Fibromyalgia Symptoms...
If you have ever known anyone who had fibromyalgia syndrome, you may have thought that it was ?all in their head?. For many years people who suffered from fibromyalgia syndrome had to deal with a relative lack of understanding by the medical community, friends and family, as if suffering from the fibromyalgia symptoms themselves weren't bad enough.
Finally in 1990, the American College of Rheumatology established guidelines for diagnosing fibromyalgia and it is now estimated that as many as 5 million Americans or 2% of the population are affected. But, even though diagnosing fibromyalgia may be easier, it is still very difficult to treat.
Fibromyalgia symptoms that are used for diagnosing the syndrome include widespread pain on both sides of the body and above and below the hip, which has been present for at least three months.
While blood tests may be performed to rule out other diseases, the test typically used to make the diagnosis of fibromyalgia syndrome involves applying pressure to ?tender point? sites throughout the body. If the patient feels pain in at least 11 of the 18 different tender-point sites and, as previously mentioned, the patient has a history of widespread pain, then the diagnosis of fibromyalgia is made.
Although pain is the most common symptom and the one used for diagnosis, those who suffer from fibromyalgia often experience other problems as well. These may include irritable bowel syndrome, fatigue, sleep disturbances, headaches (including migraines), and heightened sensitivity to odors, bright lights, noise and touch.
Other symptoms that may be present in fibromyalgia syndrome include depression, anxiety, dizziness, numbness or tingling in the hands and feet, difficulty concentrating, mood changes, chest pain, irritable bladder, dry skin, eyes and mouth. It is the combination of symptoms that may be present in fibromyalgia syndrome that make treatment so difficult.
One woman from Atlanta, GA reported taking 13! differe nt prescription medications to relieve her fibromyalgia symptoms and apparently this is not uncommon. This is because doctors do not know what causes fibromyalgia; therefore, they may feel as if they have little choice but to prescribe an array of different drugs to treat different fibromyalgia symptoms.
So, they prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs to treat the pain, anti-depressants for depression, anxiety and mood changes, sleep aids for sleep disturbance, and so on.
Another woman, this one from Montana, was taking 2200 mg of ibuprofen (a commonly used anti-inflammatory) every day to control her fibromyalgia symptoms and still suffered from fatigue and sleep disturbances. 2200 mg is eleven regular strength tablets.
That much ibuprofen taken on a regular basis could cause ulcers, bleeding in the stomach and/or digestive tract, liver damage and a variety of ?less? serious side effects that are similar to fibromyalgia symptoms, for which the ibuprofen was originally prescribed. These less serious -- though still highly unpleasant -- side effects include dizziness, muscle pain and cramping, depression, irritable bowel, fatigue and dry mouth.
Because fibromyalgia is so difficult to treat, people who suffer from the condition often seek alternatives. Both of the previously mentioned women were able to get relief from their fibromyalgia symptoms and reduce or eliminate prescription medications entirely by using a product made from the mangosteen.
The mangosteen is a fruit -- sometimes referred to as Queen of Fruits -- that grows in the rainforests of Southeast Asia and contains more natural pain killing and life enhancing phyto-chemicals than anything previously known.
Dr. J. Frederic Templeton, M.D., says:
?The mangosteen?s benefits spans a wide range of effects: anti-inflammatory...anti-microbial...anti-tumor...anti-aging, anti-fatigue...anti-atherosclerotic, antihistamine and the list goes on!?
Another practitioner, Dr. Jim Duke lists phyto-chemicals that are a! nalgesic , anti-inflammatory and Cox-2 inhibiting, any one of which could address the pain of fibromyalgia syndrome. He goes on to list components which are anti-anxiety, anti-depressant, anti-diarrhea, anti-fatigue, anti-vertigo (dizziness), all of which may help specific fibromyalgia symptoms.
Although no clinical studies have yet proven that mangosteen can relieve fibromyalgia symptoms, there is a strong degree of anecdotal evidence.
Dr. Templeman, M.D. states: Although no other intervention has ever helped even 45% of my patients, in my experience, mangosteen can bring relief, either partial or complete, to over 60% of sufferers. By sufferers, of course, he means those afflicted with fibromyalgia.
Laboratory research concerning the components of the mangosteen has proven that Cox-2 inhibitors are present, anti-inflammatory agents are present, anti-oxidants -- which many scientists believe play anti-aging and anti-fatigue roles -- are present.
All of the phyto-chemicals listed by Dr. Duke have been isolated and identified. The anti-oxidants in mangosteen are so powerful that they are called Xanthones, and more of these are being found every day, as scientists continue to do research.
In fact, according to PubMed, a service of the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, Xanthones are the subject of over 1,000 different studies!
Even though are some other natural remedies promoted for fibromyalgia syndrome, it seems their effectiveness for the relief of fibromyalgia symptoms is sketchy at best.
And, the truth of the matter is, even mangosteen may not work for you, but if you suffer from numerous fibromyalgia symptoms, it seems well worth a try.
Mike Leuthen is chief editor of http://www.restore-your-health.com, a free comprehensive resource of health conditions A to Z. Visit us on the web.
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