Fibromyalgia – Dr. Vikram Chauhan's Blog

Ayurvedic Treatment of Fibromyalgia with Herbal Remedies

Abstract

Fibromyalgia is a medical disorder which is presented with generalized pain in muscles and bones of the whole body along with drowsiness, fatigue, memory issues and mood swings. In this disorder the painful sensations are amplified owing to the altered way of processing the non painful and painful signals by brain and spinal cord of an affected individual. The signs and symptoms of fibromyalgia usually begin after certain infection, physical trauma, surgery or psychological stress. However there are also some cases where none of these triggering causes are present and symptoms develop gradually over the time. In this article you can get all the information about fibromyalgia and its Ayurvedic treatment.

fibromyalgia

Introduction to Fibromyalgia

People suffering from fibromyalgia experience widespread and chronic pains in the musculoskeletal system all over the body. Memory troubles and fatigue are also accompanying symptoms in this disorder. It is a long term or chronic illness without exact known cause. Pin in fibromyalgia is debilitating and comes and goes from time to time. There are certain triggering factors like psychological stress, physical trauma and predisposing genes which may initiate the symptoms.

Ayurvedic Aspect of Fibromyalgia

There are three doshas which are responsible for the maintenance of health of a person, as per Ayurveda. These doshas are Vata, Pitta and Kapha dosha and here in fibromyalgia the Vata dosha is vitiated causing pain in bones and muscles in the whole body.

Signs & Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

Common signs and symptoms of fibromyalgia are:

Pain, twitching, burning or tightness in the muscles
Debilitating weakness or fatigue
Pain is usually dull and aching in nature which has been there for more than three months
Pain is in both the sides of the body including both above and below waist
Waking up with pain and feeling tired even after sleeping for hours
Many of them also suffer from sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome
Difficulty in focusing or concentrating while doing a mental tasks

Along with these symptoms Fibromyalgia can also co-exist with some other conditions like anxiety, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, temporomandibular joint disorders, migraine, painful bladder syndrome, depression or postural tachycardia syndrome.

Causes of Fibromyalgia

The exact cause behind the fibromyalgia is not known. However there are certain theories like repeated stimulation of the nerves causes some changes in the brain and spinal cord of an affected individual. There are certain chemicals in the brain which signal pain and in fibromyalgia there is an increase in these chemicals. Also the pain receptors in the brain develop a kind of memory of these pain signals making them sensitized and overreacting to the painful signals as well as to the non painful ones. However there are certain factors which are found to cause these changes like:

Fibromyalgia is known to run in the families owing to certain mutations in the genes making a person susceptible to develop this condition.
There are some infections or illnesses which have been known to aggravate or trigger the disorder.
Some sort of psychological stress or physical trauma can also trigger fibromyalgia.

Diagnosis of Fibromyalgia

The main diagnostic factor in fibromyalgia is widespread pain in the body which lasts for around three months. Your doctor will check for the pain in at least four or five mentioned below areas:

Upper left area that includes arm, shoulder or jaw
Upper right area that includes arm, shoulder or jaw
Lower left area that includes buttock, hip or leg
Lower right area that includes buttock, hip or leg
Axial area that includes back, neck, abdomen or chest

Treatment for Fibromyalgia

Conventional treatment for fibromyalgia includes pain relievers, antidepressants and anti seizure drugs. Physical therapy and counseling is also given to patients.

Ayurvedic Treatment For Fibromyalgia

In Ayurveda treatment is given to restore the balance of Vata dosha and pacify it with the help of herbal remedies. Pacification of Vata dosha helps in restoration of health and eradicates the disorder from root cause.

Herbal Remedies of Planet Ayurveda for Fibromyalgia

Planet Ayurveda has been serving the sufferings of humanity for around more than two decades now. There are numerous herbal remedies and products manufactured here using authentic herbs and natural compounds which possess amazing medicinal properties. No chemicals, additives, preservatives, dye, colors, fillers and yeast are used in these herbal products which ensure their high quality and effectiveness. For fibromyalgia Planet Ayurveda offers a combination of herbal remedies called Fibromyalgia care pack.

Fibromyalgia Care Pack

Joint Aid Plus
Aamvatantak Churna
Stress Support
Boswellia Curcumin
Shatavari Ghrit

Product’s Description

1. Joint Aid Plus

These medicinal capsules are poly herbal, formulated using various therapeutic herbs like Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Shallaki (Boswellia serrata), Guggul (Commiphora mukul), Nirgundi (Vitex negundo), and Sonth (Zingiber officinale). As the name implies, Joint aid plus capsules strengthen the joints and relieve inflammation and pain of muscles and joints.

Dosage– Take 2 capsules twice daily after meals with plain water.

2. Aamvatantak Churna

Aamvatantak churna consists of various therapeutic herbs like, Haridra (Curcuma longa), Sonth (Zingiber officinale), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) etc. This herbal formulation consists of amazing therapeutic properties like anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antioxidant that helps in relieving pain and swelling of the joints.

Dosage- Take 1 teaspoon twice daily after meals with plain water.

3. Stress Support

These multi herbal capsules are prepared using herbs like Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) and Tagar (Valeriana wallichii). Stress support capsules as the name indicates help in managing the stress which is one of the main triggering factors of fibromyalgia.

Dosage- Take 1 capsule twice daily after meals with plain water.

4. Boswellia Curcumin

Boswellia curcumin organic herbal capsules are formulated from standardized extract of herbs, i.e. Haridra (Curcuma longa) and Shallaki (Boswellia serrata). It helps in relieving pain, treating inflammation, enhancing immunity and preventing accumulation of the ama.

Dosage– Take 2 capsules twice daily after meals with plain water.

5. Shatavari Ghrit

This herbal formulation is prepared using numerous herbs like Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), Kakoli (Lilium polyphyllum), Munaka (Vitis vinifera), Mulethi (Glycyrrhiza glabra) etc. Shatavari ghrit maintains healthy functioning of the body by managing the hormonal balance, gives strength to the body and boosts the immunity.

Dosage- 1 tsp mixed with mishri or as guided by an Ayurvedic physician.

Conclusion

Fibromyalgia is a chronic debilitating disorder which can be treated with the help of above mentioned authentic herbal remedies that annihilate the disease from root cause.For more details of our products check out our website www.planetayurveda.com and for queries you can send your queries to our email id herbalremedies123@yahoo.com.

Top 7 Pain Relieving Remedies in Ayurveda Without Aspirin

Painkillers or analgesics are one of most widely categories of medicines. Analgesics are used at every instance, either it is traumatic or other complications. These are used for a variety of health conditions such as joints pain, migraine, arthritis, stomach pain, toothache etc.

As per modern classification, there are two categories of analgesics:

Narcotics
Non-narcotics

The basic principle of these painkillers is that they break the message transmitted from the affected part to the brain through neurons. Analgesics either break the pain signals arriving from the body parts to the brain or interrupt the brain to receive the message by neurons transmitting the pain signals. The side effects of these analgesics are obvious such as nausea, diarrhoea, pruritus (itching sensation), tenderness, jaundice and severe pain in the right upper quarter of the abdomen.

It has been proved in the research that the treatment with a product containing diclofenac sodium as topical applicants is linked with liver dysfunction, resulting in severe hepatic reactions, liver transplantation or even death.

Management of Pain according to Ayurveda

Ayurvedic approach to pain is holistic and looks to place the root cause of the disease, in contrast to simply dealing with the symptoms only.
The classical Ayurvedic text specifies about the species of plants that are used for muscularity relaxants and for other pain management.
Ayurveda uses single drug or multiple drug mixtures of herbs as well as mineral compounds for relieving pain.

Ayurveda Categorises The Painkillers into 3 Groups

Local Analgesics
Central Analgesics
Body-ache medications

Local Analgesic : These analgesics are topically applied to a particular part of the body and include paste preparations such as Belladonna.

Central Analgesics : These analgesics are more powerful than local analgesics and sometimes are combined with strict dietetic restrictions such as Dhatura.

Body-ache Medications : These analgesics are used in Ayurvedic practice to fight against stress and fatigue. There are more than 100 plants in Ayurveda that are recognised to have pain relieving properties such as Patala and Balam.

Various Herbs and Plants Described in Ayurveda as Natural Painkillers are

Garlic for Earache:

Garlic has been traditionally used in rural India for earache.
Garlic contains certain active ingredients such as sulphur, selenium and germanium which have positive physiological effects on pain.

How to use: Pour 2 drops of warm garlic oil into the affected ear for 7-10 days until it is completely cured.

Honey for Mouth Ulcers:

As a part of lifestyle, Ayurveda suggests honey gargle for mouth sores.
It is recommended for better voice, improved speech and to prevent all types of infections and inflammation.
It is very effective in decreasing painfulness and heals the tissues as well.

Vinegar for Acid Reflux and Heartburn:

In a research, it was concluded that there are good results of vinegar in heart burn and acid reflux particularly the Apple cider vinegar.

How to use: Take 30 ml vinegar mixed with water after a heavy meal to make digestion and metabolism smoother.

Clove for Toothache Relief:

Cloves have been used by Indians since thousands of years. It contains eugenol which works as anaesthetic and has anti-bacterial effects.
It has also been reported that the consumption of 2 gm clove powder improves the cholesterol level and maintains pH in the gastro-intestinal tract that in turn avoids all kinds of oral infections.

How to use: Apply clove oil to the affected tooth or chew 1-2 cloves.

Ginger Root for Muscle Pain:

Ginger has positive effects on reducing swelling and stiffness as well. The main element of ginger is Gingerols that is effective in treating muscular pain.

How to use: Include 5 gm fresh ginger or 2 gm dried ginger as a part of your diet to prevent muscular and joint pains.

Treatment of Diabetic Pain with Turmeric:

Ayurveda suggests the use of turmeric as a part of diet to avoid the problems of diabetes as well as pain associated with it. It is considered as one of the most effective natural pain relievers known to exist and also possesses anti-inflammatory properties. It contains curcumin as an active ingredient which is responsible for its properties.
Turmeric decreases the pain and irritation experienced by patients suffering from arthritis, fibromyalgia, IBS, arthritis due to its anti-inflammatory properties.

Buttermilk for Pre-Menopause:

Ayurveda suggests buttermilk for pre and post-menopausal syndromes as well as for menstrual pain. It is also effective in curing vaginal infections as well as itching. It is also effective in curing yeast infection. It is quite favourable in treating gynaecological conditions.

How to use: Take a plain glass of buttermilk with cumin seeds. You can buttermilk twice or thrice a day. The calcium content in buttermilk dispassionate the physical and psychological irritability associated with PMS.

Cherries:

Cherries are packed with certain anti-oxidants known as anthocyanins which are responsible for giving them red colour and for relieving pain.
Research has indicated that anthocyanins, an active element in cherries is ten times more beneficial in lowering pain than common painkillers such as Ibuprofen without causing any side effects.

Epsom Salt Bath for Leg Pain:

Epsom salt that is rich in magnesium, is an excellent pain reliever. This remedy is also helpful for patients suffering from arthritis as it soothes leg pain. Salt also possesses anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties which makes it effective in relieving pain. Regular soaking of infected parts in warm salt water acts better than topical painkillers and antibiotics.

Massage/Snehana:

In the world of Ayurveda, oil massage or sneham is considered as a very rewarding therapy for treating pain and other ailments. It pacifies Vata, mobilises the toxins, maximises circulation and therefore relaxes the overall body.

Cumin:

Cumin is an aromatic spice and mild pain reliever.

How to use: For stomach pain, make a mixture of 1/3 tablespoon of cumin powder, a pinch of asofaetida and a pinch of rock salt. Mix and chew it thoroughly followed with a drink of warm water