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to Find Out the Holistic Guide to Combat Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a syndrome that is composed of many
different symptoms. The primary symptom is pain and tenderness in multiple
areas of the body. This is often linked to fatigue, sleep disorders, digestive problems, and depression.
Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) are considered to
be overlapping disorders which many consider to actually be the same illness.
Dr. Khan has developed an aromatherapy formula called Fibromyalgesic and an
herbal formula called FibroTea for these conditions.
Symptoms and
Causes of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Many
people consider these conditions to be psychosomatic in origin because people
suffering from these conditions can look healthy and normal from the outside,
and yet complain of so many different symptoms.
These
symptoms can include mental symptoms such as brain fog, forgetfulness,
spaciness, depression, mood swings, anger, and extremes in behaviour.
Unfortunately, as a result many people with this disease are viewed with
scepticism by medical practitioners and lay people alike and are often branded
as hypochondriacs.
Another
view of CFS and fibromyalgia is that the conditions are auto-immune diseases which are triggered by an
infection. Most doctors take the view that Epstein-Barr virus, which is the
virus that causes mononucleosis, is the primary culprit. This is rather
doubtful, in my opinion, since most of the population is exposed to this virus
early on in life without this virus triggering any serious long-term
complications.
To get more
understanding about Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Lyme Disease,
watch this video – Unexplained Health Issues, Chronic
Fatigue, Pain, Fibromyalgia, Anxiety, MS, Lyme Disease
Antibiotic
Therapy for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Then
there is a new theory emerging among doctors who have used long-term antibiotic
therapy to treat these conditions that fibromyalgia and CFS are not simply auto-immune diseases that are triggered by
infections, but that the symptoms are signs of a chronic ongoing infectious
disease process in the body.
These
doctors claim to have had excellent results in the treatment of these syndromes
using long-term antibiotics, often in very high dosages. They have also had
very good results with treating other so called “auto-immune diseases” with
long term antibiotic therapy. Often, patients suffering from fibromyalgia, CFS, and other diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome, lupus, multiple
sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis experience complete
remissions after a long course of antibiotics.
The
positive results that these patients are experiencing implies that many
auto-immune diseases may actually be chronic undiagnosed bacterial infections.
There are a number of pathogens that are not easily detected in the body
through standard diagnostic procedures and that are not easily killed off
through a short course of treatment. These pathogens may be involved in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. There is a new theory
that chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia may be related to chronic
mycobacterial infections.
Symptoms and
Causes of Lyme Disease
It
is also possible that many of these people actually suffer from Lyme Disease
which has never been diagnosed due to the lack of proper testing. Lyme Disease
is the fastest growing infectious disease in this country next to AIDS. Cases
have been found in all of the lower forty-eight states.
Lyme
Disease is caused by a spirochetal bacteria called borellia burgdorferi.
Borellia burgdorferi is a very resilient and adaptable organism. Doctors with
clinical experience in the treatment of this disease have noted that certain
antibiotics work for certain forms that the bacteria can take, but not for
others. The spirochete can take a cyst form where most antibiotics cannot reach
it. It also hides in the joints of the body, in areas of poor circulation, and
it may hide within the cells of the immune system.
The
Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that only one in ten Lyme Disease
patients are ever properly diagnosed. The CDC also estimates that it takes an
average of thirteen doctors and an average of two years for these people to be
properly diagnosed. By the time the diagnosis is made, the disease can be quite
entrenched in the body.
There
are also often many co-infections in Lyme Disease patients that may cause a
host of other complications. Nevertheless, since the disease and its associated
co-infections are caused by bacterial organisms, and these organisms can be
killed, there is hope for recovery.
Lyme
Disease can cause all of the many symptoms that people with fibromyalgia and CFS suffer from. It can cause achy muscles and
joints, depression, fatigue, migraine headaches, tingling nerve sensations, insomnia, sleepiness, digestive problems, poor circulation, blurry
vision, hearing irregularities, mental problems, weak limbs, pain in the rib
cage, liver enzyme irregularities, hypothyroidism, an increased tendency for red
blood cells to clump together, swollen lymph nodes, and much more. The
irregularities in liver function may be responsible for the chemical
sensitivities that many people with fibromyalgia and CFS experience.
Because
the organism that causes the disease is often not in the bloodstream, it is
difficult to diagnose the disease through testing. Doctors who are familiar
with the disease tend to base their diagnosis mainly on the clinical symptoms
the patient presents and the risk factors that the patient has had exposure to,
using testing as only a secondary measure for making a diagnosis.
Side Effects of
Antibiotic Therapy
According
to the doctors who use it, long-term antibiotic therapy may help people who
suffer from fibromyalgia, CFS, Lyme Disease, and many other
“auto-immune diseases”. Nevertheless, there can be serious side effects from
this type of therapy. Antibiotics used for a long period of time can cause
kidney and liver damage. They can cause gallbladder problems. Many people also
cannot tolerate oral antibiotics well because of the strain on their digestive
system.
There
are many alternative health options that can complement treatment with
antibiotics, and which may reduce side effects, and there are many natural
remedies that have antibiotic and immune-enhancing properties of their own.
Acupuncture
Treatment for Fibromyalgia
Acupuncture
may help to improve blood circulation and oxygenation to various areas of the
body, enhancing the immune system’s ability to fight off infections. The
increase in oxygenation can also create an inhospitable situation for bacteria
that prefer a low oxygen environment. It also can stimulate the body to release
natural pain-relieving opiates into the body.
The
improvement in blood circulation as a result of acupuncture may also help to
increase body temperature in hands and feet and other areas of the body that
tend to get cold easily. These are often areas of the body where bacteria, such
as borellia burgdorferi, which prefer a low body temperature, may tend to
congregate. Acupuncture can be used in conjunction with antibiotic therapy. It
may help to improve the efficacy of antibiotic therapy by improving
circulation.
Herbs for
Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Symptom
According
to Chinese research, there are many Chinese herbs that have immune enhancing
and antibacterial properties. There are also many Chinese herbs that can help
the various symptomatic aspects of fibromyalgia and CFS. Some herbs such as
astragalus and schizandra can improve the body’s ability to handle stress and
can boost immunity. Other herbs such as coptis and scutellaria have
anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Zyzyphus
seed may help with sleep problems and anxiety.
Bupleurum
root may help relieve the mood swings and emotional aspects of fibromyalgia.
There
are various types of ginseng that can help to improve one’s energy level.
Pseudoginseng, frankincense, and myrrh can help stimulate blood circulation and
may help with symptoms of muscle weakness due to poor circulation.
Walnuts,
gingko biloba, frankincense, gotu kola, and fo-ti may all help with the brain
fog and cognitive difficulties that many people with fibromyalgia and CFS experience.
Codonopsis,
atractylodes, mint, and citrus peel may all help with digestive problems.
Chinese
herbs are used together in herbal formulas that are individualized to address
the pattern of disharmony that the person presents. They are generally not used
separately on a symptom by symptom basis.
Herbs for Lyme
Disease
For
Lyme Disease, a few different Chinese herbs stand out for their potential
usefulness. Smilax (tu fu ling), coptis (huang lian), garlic (da suan),
houttuynia (yu xing cao), and teasel root (xu duan) are all herbs that appear
to help to treat Lyme disease in different ways. Some of them have
antibacterial properties, some strengthen the body generally, and some improve
circulation.
Chinese
herbal formulas such as Huang Lian Jie Du Tang, Ge Xia Zhu Yu Tang, and Xiao Fu
Zhu Yu Tang can be helpful. Formulas designed to clear heat, move qi and blood,
tonify yang qi, and transform dampness can all be helpful for different
patients depending on the pattern of disharmony they present.
After
a long period of illness or for patients with emaciation and insomnia it may be necessary to nourish yin as
well. People with a babesial co-infection, an infection with symptoms similar
to malaria, generally need heat to be cleared from the shaoyang channel and
need nourishing of yin.
Artemisia
can be a useful herb for babesia. Babesia is a tiny parasite that infects
your red blood cells. Infection with Babesia is
called babesiosis. The parasitic infection is usually transmitted by a
tick bite. Babesiosis often occurs at the same time as Lyme disease.
The tick that carries the Lyme bacteria can also be infected with
the Babesia parasite.
Artemisia
has been shown to have anti-malarial properties in China and Vietnam. For
people with Lyme Disease who have nerve problems, it may also be necessary to
clear liver wind.
Hyperbaric Oxygen
Therapy for Lyme Disease
Hyperbaric
Oxygen Therapy has been used to treat people with Lyme Disease. Many have
experienced good results and there is ongoing scientific research at the moment
concerning its efficacy.
The
bacteria that causes Lyme Disease prefers an oxygen deprived environment. Its
presence in the body appears to increase coagulation of blood and decrease
circulation. It may thereby create the oxygen deprived environment that it
prefers. This is great for the bacteria but can be the source of much of the
difficulty that a person with this disease experiences.
Many
of the symptoms that people with Lyme disease, CFS, or fibromyalgia complain of are similar to symptoms
that people experience from altitude sickness, which is caused by oxygen
deprivation at high altitudes. The fatigue, the mental difficulties, the
sleepiness, the feeling of having a ton of bricks attached to one’s limbs are
all similar to symptoms that people with altitude sickness experience.
It
makes sense to me that creating an oxygen-rich environment could potentially be
very helpful. It is important for testing for co-infections before beginning
this process, because there are other bacteria that could be present that
prefer a high oxygen environment, complicating the picture. There are potential
side effects as well such as near-sightedness.
Supplements for
Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Symptom and Lyme Disease
Colloidal
silver is supplement that may have broad-spectrum antibiotic properties. Its
proponents claim that it can aid all sorts of conditions from asthma to rheumatoid arthritis. It did appear to help my
fatigue quite a bit at the early stages of my Lyme disease.
There
is the possibility that excessive use can cause a condition called argyria,
which is a permanent bluish discoloration of the skin, although many people
have huge quantities of colloidal silver with no problems at all.
It
is also helpful to take an acidophilus supplement while using this supplement
in order to replace the good bacteria in your intestines and prevent problems
with candida. Large amounts may be required to have an
impact on Lyme Disease.
It
is possible to buy a colloidal silver generator and make your own colloidal
silver at home. This is much cheaper than buying it on a regular basis at the
health food store, but care must be taken to make it properly.
Magnesium appears to be a useful supplement for
people with these conditions. Many people report an improvement in their muscle
pain when taking a magnesium supplement on a regular basis. It is important to
reduce intake of sugar, dairy products and bread while increasing intake of green vegetables.
Spirulina
can be a useful addition to your health regimen as it is both nourishing and
detoxifying. Spirulina is a type of blue-green micro-algae
that's grown and harvested from very alkaline water sources. It was
long used by the Aztecs as a food source because of its potent nutrient
content. Spirulina is commonly found in several forms: tablets —
which are chewable, fine powder, flakes, and pills or capsules.
It
may also be helpful to reduce consumption of tomatoes as they seem to encourage
acidity in the body.
Flax
seed oil has an anti-inflammatory effect that can be very helpful.
Alpha-lipoic
acid is a helpful antioxidant. It may help nerve function and improve liver function.
Aromatherapy for
Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Lyme Disease
Aromatherapy
is one of the most promising holistic therapies for conditions such as
fibromyalgia, CFS, and Lyme Disease, in my opinion. The essential oils are concentrated versions of the
volatile components found in herbs.
It
can take many pounds of plant matter to make an ounce of essential oil. For the most precious oil, made
from the Bulgarian rose, it can take a ton of rose petals to make a pound of
oil. Most of the oils have antiseptic and antibacterial properties. Many of
them stimulate the immune system and trigger increased production of white
blood cells. The oils also improve oxygenation of the body’s tissues and promote detoxification.
The
essential oils may have a chelating effect, which
means that they may assist in carrying toxins such as heavy metals out of the body.
Some oils such as lavender can be sedative and aid with sleep and reduce anxiety.
Oil
of oregano, which is a popular supplement found in health food stores is
essential oil of oregano diluted in vegetable oil. It is almost always
necessary to dilute the oils before using them because they are so
concentrated.
Interestingly,
many people with CFS, Lyme Disease, and fibromyalgia are likely to find that
some of their symptoms worsen when inhaling the fragrance of the oils. This is
often a detoxification reaction.
People
with Lyme Disease generally seem to derive greatest benefits from stronger
dilutions of essential oil than most aromatherapists typically use.
It
is important to use with care when the oils are utilized in this manner. The
oils are processed by the liver and kidneys and may cause liver and kidney
problems in extremely high amounts. One should reduce the amount used if there
is nausea or discontinue use if there is any allergic reaction.
People
with these diseases may discover that much of their fatigue, muscle weakness,
mental fogginess, and pain can be significantly reduced with regular
application of the oils. The oils can be used diluted in vegetable oil for
massage of affected areas of the body, and they can be used by the drop in
one’s bath water.
The
oils can also be absorbed into the bloodstream via the lungs simply by inhaling
their fragrance. The oils also penetrate the blood-brain barrier and may be
helpful for neurological issues due to infections or other reasons.
Some
of the oils can trigger seizures in people prone to them. Some other oils, such
as jasmine and ylang-ylang may help people to control seizures. Oil of oregano
taken internally as directed can also be helpful in the treatment of Lyme
Disease.
Massage Treatment
for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Massage can improve oxygenation of body tissues
and improve blood circulation as well as reduce pain. If a person has fibromyalgia or CFS
due to an infectious disease process, or a person has Lyme Disease, massage
should only be used in combination with a therapy that is antibacterial in
nature. Otherwise, it is likely to stir up dormant bacteria and stir up
symptoms instead of providing symptom relief.
When
massage is used in combination with a therapy that is antibiotic in nature, it
may improve the efficacy of that therapy by bringing bacteria out of hiding in
order to be killed. Deep tissue massage may improve the efficacy of treatment
with antibiotics, with herbs, with aromatherapy, or with heat. Used on its own,
though, it may stir up latent problems in people with these conditions.
Heat Treatment for
Lyme Disease
Heat
can be helpful for treating Lyme Disease because the bacteria appears to prefer
a low body temperature and is vulnerable to high heat. There are many different
sources of heat that can be used to treat this condition. Heat can also be
helpful for people with fibromyalgia and CFS who may actually have undiagnosed
cases of Lyme Disease.
People
usually feel a worsening of symptoms before they feel an improvement with the
use of heat. My personal theory is that this is because the heat stirs up the
bacteria before it kills it off or triggers the immune system to kill the
bacteria off. This is speculative on my part.
The
use of saunas can be very useful. A far infrared heat lamp can be used on
problem areas. Hot baths taken for forty minutes at 102-104 degrees Fahrenheit
have been shown to enhance immune system response in people with infectious
diseases and auto-immune disorders in a research study done at Bastyr
University. A Chinese therapy called moxibustion can also be useful in warming
problem areas.
I
do not recommend the use of cold packs or ice for pain in people with Lyme
Disease, fibromyalgia, or CFS as these therapies reduce circulation to areas
where circulation is likely to already be compromised. Also, the bacteria that
causes Lyme Disease appears to prefer a cool environment, so cold therapy may
cause real problems in people with this condition.
Exercises for
Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Lyme Disease
In
spite of the fatigue that people with fibromyalgia, CFS, and Lyme Disease may
feel, a certain amount of exercise can be very beneficial if they are up to
the challenge. It is important not to overexert oneself, but a brisk walk or
other exercise that gets one’s heart pumping can be helpful.
Again,
exercise can be helpful because it can improve circulation in the body and
improve oxygenation of the body’s tissues. Exercises such as stretching and
yoga that help to improve flexibility and loosen muscles can also be helpful.
Hot
yoga, where yoga is done in a room where the heat is cranked up can be
particularly helpful because it combines exercise with heat therapy. It is
important not to push too hard when doing exercise. The point is to improve
your health, and not to wipe yourself out more.
As
you can see, fibromyalgia, CFS, and Lyme Disease are complex ailments, but
there are many promising therapies that people with these conditions are likely
to find helpful.
This
article is from the Get Your Health Back – Fibromyalgia
& Chronic Fatigue Freedom.
It consists of a strategy filled with guides on sleep, pain, depression,
anxiety, diet, exercise and fitness plans, diet plans and packed with 369
healthy and delicious recipes
To
find out more about this program, visit the website - Get
Your Health Back – Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Freedom
