Fibromyalgia Ayurvedic Treatment: A 360* Holistic & Proven Approach

Fibromyalgia is a syndrome with features of widespread chronic musculoskeletal pain for at least 3 to 4 months in all four limbs of the body; fatigue, sleeplessness, and soft tissue tenderness are the other critical characteristics and symptoms of Fibromyalgia.

The common sites of pain are the shoulders, neck, back, hands, and pelvic area. The pain-producing sites are known as tender points. The underlying medical conditions that diminish muscle endurance put the individual at risk of Fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia remained neglected for so long because 80-90% of the complainants are women, and hence it was referred to as a ‘women’s condition’ a few decades back. Despite the fact it is the second most common rheumatological condition after Osteoarthritis, it is the most missed and misdiagnosed clinical condition in medical practice.

As mentioned above, the physicians neglected some imaginary psychological conditions and had no real connection with the body. While physicians are rebutting it as ‘All lies in mind’, manifestations lie all over the body. Close to 10 million Americans and 3-6% of the world population suffer from fibromyalgia symptoms in the 21st century, and the number is ever-growing now.

In India, it is believed that 2-4% of patients suffer from fibromyalgia. The lack of awareness about fibromyalgia and over-flooded Indian OPDs makes it even worse for women to have a timely diagnosis of Fibromyalgia to initiate early treatment. 

The sign and symptoms of the condition vary, from individual to individual and it takes years of reporting widespread chronic pain, and sleeplessness by individuals to be diagnosed as patients of Fibromyalgia. Since no lab test can confirm its diagnosis, the early diagnosis of Fibromyalgia is essential for starting its treatment and a possible cure to live without painkillers, sleep medicines, and anti-depressants or mood lifters.

Thankfully, Ayurvedic treatment of Fibromyalgia is a comprehensive treatment that does not have any adverse effects and enables the person to live with more good days than bad days.

Ayurvedic Treatment Of Fibromyalgia 

The condition of Fibromyalgia as per Ayurveda can be described as Mansa Dhatugat and MansavritVata. The aggravation of Vata dosha and accumulation of Ama (toxins) are the primary causes and should be treated mainly.

The daily Shirodhara(medicated oil pouring on the forehead) sessions help in the regulation of HPA to combat stress and helps in maintaining the body’s homeostasis. This will overpower and augment the body’s ability to fight body-mind pain in the most natural ways.

This 28-day residential indoor treatment plan will work on the patients of FIbromyalgia in the most effective in terms of their understanding of the condition. The ‘Rasayana and Panchakarma treatment modalities not only help the patient to reduce, and minimize bodily pain but also increase the happiness quotient of their life. Thus, total physical-mental well-being is the expected outcome of this treatment which is seldom offered at any avenue. 

The condition falls under the ‘Vataj Vyadhi’ disorder since most of the pain happens because of ‘Vata‘ aggravation in the body. But in clinical practice, the patients show ‘Paitik’ and ‘Kaphaj’ involvement, thereby making it a condition affected by the involvement of all three doshas. 

The neurological signs and symptoms of Fibromyalgia are a manifestation of aggravation and vitiation of ‘Vata disorders which includes further vitiation of ‘Pitta‘ and ‘Kapha‘ as ‘Vata‘ is the carrier and main dosha here. The major site of ‘Vata‘ in the body is the large intestine and large bones such as the femurs, humerus, and tibia. It is easy to understand that fibromyalgia patients often complain of an upset stomach with constipation, diarrhea, and widespread muscular and joint pain.

At Aas Ayurveda, we customize and personalize the meals of patients according to their daily and future health needs and make them remove meals that trigger pain and bad bouts of mood. This naturally helps in combating pain and reduces your reliance on harmful painkillers. 

The Fibromyalgia Ayurvedic Treatment takes care of this dosha in mind while planning an individualistic regimen for the patient, which helps them like no other single or multiple drug therapy may be able to do.

Signs & Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

The sign and symptoms of Fibromyalgia vary from individual to individual, and so does the treatment. The treatment approach varies with the severity of the condition, the age of the patient, and the time they can devote to the process. Individuals who have Fibromyalgia may experience some or all of the signs and symptoms as follows.

• Fatigue, Heaviness in the body
• Chronic widespread muscle and joints pain with or without spams
• Low pain threshold as compared to the same level of pain experienced by others.
• Unknown body pain (more specifically on the 18 trigger points) 
• Anxiety, Disturbed sleep, Lack of Sound sleep (deep stage 4 sleep)
• Palpitations
• Nausea, Headache, Intermittent fever
• Mood swings, Panic attacks
• Depression (more in winters called winter depression)
• TMD (temporomandibular dysfunction, earlier called TMJ)
• Touch Sensitivity (Hyperalgesia)
• Painful stimuli (Allodynia)

When a patient presents with fibromyalgia symptoms in the OPD, most likely, the doctors tend to rush to write the prescription basis on the symptoms and move on to the next patient.

This approach does not work in the cases of fibromyalgia patients as they require more effort and holistic treatment than just a symptomatic approach; hence, the ayurvedic treatment of fibromyalgia is the kind of treatment a health seeker should seek while planning their treatment for this condition. 

How is Fibromyalgia Diagnosed?

There is no lab investigation to diagnose Fibromyalgia. Thus, the role of your doctor becomes even more critical in the case of Fibromyalgia. The detailed history, signs, symptoms, and physical examination of tender points are the keys to diagnosing it.

The digital palpitation with a force of 4 kilograms is applied to the 18 tender points on the various parts of the body, and 11 of these tender points must produce pain in the occiput, low cervical, supraspinatus, trapezius, second rib, and second rib lateral epicondyle, gluteal, and knees. The trigger points are focal, hyperirritable spots located in a taut band of skeletal muscle. These spots produce pain on compressing them, tenderness, and motor dysfunction.

Once it is established that the individual has Fibromyalgia, it is essential to know the underlying condition, which could be polymyalgia, lupus, arthritis, thyroid insufficiency, sleep disorders, myopathies, infections and nutritional deficiencies.

Causes and Risk Factors of Fibromyalgia

What exactly causes Fibromyalgia is not known, but the factors that may cause or trigger fibromyalgia are-

1. Injury to the Nervous or Musculoskeletal system

It leads to the sensory nervous’s peripheral sensitization through nociceptive activation. This can be seen in conditions such as diabetic neuropathy, arthritic disorders, and peripheral nerve damage. 

2. Muscle Metabolism Changes

Decreased blood flow to muscles leads to fatigue and decreased endurance. Endurance tells us how efficiently the muscles are getting oxygen, and nutrients and taking away the waste products. The metabolic alterations in the hormonal substance that never influence activity may play their role. 

3. Post-Traumatic Stress

HPA (hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal) axis helps the body remain stable under psychological and physiological stress through the actions of the hormones released by this axis. Patients with Fibromyalgia show fewer functions of the HPA axis. Studies have shown that individuals have a less regulated HPA axis in post-traumatic stress disorder.

4. Endocrine Dysfunction

Thyroid disorders are commonly associated with Fibromyalgia, and symptoms of hypothyroidism overlap with Fibromyalgia if the thyroid-secreting hormone is low in the blood investigation. The clinician might misdiagnose it with hypothyroidism rather than a case of Fibromyalgia.

5. Lifestyle

Stress is a precipitating factor in the development of Fibromyalgia. In many cases, along with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Fibromyalgia exists as a comorbid condition. The habits of smoking, obesity, and lack of physical workout, a sedentary lifestyle also increase the incidence rate of Fibromyalgia across the globe 

6. Genetics

A person is almost nine times more likely to develop Fibromyalgia if they have a family member with Fibromyalgia, a very high chance than patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Specific genes have been associated with Fibromyalgia; research has shown that fibromyalgia is associated with polymorphisms of genes in serotoninergic and dopaminergic systems. 

7. Sleep disorders

Recent studies reveal that sleep disruption and lack of sound sleep itself is a cause of Fibromyalgia, not merely a symptom of it. Some researchers have shown that the disruption in the fourth stage of sleep increases muscle tenderness and the risk of Fibromyalgia. It has been seen that it stands resolved when a regular sleeping pattern is achieved.

8. Psychological factors

Substantial evidence has suggested the association between depression and Fibromyalgia. It is also linked with bipolar disorder.

Self Care Tips

• Physical exercise plays a very important role in the management of fibromyalgia. It improves fitness and reduces pain in patients with fibromyalgia.
• Increase the quality of sleep by meditating, and body stretching before going to the body.
• Cardiovascular and aquatic exercises have proven to be very beneficial in patients with fibromyalgia.
• Meditation is one of the most effective ways of curbing the symptoms of fibromyalgia; it also directly helps in relieving anxiety, depression, and CFS.
• Avoid a sedentary lifestyle, make sure you go for a brisk walk every day for 20-30 mins.
• Maintain a healthy dietary routine and follow it rigorously, fresh fruits, juices, nuts, and milk are the immediate source of energy that helps in uplifting the spirit.
• Talk to friends and family members, do not suppress your needs, join support groups and never let any form of depression be a part of your life.

How Fibromyalgia is Treated at Aas Ayurveda?

For Fibromyalgia Ayurvedic Treatment, we have excelled in providing relief most holistically while designing a specialized health program on fibromyalgia where the patient is treated with an in-house stay for 28 days while performing Ayurvedic therapies as Panchkarma Shodhan (five ways of body nourishment and purification), Rasayana which is beneficial for the well-being of the patient to soothe up the symptoms.

We use three-pillar approaches of Ayurveda, namely diet, lifestyle, and medicines, to relieve patients from their symptoms. The most crucial part is our ability to design a total personal regimen for the patient basis on their country’s season, region, and personal food habits, thereby eliminating the foods which are harmful to the patients.

Ayurveda sees the ‘food’ beyond just eatables, and a wise Ayurveda physician assesses the patient’s condition, and prognosis to manage this condition that suits the patient even when they complete the course of this health journey with us.

At ‘Aas Ayurveda’, our motto of ‘Patient engagement’ travels with our seekers even when they are away from us, and we keep on guiding them on their daily meals.

The health journey at ‘Aas Ayurveda’ is a comprehensive plan that helps the patient beat the pain blues and digestive issues and strengthens the patient’s ability to fight the pain successfully rather than struggling with it.

The Fibromyalgia Ayurvedic Treatment is safe, long-lasting, builds the body’s strength, and has no adverse effects on the mind and body. The ayurvedic treatment builds not only the body’s strength but also a positive mind with a bigger and better capacity to fight this condition with dozens of symptoms with no definitive cause.