Fibromyalgia is a delicate disease in many ways. Its origins are mysterious, it is thought to be a descendant of neurasthenia, and its astonishing frequency is still hampered by the lack of any formal identification. Because of its invisible nature, it remains unexplained, just like any other chronic pain phenomenon. This brings it closer to chronic fatigue syndrome.
Why is it painful?
Unexplained chronic pain may be a somatic manifestation of psychological suffering that often goes untreated. The link between psychological trauma, post-traumatic symptoms, psychic dissociation and somatoform disorders now seems to be well documented.
The biopsychosocial model makes it possible to understand and treat all chronic illnesses in a more holistic way. In particular, this model avoids setting people suffering from this condition up for failure. Fibromyalgia is a common syndrome affecting mainly women, who report chronic, diffuse muscular, tendon and/or joint pain. These pains are associated with tension headaches, functional intestinal disorders, genitourinary symptoms, tinnitus, temporomandibular joint pain, distal paresthesias, etc. They are known as somatoform disorders, defined by functional symptoms without tissue damage.
Emotional and cognitive co-morbidities are very common (anxiety disorders, depression, catastrophism, hypervigilance, lack of flexibility, concentration and memory problems, etc.). Sensitisation of the central nervous system is the most widely accepted pathophysiological hypothesis. Disruption of stage 4 sleep also contributes, as does emotional stress.
How can you tell if it’s fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is characterised by diffuse, chronic pain. Predominantly axial, this condition affects women around 7 times more often than men, and is usually found in young and middle-aged women. However, it can also affect men, children and adolescents. Because of this difference between the sexes, it sometimes goes unnoticed in men. The pain may be accompanied by fatigue, sleep disorders, anxiety and depression, cognitive disorders, functional colopathy and vasomotor disorders, in various combinations.
In fibromyalgia, any fibromuscular region may be involved, in particular the occiput, neck, shoulders, thorax, lower back and thighs.
The diagnosis is based on the combination of diffuse pain lasting more than 3 months and the presence of at least 11 of the 18 painful pressure points.
What are the symptoms of fibromyalgia?
Stiffness and pain often begin gradually and in a diffuse way and have the appearance of aches and pains. The pain is diffuse and may worsen with fatigue and/or muscular effort.
People generally present with various somatic symptoms. Fatigue is common, as are cognitive problems such as difficulty concentrating and a general feeling of mental disturbance. Many people also experience symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, interstitial cystitis or tension or migraine headaches. Paresthesias may be present, usually bilaterally.
Symptoms may be exacerbated by environmental emotional stress, poor sleep, trauma or exposure to damp or cold. In the same way, telling a person with fibromyalgia that “it’s all in the head” would expose them to an exacerbation of their symptoms.
People with this condition tend to be stressed, tense, anxious, tired and sometimes depressed. Not unusually, they are high-achieving perfectionists.
Here are a few naturopathic tips to help limit the symptoms of fibromyalgia:
Fibromyalgia tends to be chronic but can recover spontaneously if stress is reduced. It can also reappear at frequent intervals. The functional prognosis is usually favourable in people who are listened to and supported, although some symptoms may persist.
Stretching exercises, aerobic exercise, adequate sleep, local applications of heat and gentle massage can provide relief. Stress management(deep breathing exercises, meditation, psychological support, counselling if necessary) is important.
Exercises to gently stretch the affected muscles should be carried out every day; stretches should be held for about 30 seconds and repeated 5 times. Aerobic exercise (brisk walking, swimming, exercise cycling) can improve symptoms.
Medicinal plants to relieve fibromyalgia :
In addition to a healthy lifestyle, certain medicinal plants can help relieve pain, reduce fatigue and improve sleep. Anti-inflammatory, relaxing or neuroprotective, they provide invaluable support for living better with fibromyalgia.
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Ginger :
Ginger’s pain-relieving activity is due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Ginger inhibits the synthesis of prostaglandins and leukotrienes. This anti-inflammatory activity of ginger and the zingerone it contains is confirmed in polyarthralgias and myalgias during fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, particularly in chronic illness syndrome.
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Griffonia :
The 5-HTP contained in Griffonia is of therapeutic interest in people suffering from mild to moderate depression. A dysfunction of the nociception modulation system appears to be involved in cases of fibromyalgia. In fact, in people suffering from fibromyalgia, reduced levels of serotonin metabolites in the cerebrospinal fluid suggest the involvement of a serotonin deficiency in the pathogenesis of the disease. At the same time, an increase in substance P, responsible for the increase in pain, is observed in the central nervous system and peripheral nerves.
Administration of 5-HTP for 30 days reduces the number and intensity of pain points, as well as muscle rigidity on rising and anxiety.
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St John’s Wort :
St John’s Wort has an anti-nociceptive effect, relieves acute and chronic hyperalgesic states and increases opioid analgesia. Neuralgic pain such as myalgia, fibromyalgia or myofascial pain syndrome can be relieved by taking St John’s Wort. In addition, hydroalcoholic extracts of St John’s Wort have a pharmacological effect similar to that of conventional antidepressants. The non-specific inhibition of monoamine reuptake (mainly serotonin, but also dopamine and noradrenaline) is non-competitive, unlike that seen with synthetic antidepressants such as fluoxetine. This results in an increase in serotonin activity.
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Passionflower :
In relation to its anxiolytic, sedative (compared to diazepam) and peripheral antispasmodic properties, passionflower is indicated in neurosensory hyperaesthesia, particularly in the context of neuralgic manifestations, fibromyalgia, myofascial syndrome, polyarthralgias and diffuse myalgias, as well as chronic fatigue syndrome. Its analgesic activity derives from the underlying opioid and gabaergic mechanism, and may also involve a potential cannabimimetic action.
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Saffron :
Saffron appears to have comparable efficacy on fibromyalgia disorders to that of duloxetine. The crocin it contains inhibits the reuptake of dopamine and noradrenaline, and has a neuroprotective effect, particularly against oxidative stress. Safranal inhibits the reuptake of serotonin, and has analgesic properties by desensitising a receptor responsible for modulating pain signals in the nociceptors.
Saffron has therefore demonstrated comparable efficacy to duloxetine in treating the symptoms of fibromyalgia, particularly in reducing symptoms of depression and the level of pain felt.
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Valerian :
In standardised extract form, valerian has a muscle-relaxing effect equivalent to that of a reference benzodiazepine. Thanks to its anxiolytic, sedative and hypnotic properties, valerian root is indicated for chronic stress, spasmophilia, myalgia and fibromyalgia.
