Fibromyalgia

Heal Fibromyalgia Naturally with Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture

fibromyalgiaWhen people are diagnosed with fibromyalgia, from a Western perspective they are told that the causes are unknown, mediation will have to be taken for life in many cases to “manage” it and there is no known cure.  But what if this wasn’t the case and you could heal from this dreadful condition?  Both Chinese medicine and my personal experience clinically have shown that this is a condition that can be treated effectively and you can heal naturally.  Chinese medicine has been healing people with pain and painful conditions for thousands of years with food therapy, herbal medicine, tuina, acupuncture, qi gong, meditation and other modes of treatment.  It is a complete system of medicine capable of helping people heal from almost anything.

Until the last 20-30 years, when people went to get help for fibromyalgia (pain of the muscle fiber), they were told that it was all in their head and some were ever shamed for having this condition.  It wasn’t well identified or treated as a real problem until just a few decades ago.  But, it is a very painful, real problem for people, mostly women.  One of the reasons why it has been so hard to identify is because there are no viable lab tests or diagnostic tools that can really detect this problem.   Many other conditions are associated with fibromyalgia including chronic fatigue syndrome, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, depression, insomnia and even irritable bowel syndrome.  The CDC estimates that over 4 million people or 2% of the population have this condition and perhaps even more cases are under diagnosed each year that would fit the criteria for this condition.

As with all health problems, there are physical, energetic or electrical, emotional and spiritual factors associated with fibromyalgia.  It is critical to heal on all these levels if you want to get well.  If you are unfamiliar with these factors please see my article The Five Levels of Healing in the Body.  If you are just being treated on the physical level for this issue and are not addressing the other 4 levels of the body, healing may be slow or incomplete.  Chinese medicine takes into account the whole person and is a complete system of medicine.  When we add modern therapies on top of what has worked for thousands of years in Chinese medicine, you have the best changes of healing.

What is Fibromyalgia?

The most common symptoms of this condition are:

–        Pain and stiffness that can appear anywhere in the body

–        Trouble sleeping or insomnia (trouble falling or staying asleep)

–        Fatigue or extreme tiredness

–        Depression and anxiety

–        Headaches and often times migraines

–        “Fibro fog” or problems with thinking, concentration and memory

–        Digestive complaints such as gas, bloating, pain, diarrhea and constipation

–        Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet

How is Fibromyalgia conventionally treated?

It is normally managed with pharmaceutical medications, exercise, talk therapy and stress management.

While many factors have been identified as possible factors linked to the expression of this condition, nothing has been very conclusive.  Western medicine has identified that stress plays a big factor in the development of this condition, which we will explore in greater detail.

The Real Physical Cause of Fibromyalgia

It is entirely possible that one virus lies at root of the physical cause in the body behind why this condition manifests.  That pesky virus is the Epstein Barr Virus.  Western medicine normally associates this virus with a mononucleosis infection.  Only a small portion of people who get infected with this virus suffer the severe symptoms normally associated with it.  Over 90% of people will just notice a significant lull in energy or flu like symptoms for a period of time following a hormonal change (puberty, pregnancy or menopause) or some kind of trauma or heightened stress.  However, when taking a closer look, both fatigue and muscle weakness and pain are present as symptoms this virus presents with.  Over time, the way the virus presents can worsen eventually affecting the nervous system.  I have found clinically that targeting this virus with a detoxification protocol, foods that supercharge the immune system and herbs to directly target the virus are very effective in helping people heal from this condition.  When combined with healing the other levels of health in the body as well, healing becomes entirely possible.

One of the main reasons why this virus has become rampant in the world today is because of the incredible amounts of heavy metals and chemicals that the human body has been exposed to.  These toxins are severely disrupting immune function.  This combined with very poor diets that are lacking in immune strengthening nutrients has led to the explosion of many different health issues due to this virus.

Chinese Medicine Factors

In Chinese medicine, the spleen and the liver are two of the organs which are affected the most with fibromyalgia.  The kidneys (adrenals) also play a significant role as well.   After a mono infection, it is also possible that the virus “hides” and takes up residence in these two organs and begins to amass an army through replication.  This is why we see so many symptoms in this condition associated with liver and spleen pathology in Chinese medicine.

In Chinese medicine, the main pathological factors are dampness (low energy, muscle aches, dull headaches, poor memory), qi stagnation (tired, digestive issues, loose stools, poor appetite) and blood stasis (stabbing pain).

The main patterns we see are:

–        Spleen qi or spleen yang deficiency (Tiredness, digestive problems, irritable bowel, abdominal distension, loose stools and poor appetite.)

–        Spleen and kidney yang deficiency (Tiredness, desire to lie down, feeling cold, cold limbs, lower backache, frequent urination, dizziness and tinnitus)

–        Liver blood deficiency (Scanty periods, headache, blurred vision, floaters, dizziness, numbness and/or tingling of the limbs, dry hair)

–        Liver and kidney yin deficiency (Scanty periods, blurred vision, dry eyes, floaters, dizziness, headache, numbness and/or tingling of the limbs, dry hair, tinnitus, feeling of heat in the evening, night sweating).  (The Practice of Chinese Medicine, Maciocia, p.1108)

One of the foods that many people consume that is responsible for much of the dampness in the body is dairy.  Dampness slows everything down and dairy gums everything up.  Avoid dairy completely in all forms including milk, yogurt, cheese and cottage cheese.  Other foods which are essential to avoid in order to heal are all wheat products, soy, corn, fried foods, alcohol, and refined sugar or products with high fructose corn syrup.  Clinically, a list of very specific foods is given to those with fibromyalgia that directly target the Epstein Barr Virus.  Also, a very specific, yet gentle detoxification protocol is used to safely remove heavy metals and chemicals from the body.  Many western herbs have been proven to deal very effectively with the virus. We can use Nutrition Response Testing to determine what supplements and herbs will be the most effective for you.

It is essential when people have blood stasis (pain or stabbing pain around the body) to get active and try exercising at least 3 times a week for at least a half an hour at a time.  This helps get things moving around the body and can greatly help in alleviating pain.

Acupuncture for Electrical Healing

One of the ways the human body communicates is through electrical signals.  Western medicine accounts for this with the function of the nervous system.  We have electrical bodies.  The acupuncture system is a part of this electrical system or the 2nd level of the body.  Many people suffering from fibromyalgia have turned to acupuncture and have found great relief.  Many have seen significant reductions or elimination of their pain.

The acupuncture system runs mostly between connective tissue divides in the body, that can only be detected or seen under a microscope.  Connective tissue is piezo-electric which means that it is a fantastic generator and conductor of electricity.  The Chinese called this electricity “qi”.  When an acupuncture point is stimulated it is analogous to turning the lights on to the part of the body being stimulated.  When this occurs, oxygen, fresh blood and powerful pain mitigating chemicals from the brain are emitted, which helps to bring balance to the body and reduce pain.

Emotional or Consciousness Healing

It has been my observation that those struggling with this condition have often had some severe trauma in their past.  This may not be the case for everyone, but this is what I have observed.  Perhaps the most critical aspect in healing from fibromyalgia is to bring true healing to past trauma.  Consciousness or negative emotions reflect themselves into the physical body and lie at the root of many health problems.  When people are in a lot of physical pain, this is usually a signal that they have suffered a lot of emotional pain.

The first patient I ever helped with fibromyalgia had been molested when she was 7 years old and this trauma,  despite lots of talk therapy, had not shifted or healed in the 40 years that she had carried the pain of the memory forward.  We used a consciousness based healing technique called tapping and after processing through the memory using this tool, her pain, migraines, low energy and sleep radically changed.  She healed herself by letting go of the negative emotions that were largely driving the whole problem for her after 40 years of suffering.  When she released all the emotional pain of this memory from her body, her physical body instantly followed suit releasing all her pain.  Now, five years later (2012-2017), the pain has never come back.

It is critical to address the emotional basis of this condition in order to fully heal.  What areas of your life or memories are the most painful for you?  The other consciousness factors that can be a part of this condition are found here:

“Fibromyalgia—Feeling unwanted, knocked down by life’s challenges; overstressed. Lacking the  strength to get up and keep going. Too much to do, and not enough time and energy to do it. Life feels  like a fight. Feeling stuck, resistant to growth, movement, and exploration. Overflowing with sadness, regret, guilt, and worry. Feeling depressed, suppressed, and on guard.” (Inna Segal – The Secret Language of Your Body).

Some of these themes may apply to you, some may not.  With an open heart and mind, these themes and more can be explored and let go of.  When people truly let go, I have seen profound shifts in health.  If this resonates with you and you would like to learn how to truly let go, please feel free to contact me.  You don’t have to come to the clinic in Orlando, Florida in order to receive help.  Other than acupuncture, all the diet changes, supplements, detoxification and emotional healing can be facilitated over the phone.  Call now to 407-255-0314 to discover exactly what can be done to help you heal and start feeling better today.

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About Dr. Scott

Dr. Scott Graves, AP is a Board Licensed Acupuncture Physician who specializes in Naturopathic Medicine, Chinese Medicine, Nutrition Response Testing, General Health and more.