Alternative Therapies

The symptoms of fibromyalgia can sometimes be so painful that they prevent sufferers from going to work, attending school classes, or just managing their daily routines. Unfortunately, there is no cure available for fibromyalgia syndrome, so patients often resort to numerous different treatments to lessen the severity of their fibromyalgia symptoms. However, hypnosis is now emerging as one of the best alternative treatments available for fibromyalgia pain. The use of hypnosis has been proven to reduce pain symptoms and it has become a doctor-recommended treatment. If you are suffering from fibromyalgia pain symptoms, consider hypnosis as a treatment option.

History of Hypnosis
Though it is often disregarded as a proven therapy, hypnosis has long been used to treat both psychological and medical disorders. The Ancient Egyptians and Chinese used hypnosis to relieve symptoms of pain over two thousand years ago. Hypnosis was also used in the 1800’s by medical doctors for anesthetic purposes. Recently, hypnosis has received more attention from the medical field; in fact, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has recommended that hypnosis be used as part of a treatment regime for chronic pain, like that caused by fibromyalgia.

What is Hypnosis?
Hypnosis is a non-invasive technique that encourages you to achieve heightened levels of focus and sensation. People who practice hypnosis believe that there are two main components to the mind: the conscious mind and the unconscious mind. Through relaxation and suggestion, you are able to access your subconscious mind and stop behaviors or thoughts that may be contributing to pain or other unpleasant symptoms.

Contrary to popular belief, though, people who are in a state of hypnosis are not unaware of their actions and will not do anything that they have a serious moral or ethical objection to. In fact, you do have control over your actions as well as what you say while you are hypnotized. Moreover, you have the ability to remember what transpired while you were hypnotized. However, in some cases, your subconscious mind may choose to “forget” just what happened.

Types of Hypnosis
There are two main types of hypnosis techniques:

1. Hypnosis Performed by a Clinical Hypnotist: This type of hypnosis is performed in-office by a licensed professional. The hypnotist will explain what hypnosis is and how it works to reduce pain. He or she will then lead you into hypnosis through a series of relaxation exercises. Once you are in a hypnotic state, the hypnotist will make suggestions as to how you can change your thoughts or behavior in order to minimize your symptoms.
2. Self Hypnosis: Self hypnosis is a type of hypnosis that you can do yourself in the privacy of your own home. You can learn self hypnosis either from a clinical hypnotist or from one of a number of books available on the subject. Self hypnosis programs and hypnotherapy courses are also widely available. Self hypnosis techniques can be indispensable for fibromyalgia sufferers. Self hypnosis is usually used as a form of relaxation or meditation.

Stages of Hypnosis
There are three main stages of hypnosis. Your hypnotist will lead you into a certain stage of hypnosis, depending upon the illness or symptom you wish to treat.

First Stage: The first stage of hypnosis is often referred to as a superficial trance. This is the lightest stage of hypnosis, during which you are aware of all of your surroundings. This type of trance is commonly used to help correct addictive behaviors such as smoking. During a superficial trance, you will accept suggestions but may not act upon them afterwards.

Second Stage: The second stage, the alpha state, is a deeper level of hypnosis. You may notice that your breathing begins to slow down, as will your heart rate and blood pressure. It is this stage of hypnosis that is used to control pain.

Third Stage: The third stage of hypnosis is the deepest. Psychiatrists use this stage to access forgotten emotions, memories, and events. It is often used to help those who have undergone severe psychological trauma.

How Does Hypnosis Work?
Researchers are not completely sure how hypnosis therapy works or why it works so well in fibromyalgia patients. A recent study performed at the University of Iowa looked to explain what actually happens to the brain during hypnosis. Brain scans were taken of chronic pain sufferers in hypnotic trances and analyzed for activity changes. Researchers found that people under hypnosis had reduced activity in pain network areas of the brain. In particular, the area of the brain responsible for “feeling” pain had significantly reduced activity levels. This suggests that hypnosis treatment works because it actually has a physical effect on the brain.

Effects of Hypnosis on Fibromyalgia Sufferers
Many fibromyalgia sufferers attribute reduction in their symptoms to the power of hypnosis. Fibromyalgia sufferers often use hypnosis as a way to limit their pain symptoms and increase their energy and comfort level. A study conducted by the NIH showed that fibromyalgia sufferers undergoing hypnosis reported 80% fewer pain symptoms than those who received no hypnosis treatment. Other benefits of hypnosis include:

• decreased muscle pain
• decreased morning fatigue
• fewer sleep difficulties
• increased relaxation

Things to Remember
Before engaging in any type of hypnosis there are a few things to keep in mind:

• Be sure to find a licensed clinical hypnotist. There are many unlicensed hypnotists operating throughout the United States. Clinical hypnotists have specific training in both medicine and psychology.
• Hypnosis doesn’t work for everyone. Up to 10% of the population can’t be hypnotized.
• If you are suffering from a psychiatric condition or any type of psychosis, do not undergo hypnotism without first speaking with your health care professional.

Reiki therapy is a holistic treatment that plays an effective role in fibromyalgia treatment and in helping to alleviate many fibromyalgia symptoms. In fact, the benefits of reiki healing are particularly effective for treating common symptoms such as fatigue and pain.

Defining of Reiki Healing

Reiki derives its name from Japanese and means universal life energy. It is an ancient Eastern practice of holistic medicine, the aim of which is to improve overall health and well-being as well as assist in physical and mental recovery from illness. Above all, however, this holistic healing treatment is a spiritual practice that seeks to reconnect mind and body by balancing healthy energy in the body.

How it Works

A Reiki therapist promotes holistic healing by either skimming the fingers gently over various parts of the body (head, chest, abdomen and back) or by moving the hands in a healing fashion a few inches above the body.

Different parts of the body are targeted depending on where the patient is experiencing their discomfort; for example, if the patient suffers from fatigue, the head will be the focus of treatment, while those experiencing muscle pain likely receive treatment to the back.

During the reiki healing process, the patient sits in a chair and is asked to relax; quite often he will fall asleep and may also experience dream-like sensations, which can help fibromyalgia-related anxiety, as the nervous system is calmed.

Fibromyalgia and Reiki Treatment: Holistic Health

Reiki is not a cure for any disease, including fibromyalgia, but it can boost overall health, particularly when practiced in addition to a healthy lifestyle. It also reduces muscle pain, anxiety and depression.

One central tenet to reiki medicine is that the patient takes responsibility for her own health, thereby giving her active participation in her own healing.

Holistic Therapy: Reiki Therapy Sessions

A typical reiki healing session usually lasts for around a half an hour to an hour and a half.

It is recommended that fibromyalgia patients receive Reiki therapy once a week if possible and no less than once a month in order to see a noticeable improvement in their fibromyalgia symptoms.

The average cost for a session of reiki therapy starts at $35. When looking for a reiki specialist, remember that a high fee doesn’t necessarily guarantee that you will receive the best treatment. Find a reiki specialist you trust, who has had proper reiki training (ask about certificates completed and other medical training information); also consider the convenience between your house and the specialist’s office, as picking a location close to you will help you stay committed to your treatment.

It’s best to work with a reiki therapist who has experience with Fibromyalgia so that he will be sensitive to your special needs and physical condition.

If you are suffering from the aches and pains of fibromyalgia, you may be ready to try something new to help ease those uncomfortable symptoms. Many fibromyalgia syndrome sufferers find that they are unable to achieve satisfactory symptom relief through the use of traditional medical therapies or drug interventions. Additionally, many of these medical therapies often cause uncomfortable side effects, making fibromyalgia even more difficult to deal with. Low frequency sound therapy may be just what you need to help get your health back on track.

What is Low Frequency Sound?

Sound is all around us on a daily basis. We hear many different types of sounds, including loud ones and quiet ones, sharp ones and dull ones. Sound is made up of energy particles that travel by wavelengths. These wavelengths can change in shape and form, altering the type of sound that is produced. The pitch of the sounds that we hear are actually determined by the frequency that a sound wavelength is traveling at: a high pitch noise is traveling at a high frequency while a low pitch noise is traveling at a low frequency.

Sound frequency is measured in units called Hertz. Low frequency sounds are comprised of those sound wavelengths that are between the range of 17 Hertz and 0.001 Hertz. Many animals, including elephants, whales, and giraffes, communicate with one another using low frequency sound. Humans cannot hear most of these low frequency sounds, because we only recognize sounds traveling at frequencies between 20 Hertz and 20,000 Hertz. However, our bodies can subconsciously receive and interpret low frequency sound waves.

What is Low Frequency Sound Therapy?

Low frequency sound therapy operates on the premise that low frequency sound actually has healing properties. Also known as infrasonic therapy (IST), low frequency sound is thought to travel through the body, directly stimulating your cells. Though you cannot actually hear these sounds, your body does receive the sound wavelengths and responds to them by healing areas that are affected by swelling, inflammation, or chronic or acute pain.

How Do You Use Low Frequency Sound Therapy?

Low frequency or infrasonic therapy is typically delivered in a hand-held or portable device. This device has a transducer that is very similar to that used in ultrasound technology. You simply run this transducer over various parts of your body in order to receive the healing benefits of the low frequency sound waves.

Low frequency sound therapy can also be delivered in specially designed chairs that are equipped with internal speaker systems. These systems deliver low frequency sound to your body while you are sitting in the chair. Both chair and hand-held systems often incorporate massage therapy in order to maximize the benefits of low frequency sound therapy.

What are the Benefits of Low Frequency Sound Therapy?

Low frequency sound therapy is thought to help relieve a variety of unpleasant physical symptoms, including:

• acute pain
• chronic pain
• joint pain and stiffness
• muscle pain
• fatigue
• sleep disorders

How Does Low Frequency Sound Therapy Work?

Low frequency sound therapy is thought to be effective in reducing painful physical ailments by stimulating cell reproduction and other bodily changes. In particular, low frequency sound therapy is thought to increase the production of hyaluronic acid (HLA), which helps to lubricate joints and relieves muscle and joint pain and inflammation. Low frequency sound also stimulates cellular repair, helping to increase overall bodily health and stamina.

How Does Low Frequency Sound Therapy Help Fibromyalgia?

Low frequency sound therapy is now being recommended for use in fibromyalgia patients. A recent study performed by the Sound Health and Research Institute found that low frequency sound therapy helped to reduce the widespread pain associated with fibromyalgia. It also helped to increase overall mobility. Fibromyalgia sufferers may also find that symptoms of fatigue, stress, and sleep disorders are reduced by using low frequency sound therapy.

The study delivered low frequency sound therapy through a portable device to fibromyalgia sufferers on a daily basis. Upon completion of the study, 89% of participants were reported to have experienced at least a 50% reduction in pain symptoms. Many of these patients also experienced periods of complete symptom relief when exposed to the low frequency sound therapy.

Costs of Low Frequency Sound Therapy

Though you can purchase your own infrasonic therapy system, these systems do tend to be quite expensive: the average cost of a low frequency sound therapy system is about $800. Physical therapists, massage therapists, chiropractors, and naturopaths often offer low frequency sound therapy services, which can reduce the cost of this treatment significantly.

Fibromyalgia syndrome can be a very difficult illness to treat. With so many symptoms, ranging from chronic pain to fatigue, finding the right treatments can be time-consuming and frustrating. You may find yourself taking dozens of medicinal treatments, many of which come along with a host of undesirable side effects. If conventional medications aren’t working for your fibromyalgia, you may want to explore the world of herbal medication. Herbal medications can help to relieve many of the symptoms of fibromyalgia.

What are Herbal Remedies?

Herbal supplements are a non-conventional way of treating illnesses and symptoms of pain and discomfort. They are often used in alternative medicine. By using naturally sourced herbs, berries, and barks, people can reduce various symptoms and even cure some illnesses. Herbal remedies have long been used by different cultures. In fact, traditional medicine actually developed out of studies based on herbal treatments. Some societies still rely heavily on alternative herbal medicine to cure their pains.

Benefits of Herbal Medications

There are many benefits to using natural alternative medicines. Benefits of herbal supplements include:

• fewer side effects than some traditional medical treatments
• lower cost than some traditional medical treatments
• one herbal remedy can often treat a wide range of symptoms
• herbal remedies work naturally on the body, encouraging your body to heal itself

Using a Homeopath

If you are considering using natural herbal supplements to treat your fibromyalgia, it is a good idea to consult a homeopath. A homeopath is a licensed professional who has had years of experience in prescribing alternative and herbal medicine for different illnesses. Homeopaths have undergone specific training in the field of herbal supplementation, and are familiar with the appropriate uses for a wide variety of herbs, berries, and extracts.

Homeopaths are very similar to medical doctors. Just like your health care provider, your homeopath will become familiar with your medical history and the treatments that you are currently taking for your fibromyalgia. Your homeopath will be able to prescribe herbal remedies that won’t interact dangerously with your current fibromyalgia medications. They are also knowledgeable about the side effects of all herbal remedies. By using a professional homeopath to begin your herbal treatment, you can avoid experiencing the sometimes dangerous side effects of herbs and berries.

Tips on Using Herbal Remedies

It is important to use care when using herbal remedies to treat fibromyalgia and other illnesses. Just because herbal remedies come from natural sources, it does not mean that they won’t cause dangerous side effects. Herbal remedies can often be very potent, and should not be used lightly. Here are some tips on how to ensure the safe use of herbs, barks, and berries.

• Only choose remedies which closely match the symptoms you are experiencing.
• Use the lowest-potency extracts of herbs, barks, and berries. Higher-potencies do not ensure faster or more effective treatments. Instead, they could cause dangerous side effects.
• Take one dose only and wait for a response. Do not double up on doses, even if you feel that the first dose is not working. It often takes time for herbal remedies to manifest in the body.
• If, after a few days, you have not noticed any improvement, take another dose. Again, wait for a response. Only take an extra dose if necessary and always follow instructions on the bottle or box.
• Consult with your health care provider or a homeopath before you take any herbal remedy.

Herbal Remedies and Fibromyalgia

Herbal remedies are often used effectively in people suffering from fibromyalgia. Herbs can help to treat the wide range of symptoms produced by the syndrome, including:

• depression
• fatigue and sleep disorders
• widespread muscle pain
• immune deficiency

Because fibromyalgia can cause so many different symptoms, there are a wide variety of herbal remedies that you can use to treat them. The following are some of the most popular herbs used to treat the more common symptoms of fibromyalgia. Before using any of these herbal remedies, consult your health care professional or a homeopath.

Depression

Up to 50% of fibromyalgia patients suffer from depression. For some, medical drugs and treatments fail to alleviate this depression and restore mood or the medications produce some unwanted side effects. One herbal medication that has been used for years to treat depression is St. John’s Wort.

St. John’s Wort is an herb found worldwide. It helps to alleviate depression by inhibiting neurotransmitters, which influence mood. St. John’s Wort also helps to alleviate stress and anxiety. However, St. John’s Wort should never be taken with conventional antidepressants.

Muscle and Joint Pain

Widespread muscle and joint pain are the classic symptoms of fibromyalgia. Nearly 100% of sufferers experience these symptoms. Cayenne is often used to help reduce muscle pain and inflammation. Cayenne contains capsaicin, which inhibits neurotransmitters responsible for communicating pain signals. Cayenne is applied topically, to sore areas around the body.

Immune System Deficiency

It is thought that fibromyalgia may be the result of an immune system disorder. If you have fibromyalgia, your immune system may be compromised, preventing you from repairing much-needed muscles and tissues. Garlic, astragalus, and echinacea are often used to help boost circulation, allowing oxygen and nutrients to flow throughout the body. This helps to improve the immune system, and reduce a wide variety of symptoms.

Sleep Disorders

Sleep disorders plague many men and women with fibromyalgia. Unable to get restful sleep, these sleep disorders can contribute to pain and fatigue. Skullcap and valerian root are both used to help restore sleep patterns while ginseng is used to help combat fatigue caused by sleep disorders. Ginseng helps by boosting your energy and getting you through the day.