Do you suffer from fibromyalgia? If so, then you probably experience a wide range of symptoms, including constant fatigue, muscle pain, insomnia, and many other issues. Unfortunately, as you likely know, there isn't a medication or treatment that consistently cures fibromyalgia. There may be medications that can provide some symptom relief, but you likely won't be able to find a cure through traditional medicine. However, you may want to try several types of alternative treatment. They may be able to relieve much of your symptoms, restore your energy, and help you get back to enjoying life. Here are three alternative treatments that could be right for you:
Acupuncture. Acupuncture is a treatment based off of eastern medicine. It's based on the idea that chi, or energy, flows through your body. According to practicioners of acupuncture, you experience pain, fatigue, and medical issues when that chi is blocked and the flow is disrupted. The actual treatment involves inserting small needles into your body to clear chi blockages. The needles are inserted at different depths depending on the treatment your acupuncturist feels you need.
By clearing chi blockages and restoring energy flow, acupuncture is often thought to increase one's pain tolerance and boost overall energy levels. That can provide you with some relief from most of your fibromyalgia symptoms.
Massage therapy. Massage can be especially helpful if you primarily suffer muscle and joint pain. Massage therapy is the act of placing pressure on your muscles and even your joints to reduce pain and tension. There are several different types of massage, but you may want to try Swedish massage. In Swedish massage, your masseuse will give you long, gliding strokes along your skin, often towards your heart. That will help increase blood flow, which should relieve pain and tension in your muscles. Like acupuncture, regular massage sessions may help you minimize your fibromyalgia symptoms.
Reflexology. Reflexology is an alternative treatment based on the idea that various points in your feet can impact your health and well-being throughout your body. A reflexology specialist will interview you to determine where you are feeling the most discomfort. The will then place strategic pressure on different points of the foot to relieve that pain, stress, and tension.
For example, if you frequently feel pain in one of your shoulders, your reflexologist will likely focus his or her attention on a spot on the foot that is believed to align with the shoulder. Other spots on the foot can address common fibromyalgia symptoms like morning stiffness, neck soreness, and even digestive problems.
For more information, contact a reflexology specialist in your area (like those at Advanced Alternatives Massage Therapy). They can explain how reflexology may be helpful for you.
