Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes muscle pain and fatigue. Suffers also tend to have tender points on the body which are places on the neck, shoulders, arms/legs, hips and back. These points hurt when pressure is applied to them. Other symptoms sufferers have are trouble sleeping, morning stiffness, memory problems (fibro fog), tingling or numbness in the hands or feet, and painful menstrual periods. The symptoms are often treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatories or narcotics. You can try some natural approaches first or in addition to the pain medication though.

Some of the first things you should do to try and improve your fibromyalgia pain is stop smoking, stop drinking alcohol, avoid spicy and fried food, avoid caffeine and sugar and lastly avoid taking naps or staying up late at night. Moving even if it hurts helps the pain in the long run and exercise certainly will not do you any damage. It can actually significantly control fibromyalgia pain. Try taking walks and working up to 20 minutes three times a week or so.

Aquatic exercise is also helpful though it should be done in warm water if at all possible. If not try and find a hot tub you can use as the heat soothes the pain also. If you do not have a hot tub or access to one try taking a long soak in a hot bathtub. You can do some gentle stretches while you are in there for increased pain relief.

Following a healthy diet also helps fibromyalgia. Eat a diet high in vegetable juices and soups, coconut milk and water, spices such as cumin, coriander, fennel and turmeric, cooked vegetables and green salad. Make sure to drink plenty of water to flush any toxins out of your body. Avoid foods that are fried and too spicy. Avoid tea, coffee, alcohol, and white sugar.

Practicing relaxation techniques will also help you ease your mental tensions like anxiety, fear and stress and thus reduce your pain. Deep breathing is important to stress reduction also.

Menthol and camphor are in many over the counter backache medications and are helpful in easing the muscle tightness of fibromyalgia. Garlic is great for detoxification and to boost your immune systems functioning.

Lastly, try drinking some ginger tea which is a good alternative to aspirin and relieves aches and pains. It will also help you relax and it is documented that fibromyalgia is worsened when you are under stress, anxiety or have mental fatigue.

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