You won’t be surprised to learn that pain of longer duration and greater impairment make children more willing to use CAM.
But which CAM options do they choose? Continue reading CAM preferences among children with chronic pain
Category Archives: Fibromyalgia
Effects of warm water exercise on fibromyalgia
Researchers from the University of Evora in Portugal studied the effects of 8 months of supervised exercise therapy in warm water on physical and mental health and physical fitness in women with fibromyalgia. Continue reading Effects of warm water exercise on fibromyalgia
Extensive review of fibromyalgia
Dr. Daniel Clauw from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor has published a continuing education review on Medscape, with recommendations for CAM. Continue reading Extensive review of fibromyalgia
Making a case for an endocannabinoid deficiency
Dr. Ethan Russo (no relation) is a consultant for GW Pharmaceuticals and a proponent of medical marijuana.
This article is the latest justification that “migraine, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and related conditions display common clinical, biochemical and pathophysiological patterns that suggest an underlying clinical endocannabinoid deficiency that may be suitably treated with cannabinoid medicines.†Continue reading Making a case for an endocannabinoid deficiency
Pharmacologists rate CAM for fibromyalgia
Three physicians and high-ranking officials of Cypress Bioscience, Inc. — a company focused on the pharmacotherapy of fibromyalgia — have written a detailed review of fibromyalgia (FMS).
Here’s a summary of their view of non-pharmacological therapy and future challenges. Continue reading Pharmacologists rate CAM for fibromyalgia
Positive results using exercise to treat fibromyalgia
I’m piecing together the results of a study by Brazilian researchers presented at the recent meeting of the American College of Rheumatology. Continue reading Positive results using exercise to treat fibromyalgia
CAM recommendations for treating fibromyalgia
The European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) has issued the first guidelines for the treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). Continue reading CAM recommendations for treating fibromyalgia
Why is sham acupuncture “effective” in patients with fibromyalgia?
A recurring theme in acupuncture studies is the difficulty (dare I say inability) in distinguishing between the real thing and sham acupuncture. An example in patients with fibromyalgia (FMS) is here. Other conditions with the same problem are here, and here.
Now, Drs. Thomas Lundeberg and Irene Lund from the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden provide a rationale for the conundrum. Continue reading Why is sham acupuncture “effective” in patients with fibromyalgia?
The benefits of qigong and other CAM for fibromyalgia
A study at the University of Uppsala, Sweden reports that qigong (chee-kung) has positive and reliable effects regarding fibromyalgia.
Let’s look at these results and review other positive CAM studies in the past year. Continue reading The benefits of qigong and other CAM for fibromyalgia
The Myers’ formula treats what ails ya
It’s used to treat a broad range of diseases, but nobody believes enough in the formula to do a controlled clinical study.
Why not? Continue reading The Myers’ formula treats what ails ya
Mindfulness meditation to relieve depression in women with fibromyalgia
In a letter to the editor several years ago, Dr. David von Weiss argued for consideration of mindfulness meditation when treating fibromyalgia.
As a family physician who taught mindfulness meditation, he found that patients with fibromyalgia were grateful for the improvement after learning this mind/body process.
A PubMed search on “mindfulness” and “fibromyalgia” disclosed only two clinical studies. Here’s what they report.
Continue reading Mindfulness meditation to relieve depression in women with fibromyalgia
Cognitive behavioral therapy for fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a pain syndrome caused by the brain’s inability to accurately interpret pain sensations due to the presence of psychosocial and behavioral factors. About 3.7 million adult Americans are afflicted. It primarily occurs in women of childbearing age, but children, the elderly, and men may also be affected.
Because of these psychosocial and behavioral factors, complementary treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are recommended here and here to optimize treatment.
Continue reading Cognitive behavioral therapy for fibromyalgia
The winner in CAM for 2006
Winner: If you can stick a pin in it, researchers are eager to study acupuncture.
Acupuncture effective in fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a “chronic pain illness characterized by widespread musculoskeletal aches, pain and stiffness, soft tissue tenderness, general fatigue and sleep disturbances.” Approximately 3% to 6% of the U.S. population have FM, with women at greatest risk.
Successful treatment often requires combined therapies, and the results of this study in the The Mayo Clinic Proceedings support acupuncture in this regard.
Advertising claims for more dietary supplements “cross the line”
It”s illegal for supplements to be promoted as a “treatment” for a disease. They can “support” health, or “boost” the immune system, or use other vague claims. But before any product can legally state that it can treat a specific disease it must pass US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations for drugs.
The dietary supplements listed below have crossed the line by claiming to treat cancer, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and seizures.
Continue reading Advertising claims for more dietary supplements “cross the line”
Homeopathic treatment effective in fibromyalgia
A study published in Rheumatology found that “individualized homeopathy is significantly better than placebo in lessening pain and improving the quality of life and global health of persons with fibromyalgia.”
The researchers report (here and here) the presence of brain wave pattern changes associated with homeopathic treatment that are not seen with placebo under double-blinded conditions. The researchers conclude, “These observations suggest … EEG … as an early biomarker of individualized homeopathic medicine effects in patients with fibromyalgia who later exhibit exceptional outcomes.”
In other words, now there’s a way to predict responders to homeopathy for a condition, where conventional medicine has no approved treatment.
Hmm.
Continue reading Homeopathic treatment effective in fibromyalgia