Fibromyalgia Ayurvedic Treatment

Fibromyalgia is the condition characterised by pain all over the body due to abnormal pain perception. People with fibromyalgia have increased sensitivity to pain than others. The exact cause of this health problem is not understood. The possible reasons are genetics, emotional or physical trauma or certain infections. There is no cure for fibromyalgia, and hence only symptomatic care can be provided.

Fibromyalgia Signs and Symptoms

The symptoms of fibromyalgia often begin following a trauma, psychological stress, infections, surgery etc, even though they may develop without any triggering factor. Most common symptoms/ signs include widespread pain and stiffness, fatigue, sleep disturbances, headache, anxiety/ depression and cognitive dysfunction/ fibro fog (impaired memory, difficulty to concentrate etc). Less common symptoms are tingling sensation over hands and legs, disorders of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and digestive problems (like constipation, diarrhoea, IBS).

Fibromyalgia Ayurvedic Analysis

Amavata is a condition where vata is aggravated along with production of ama (unripen state of dosha which cannot be easily eliminated from body). Angamarda (body aches), aruchi (loss of appetite/ taste), trshna (increased thirst), alasya (general weakness/ fatigue), gourava (heaviness of body that interferes with physical activity), jwara (inflammation, fever etc), apaka (digestive issues) and shoona anga (swelling) are the common features of Amavata.

Fibromyalgia Causative Factors (Ayurveda)

Amavata is caused by viruddhahara (incompatible food consumption), viruddha cheshta (faulty habits), agnimandya (reduced power of transforming energy), sedentary habit, indulging inn physical activity soon after having heavy/ oily food and mental factors such as stress/ anxiety. As a result, agnimandya occurs along with vitiation of vata and dhatu like rasa (end-product of digestion), rakta (blood), mamsa (muscle tissue), asthi (bones) and snayu (ligaments and tendons). Agnimandya causes production of ama, and it further vitiates vata. Together, these 2 factors (ama and vata) attack the above said dhatu resulting in Amavata.

Possible Complications of Fibromyalgia Disease

Chronic pain, disability, depression, rheumatic conditions like ankylosing spondylitis/ SLE/ rheumatoid arthritis etc, increased suicidal tendency, reduced quality of life etc are the major complications of long-term fibromyalgia.

Other systemic diseases and precautions to be taken

People with fibromyalgia often experience tension headache, disorders of temporomandibular joint, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, painful bladder syndrome etc.

Fibromyalgia Disease Management with Ayurveda Treatment

Internal medications are given to remove ama and pacify the symptoms. Procedures like langhana (breaking the process of production of ama), swedana (eg: valuka sweda), pachana (burning out the ama), virechana, snehapana (internal administration of medicated ghee in order to pacify the symptoms after removing ama- shamana snehapana), vasthi (snehavasthi and kshara vasthi), abhyanga (external application of suitable oil), upanaha (bandaging with pasted medicine) etc are provided after determining the state of dosha and symptoms. Along with these, physiotherapy, yoga, meditation and pranayama can be given as a supportive therapy.

Diet

The diet should contain more whole grains, green vegetables, leafy vegetables, nuts, fruits etc. Avoid cold and spicy food, red meat, black gram, Bengal gram, curd etc that aggravate vata.

Exercise

Mild to moderate exercise can be done as per the guidance of physician. Yoga, meditation and pranayama are also beneficial.

Fibromyalgia Preventive Aspects in Ayurveda

As the exact reason of fibromyalgia is unknown, the disease cannot be prevented. Yet, stick on to a healthy diet, exercise regularly, maintain healthy weight, avoid stress, take proper care of infections, limit the consumption of alcohol and quit smoking.

Importance of Diet

Follow a diet that remove ama and pacify vata as per the guidance of physician. Right diet provides fast recovery along with right medication.

Lifestyle

Improve mental strength by practicing yoga, group meditation, peer group interaction etc. Stay away from the triggering factors (eg: cold, wind, trauma etc). Maintain healthy body weight and increase immunity. Follow a healthy diet plan. Reduce the consumption of tea/ coffee/ alcohol. Stick on to a regular sleep-wake pattern in order to ensure adequate sleep. Apply suitable oil all over the body before bath. Expose to mild sunlight. Avoid day sleep and sedentary habit.