|
Fibromyalgia Resources
The information you need to take control of your health.Fibromyalgia finally achieved "real" disease status in 1990. It is estimated that 6 million people in the U.S. are afflicted with this dis-ease. About 20 percent of patients (of which 90 percent are women) seen in rheumatology practices across the country have the mystifying dis-ease.
NOTE: If you already have enough information and want to skip right to the nutritional and herbal support program just click to that section. Any time I work with a client or teach classes, one of my main goals is to encourage personal responsibility for health. There is much conflicting information and the subject of fibromyalgia is no different. For instance, many people believe Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are one and the same. Others that they are very different with regard to both symptoms and origin. Both opinions are presented here with gratitude to those who shared them with me, and encouragement to you to use this information as a tool on your natural path to well-being. According to Miryam Williamson (who shared the Tender Points graphic and information with us, states that fibromyalgia is "a syndrome -- a collection of symptoms so common that clinicians gave it a name as a kind of shorthand. The symptoms of the fibromyalgia syndrome and the symptoms of the chronic fatigue syndrome have a lot of overlap, but the causes are quite different. There is no clinically recognizable inflammation in fibromyalgia. People with fibromyalgia do not have the crescent-shaped inflammation in their throats that people with CFS do, nor do they have swollen lymph nodes -- both signs of infection." According to the book Metabolic Treatment of Fibromyalgia, this dis-ease is pretty much the same as CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome). Dr. Hugo Rodier, M.D., a recognized authority in Nutritional and Integrative Medicine and Psycho-Neural Immunology, and who has done extensive research to scientifically validate the use of natural therapies using material taken from standard medical journals, believes CFS is virtually identical to fibromyalgia. The dis-ease is characterized by widespread pain with tenderness in joints and soft tissue regions as well as fatigue and feelings of exhaustion following even light physical exertion. A common yet mystifying condition (due to the absence of any clinically measurable pathological or physiological abnormalities). Although not officially an autoimmune disorder, it is often symptomatic of glandular rheumatic autoimmune problems. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - This condition is now classified medically as Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS) and defined as "a chronic inflammatory illness of undetermined origin." It is at very least, related to autoimmune dysfunction due to the fact that a common thread in diagnosing the disorder is the presence of "antinuclear" antibodies in the blood of the affected individuals. Since extreme tiredness or chronic fatigue is a major symptom of many other illnesses, including lupus, multiple sclerosis, Lyme disease, AIDS, hypothyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis and depression, these conditions must be ruled out before a diagnosis of CFIDS can be confirmed. CFIDS is commonly found in both men and women but affects twice as many women as men. No differential seems to exist for race, age or socioeconomic level, and although exposure to viral forms is a suspected cause, the disease is not considered contagious.
Since CFS is considered to be virtually identical to fibromyalgia, there is crossover in the research. A great deal of what is recognized as a cause of one is also identified as a cause for the other. Therefore the references listed here or elswhere for either dis-ease should also be looked at in light of this connection. There is some new evidence that suggests that fibromyalgia sufferers are deficient in growth hormone secretion. "Marie Cook, a nurse at Oregon Health Sciences University of Portland, has stated that she and her colleagues have pursued a possible connection after observing that fibromyalgia and growth hormone deficiency syndrome share many clinical features. These include muscle weakness, reduced exercise capacity and chronic fatigue. In an earlier study they found that 30 - 40 percent of fibromyalgia patients had low insulin-like growth factor levels compared with age- and gender-matched controls. To further assess this apparent deficiency they performed growth hormone-stimulating tests in 50 firbomyalgia patients with low IGF-1. They found that 41 had abnormally low growth hormone response to provocative testing. … IGF-1 may be a miracle medicine for fibromyalgia patients in that it can return strength, increase endurance and improve immune response simultaneously." "In general, anything that upsets or stresses our bodies can trigger CFS. The stress can be emotional, traumatic, infectious, environmental or nutritional. Other diseases can trigger it too." For a list of specific references from various medical journals use the form below.
Since anything can cause stress - emotional, environmental, physical and/or spiritual, I would begin taking small steps to discover and remove those stress creators in my life. Don't try to change everything at once. That would only serve to add more stress and ultimately end in failure for most people. Here is a checklist of what I would recommend. Try one new adjustment to your lifestyle per week.
I would want to start out using most if not all supplements listed under 'specifics'. Many of the other nutritional factors and cofactors should also be considered on an individual basis.
Quality herbs and supplements are important to healing dis-ease. Taking the natural path to health requires that you take the time to make a wise choice. Questions about your health concerns? Feel free to contact me. Tools for Health......is an informative, holistic monthly newsletter which covers a variety of health topics, and includes other resources for your further research. To get yourself moving along the natural path to health, just fill in the box and submit.
The National Association of Fibromyalgia Research Association web site has a huge collection of reference material if you are interested in pursuing it further.
Use this link.
You may also reach them at: Miryam Williamson has good information.
----------------
A Healthy Business Opportunity | Natural Health Coach for Women | Herbs, Supplements, Etc. | Begin with Health Basics | Health Analyzer | Tools for Health eNewsletter | Consultations and Coaching | Health Journal (BLOG) | To build your health business online you'll want to peruse the no cost eBooks on this page. This page (and the rest of the site) was created by me, a Certified Natural Health Consultant, definitely not a webmaster. Thank you Solo Build It! for making it not only possible, but easy and affordable.
|
