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Nature’s Remedy for Fibromyalgia
From the desk of Robert Levert
Roughly three to four percent of women have muscle pain and
tenderness over much of their bodies, a condition called
fibromyalgia (FM). For reasons still unknown, this condition is more
common in females than in males. Only about one-half of one percent
of men experiences this syndrome.
To think there was a time when doctors thought that FM was a problem
in their patients’ head is challenging to the mind. Fortunately,
times have changed and FM is now recognized as a disease by the WHO
since 1992. new diagnostic standards call for doctors to ask about
chronic pain and check for tenderness at eighteen different points
on the body. Some experts believe that the cause of the problem
might not be in the painful muscles themselves, but in a nervous
system that reacts to normal sensations in unusual ways. Others
speculate that FM develops in response to a physical stress – an
injury, an infection, or exposure to certain chemicals in the
environment. Finally, more and more experts believe that this
condition is closely linked to an emotional shock.
According to Dr. Terry Willard, one of North America’s leading
clinical herbalists, FM people often internalize a large amount of
emotional and mental data, creating circular arguments in their
minds. The circular argument mental pattern seems to tighten up
muscle tissue, creating a stagnation of both fluid and what the
Chinese call qi. The best supplement found for relaxing the
internalization of circular arguments is reishi mushroom.
Fortunately, reishi mushroom is one of the key tonic herbs in NSP’s
Chinese Mineral-Chi Tonic. I have learned lately that Brigitte
Verreault, an NSP Manager from the south shore of Montreal, has had
very positive results using Chinese Mineral-Chi Tonic with FM
people, complemented with Garden Essence, Stress Formula, AD-C, and
a liver program. Chinese Mineral-Chi Tonic supports the adrenal
glands and, in turn, the adrenal glands produce natural cortisone
which acts as a natural anti-inflammatory. It also supports the
adrenal glands in helping to alleviate physical and emotional
stress. According to Chinese medical doctrine, FM occurs because a
person’s life energy, or qi, is too weak. To treat FM, Chinese
medical practitioners prescribe herbs to strengthen the qi. Chinese
Mineral-Chi Tonic contains those herbs which promote circulation of
the qi throughout the body.
One should also give serious consideration to an elimination diet.
Some FM sufferers are particularly sensitive to sulfites
(preservatives used in salad bars, shellfish, wines, and many other
products), dairy products, cranberries, melons, corn, and certain
drugs. Eliminating any product that they may be sensitive to for a
period of 8 weeks could help alleviate their FM symptoms.
Exercise activates the body’s endorphins, natural chemicals that are
part of our internal pain-control system. Exercise also improves
sleep, which, in turn, reduces pain sensitivity, according to Dr.
Neal Barnard, M.D., president of the Physician’s committee for
Responsible Medicine. Many FM symptoms could be explained by a lack
of serotonin, a brain chemical that suppresses pain. Serotonin is
also essential for regulating moods and plays a role in sleep, which
is also often disturbed in FM. Serotonin is made from tryptophan,
which is one of the amino acid building blocks of protein. When
researchers test the blood of people with FM, they often find low
levels of tryptophan. According to Dr. Barnard, foods that are high
in carbohydrates, such as breads, pasta, potatoes, or fruits, can
increase the amount of serotonin to the brains. Serotonin has
trouble getting from the bloodstream into the brain because it has
to compete with many other amino acids also trying to enter the
brain. High-carbohydrate meals cause the body to release insulin,
which, among other things, drives competing amino acids from the
blood into the cells of the body. With these competitors gone,
tryptophan can easily get into the brain, where it is quickly
converted into serotonin.
I’m not an expert on health issues, but those who have experienced
health challenges and have recovered from them are the most
knowledgeable persons to guide us in the way of health. Now that
scientists have spoken, here’s in a nutshell the regimen Helen
Janzen from Saskatoon has followed to recover from FM and help
several people do likewise.
I’m truly grateful to those two Managers who have so generously
shared their experiences with me so I could share them with you.
Lastly, I know you are all immensely grateful to NSP for its
continuous support and its ongoing efforts to provide you with
products of the highest quality. Now it’s up to you to incorporate
them in your own life and help others with their personal health
challenges.
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