by Laurie Boris

Created on: March 10, 2009

If you have fibromyalgia, your doctor might give you a prescription, or two, or three. But many "fibromites" (people with fibromyalgia) either can't tolerate the medications or they get no relief from them. But don't despair! Along with taking better care of your health and improving your diet, you may get tremendous relief using natural remedies for your fibromyalgia symptoms.

If you're just beginning to learn about things that make you feel better, start with the most inexpensive natural remedies and work your way up. For instance, a nightly warm bath with a cup of Epsom salts (available at most pharmacies) a couple of hours before bed can be very soothing on sore muscles. It can also help you sleep better. Or you might want to relax in the evening with a heat pack wherever you hurt most. These are fairly inexpensive - depending on the type you buy - and can be heated in your microwave.

If you have digestive ills (a very common symptom), try sipping some ginger tea (make it extra strong by using two bags), or eat a bit of plain yogurt. The active cultures can help soothe your riled gut.

Many people rely on meditation for relief. Some have said that while it doesn't do much for pain, it helps them tolerate it better. It's also good to help knock down stress, and improve sleep.

Another sleep friend could be lavender oil - the aroma is naturally relaxing. A small bottle of this essential oil costs about $10, but goes a long way. You can find it at your local health food store. Try this wonderfully soothing nighttime ritual: dilute some lavender oil (according to the directions on the bottle) in olive oil in a small glass bottle. Heat it in your microwave for 30 seconds to make a relaxing massage oil.

If these remedies do nothing for you, maybe you would like to try some alternative therapies. Some of them can be a bit pricey, but lots of fibromites would rather skip a haircut appointment or two than go without their regular massages. And some health insurance policies will either cover or partially reimburse you for alternative care. That usually includes the most common ones: massage therapy, acupuncture, and chiropractic treatments. For some of the less-studied modalities (meaning that doctors don't have enough scientific proof to justify recommending these for fibromyalgia, and therefore not giving your health insurer enough justification to cover them), then you'll probably be on your own. But, if you find something that significantly helps you, it could be worth

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>