Are you suffering from fibromyalgia?

CEBU, Philippines - Have you experienced having a stiff shoulder that won’t go away? How about pain that seems to travel all over your body?

If you are, you may be experiencing fibromyalgia pain.

According to the American College of Rheumatology, fibromyalgia is body pain affecting both sides of the body, both below and above waist and is present for at least three months. Also, for the pain to be classified as fibromyalgia, it must be felt in 11 of 18 identified tender points.

Tender points are specific areas of the body that are sensitive to touch, or when pressed with a 4-kg pressure would trigger pain. These tender points are located in nine specific bilateral (meaning both right and left sides) sites: front neck area, back of the neck, front chest, back shoulder, shoulder blade area, elbow area, buttocks, back of the hip, and middle knee area.

A somewhat mysterious type of condition, fibromyalgia is considered a form of arthritis. Luckily, this type of arthritis does not come with joint deformities unlike osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis; however, the pain that it causes can be quite disabling and unbearable, for some.

What frustrates those suffering from fibromyalgia is the fact that the disease can be triggered by almost anything including depression or a traumatic experience. Basically, its cause is unknown and for this reason no viable treatment has been discovered as of yet.

Researchers, however, have found out that people with fibromyalgia have low levels of serotonin, a hormone usually referred to as the “feel good” hormone and that is not without any reason.

Serotonin is the hormone that regulates mood, sleep, emotions, and yes, appetite. Decreased serotonin level is also implicated for an increased tendency to experience depression. It is not a coincidence that depression is a trigger for fibromyalgia, as extreme sadness weakens the body’s immune system and increases the incidence of fatigue.

Increasing the level of the body’s serotonin could help one to relax and thus decreases the chances for fibromyalgia pain to be triggered. Here are simple home remedies to increase your serotonin levels:

Green tea. Drinking at least five cups of green tea a day can help increase serotonin levels in the blood. Theanine which is abundant in green tea is able to cross the blood-brain barrier. This makes it easy for theanine to increase serotonin levels in the brain.

Vitamin B complex are essential in the production of serotonin, especially pyridoxine (B6) which is also essential for the formation of the nerves coating called myelin sheath. The myelin sheath allows for faster transmission of signals from the extremities and sense organs to the brain. This can be sourced from green leafy vegetables, milk, nuts, grains.

Frequent exercise. At least 30-minutes of exercise everyday increases serotonin levels in the brain. Spend time walking, jogging, or doing some physical activity that will allow you to sweat your body’s stress out. However, it is always wise to be on the safe side that is why before engaging in an exercise regimen, consult with your doctor first.

Learn Easy Raja Yoga Meditation. Raja yoga meditation, one of the oldest forms of yoga in India, has been proven to increase serotonin levels in the brain. The teachings of raja yoga is not just about spending a quite time for the self, it is understanding one’s mind and in the process discover one’s inner powers that will aid him/her in creating and sustaining a stable mind even in the midst of a crisis. The Brahma Kumaris Meditation Center (Tel. No. 032-2545975) teaches raja yoga for free together with other stress-relieving and self-esteem courses.

Fibromyalgia pain may be difficult to solve but by learning how to relax and relieve one’s stress, and in the process encouraging the brain to produce more serotonin, is the first step to battle this mysterious ailment.