Natural Therapies and Alternative Treatments for Fibromyalgia

In their quest to ease pain and get a good night's sleep, many people try alternative medicine for fibromyalgia. In recent years, researchers have found good evidence that certain mind-body therapies can help relieve pain. Other alternative treatments have shown potential as pain relievers for some people -- but there is less scientific proof that they work. Other therapies simply aren't appropriate for fibromyalgia pain.

While natural and alternative therapies are not proven treatments, they may help relieve symptoms. They can also improve quality of life. Doctors generally advise that alternative treatments should be used as complementary therapies -- in combination with other traditional treatments -- for a complete mind-body program.

Acupuncture, therapeutic massage, nutritional counseling, meditation, biofeedback, homeopathy -- as well as specific vitamin, mineral, and herbal supplements -- are the best alternative treatments for fibromyalgia patients, says Birgit Rakel, MD, with the Center for Integrative Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia.

Acupuncture Treatment for Fibromyalgia

Acupuncture is an effective alternative treatment for fibromyalgia and other pain conditions. This practice has been part of traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. It involves inserting needles at strategic points of the body to improve flow of what practitioners call chi, or vital energy that travels through the body's energy pathways called meridians.

Western doctors believe that acupuncture decreases pain by increasing the release of chemicals that block pain, called endorphins. Acupuncture treatment for fibromyalgia has been reported to be effective in a clinical study.

The World Health Organization recognizes acupuncture treatment as appropriate for pain relief -- and the FDA regulates acupuncture needles as medical devices. Some insurance companies will pay for acupuncture treatment. Make sure you get a licensed professional acupuncturist.

Massage for Fibromyalgia

Massage is a popular natural treatment among Americans seeking pain relief, surveys show. Massage gets to the heart of where people feel their pain -- and provides an overall sense of well-being. It also reduces the stress response in the body associated with pain, such as elevated cortisol.

Massage has been found effective as an alternative treatment for fibromyalgia, chronic pain syndromes in arthritis and diabetes, and chronic fatigue. Make sure you get a licensed professional massage therapist.

Meditation for Fibromyalgia

Meditation can lower blood pressure and improve heart rate, breathing, and brain waves -- and is offered as a therapy at many pain treatment centers as a natural treatment. When the body receives a quiet message to relax, the tension and tightness seep away from muscles.

At the heart of meditation is the soothing power of repetition. The body relaxes as one focuses on the breath, ignores intrusive thoughts, and repeats a word or phrase. To achieve a deeper, more relaxed state, it helps to have a teacher to guide you.

Biofeedback for Fibromyalgia

Pain relief and improved sleep are both possible with biofeedback. This natural treatment involves consciously controlling body functions that are normally regulated by the body -- skin temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, muscle tension.

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The scientific evidence on biofeedback has been quite promising. It's used to help control migraine pain, epilepsy seizures, high blood pressure, and other chronic problems. It has been used as an alternative treatment for fibromyalgia pain with some success.

When learning biofeedback, you wear sensors on your head and elsewhere that let you "hear" and "see" certain bodily functions like pulse, digestion, body temperature, and muscle tension. On the attached monitors, you see squiggly lines and/or hear beeps that reflect what's going on inside your body. Then you learn to control those beeps and squiggles. You can learn this technique in just a few lessons, experts say.

Hypnosis for Fibromyalgia

Self-hypnosis can be an effective alternative treatment for fibromyalgia and other forms of chronic pain. This skill must be learned from a trained therapist. But with practice you can find it easy to hypnotize yourself. Essentially, you focus on an image that blocks the perception of pain -- and you feel less pain. Your subconscious replays that image again and again.

Scientists believe that hypnosis works by blocking nerve receptors in the brain. The receptors control sensations of pain, anxiety, and discomfort. Hypnosis is used as a natural treatment for various types of painful conditions including cancer, surgery, back injuries, and migraines.

Homeopathy for Fibromyalgia

Homeopathy is a system of medical practice developed by a German physician in the late 18th century. The hypothesis is called the "principle of similars" -- and remedies are developed by matching symptoms produced by a drug to symptoms in sick people.

Homeopathy is given in tiny dosages, which has created skepticism in the medical community. However, there have been a few high-quality studies of homeopathy that have produced positive results.

Some homeopathic remedies seem to help fibromyalgia patients, says Rakel. "With homeopathy, we evaluate each person's pain to find the correct remedy or combination of homeopathic remedies that can help. Arnica Montana is one that seems to help many patients." Homeopathic creams can be applied all over the body with very few side effects, she adds.

Herbs for Fibromyalgia

Rakel recommends an herbal supplement product called Zyflamend -- which contains ginger, turmeric, green tea, rosemary, oregano, and basil. "In some people it relieves fibromyalgia pain," she tells WebMD. Zyflamend is sold over the counter in natural health and vitamin shops.

The herbs St. John’s wort and kava kava are sometimes used for pain relief. However, there is limited research regarding their effectiveness. 

Keep in mind that the FDA does not regulate herbs and supplements, so use caution. Tell your doctor when you are considering taking an herbal supplement. Some herbal medications can interact adversely with prescription medications.

Nutrition and Supplements for Fibromyalgia

Rakel advises patients to adopt an anti-inflammatory diet as an alternative treatment forfibromyalgia and other pain disorders. This is a diet in which specific food groups -- dairy, wheat, corn, soy -- are eliminated and then reintroduced separately to see if the foods affect pain. 

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Intravenous (IV) nutrient therapy is also showing promise in treating fibromyalgia, Rakel tells WebMD. The nutrient formula contains magnesium, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin B complex, and niacin. One study showed that fibromyalgia patients who received this nutrient mix via IV once weekly for eight weeks had significant improvements in pain and fatigue -- and that energy levels improved after receiving the therapy.

Magnesium can be given as a supplement for fibromyalgia-related pain, says Rakel. However, it can affect bowel function and cause diarrhea. "We start with a low dosage of 5 milligrams to see how patients tolerate it," she says.

Vitamin B-12 and folate deficiency inhibits the body's ability to produce red blood cells -- which leads to anemia. Unless you also have anemia, vitamin B-12 supplements won't help fibromyalgia-related fatigue, says Rakel.

Chiropractic Manipulation for Fibromyalgia

Chiropractic treatment is commonly used for back pain, and some studies have found that this alternative treatment provides relief in patients. However, the majority of clinical trials have thus far not shown chiropractic manipulations to be effective in treating back and neck pain.

Researchers continue to investigate this treatment in pain care. At present, Rakel does not utilize chiropractic manipulation as an alternative treatment for fibromyalgia.

Capsaicin Cream for Fibromyalgia

Capsaicin is an ingredient found in cayenne peppers and available in over-the-counter creams and ointments (Capzasin-P, Dolorac, Zostrix). Of all the topical pain relievers, it probably has been studied the most. Capsaicin cream warms the skin when applied over the joint and temporarily blocks a chemical called substance P, which delivers pain messages to the brain.

Capsaicin cream for fibromyalgia "has helped some people, but it's a very, very strong cream and some people have skin sensitivities to the cream," says Rakel. "Some people with fibromyalgia might benefit if the cream is applied at certain tender points. But you can't really apply it to your overall body. Homeopathic creams have fewer side effects when applied all over the body."

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