Fibromyalgia: An Integrative Functional Medicine Approach

  

 
Fibromyalgia is a diagnosis that is based on a collection of symptoms that include tiredness and muscular pain. While the pain and inflammation are true, this traditional medical diagnostic doesn't tell us what's causing the problem.

It's a descriptive diagnosis, which is why it took so long to realize that the symptoms were caused by an actual medical problem. Of course, in the traditional medical world, this has been a beneficial first step - having this diagnosis has aided many patients in receiving treatment. However, it remains a mystery as to what is causing the exhaustion, inflammation, and discomfort. This is where integrative functional medicine enters the picture.

Integrative functional medicine focuses on identifying the source of a person's imbalance or symptom in order to prevent and manage chronic illness.

Fibromyalgia is an inflammatory disorder, according to integrative functional medicine, and gaining a diagnosis is only the beginning of the inquiry. We may all agree that exhaustion, inflammation, and discomfort are real, but that isn't enough. We're curious as to why. As most persons with fibromyalgia will tell you, managing the person with painkillers is not the answer.

It's crucial to look at the underlying systems that are involved in managing inflammation in the body from an integrative functional medicine approach. The digestive system, dietary sensitivities, and the liver detoxification system are the three areas we examine.

The Digestive System is the body's digestive system.

Because 70% of your health system lives just beneath the surface of your intestinal lining, any disruption in the beneficial bacteria – think lactobacilli and bifido bacteria, those good bugs in yogurt –or the intestinal lining will trigger health responses that release inflammatory molecules that travel throughout the body, causing inflammation at distant sites. This is one of integrative functional medicine's key ideas and practices, which is backed up by research and data I encounter every day in my practice. Fixing the stomach may sometimes entirely eliminate muscle and joint pain and inflammation.

A full digestive stool study is performed on every fibromyalgia patient to aid in the identification of what may be out of balance in the digestive system. I check for evidence of dysbiosis, which is an excess of "bad" bacteria, yeast, and/or parasites, as well as leaky gut syndrome, which is characterized by increased intestinal permeability. Fibromyalgia, arthritis, and autoimmune illness have all been linked to these diseases, which can produce remote inflammation.

Once dysbiosis and/or leaky gut syndrome have been diagnosed, I begin therapy with herbs and vitamins that may help the digestive tract repair.

Food Intolerances

Have you ever wondered why so many individuals are allergic to certain foods? A "leaky gut" occurs when the intestinal barrier is compromised, allowing partly digested food to enter the bloodstream. This may result in systemic inflammatory responses that produce discomfort in the muscles, joints, or tendons, as well as weariness and "brain fog." This increased intestinal permeability, I believe, is why so many people acquire food sensitivities later in life. While the leaky gut is being addressed, most persons with fibromyalgia must exclude particular items from their diet.

Gluten, dairy, eggs, maize, and soy are the most prevalent foods that cause inflammation. Remove all five items for three weeks, then gradually reintroduce them one at a time, every four days, to observe whether your symptoms worsen. If you experience a response, this meal is most likely causing inflammation, and you should avoid it for at least 6 months. You may reinstate it into your diet if no response develops.

Detoxification of the Liver

Detox is the final phase. You should concentrate on your detox system once you've cleaned up your stomach and eliminated trigger foods. Many patients with fibromyalgia suffer from "liver exhaustion," meaning their bodies have collected poisons that cause inflammation and discomfort.

To begin, take a glance around and investigate your surroundings to ensure you are not getting exposed to too many pollutants. Mercury in fish, lead in water from your home's pipes, lead in cosmetics, PCBs and dioxins from pesticides in your food, and now chemicals in plastics are all things to be concerned about. All of these environmental toxins put a lot of strain on your liver, which is in charge of processing and eliminating these substances on a daily basis. If you aren't providing your liver with the nutrients it need to keep up with the toxic demand, it may be unable to perform its function of detoxification.

While we may not live in a bubble, there are a number of things you may take to minimize your exposure. The Internet is a fantastic resource. The first step is to clean up your surroundings, and the second is to support your liver.

This is a simple task that may be accomplished using food. Greens like kale and collards, cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage, as well as eating adequate protein throughout the day (ideally beans, nuts, and seeds), will all aid your liver's function. Green beverages and smoothies, as well as a medically supervised detoxification program, may help speed up this process. I wouldn't advocate a juice cleanse for more than 1-2 days if you're ill. Instead, seek the assistance of an integrative functional medicine practitioner.

The article "Fibromyalgia: An Integrative Functional Medicine Approach" was first seen on OZ

It may interest you to know that functional medicine services are readily available in Toronto.
The team of wellness practitioners at the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre uses a collaborative approach that is designed to recharge your wellness, not only treat symptoms, but also the cause behind your condition. Contact the clinic at (416) 968-6961.

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