calms & gives ease to anger and fear.
Peppermint:
Rosemary:
Tagetes:
Sweet
Marjoram:
Peppermint
Plus: actual enteric coated papermint oil so it raches the small
intestine. Researchers have
concluded that peppermint oil inhibits contractions of the smooth muscle.
Irritable bowel syndrome is hypercontractilility of the smooth muscle
of the small intestine that results in the cramping associated with IBS.
