There is no strong evidence as to what causes fibromyalgia. Dr. Gloria Gilbere a doctor of naturopathy and natural health and a board member of the Fibromyalgia Coalition International has found that nearly 100 percent of people with fibromyalgia report they have had some type of life event or life stressor just before the beginning of their symptoms. These events can include an accident, surgery, and the loss of a job, divorce, loss of loved one, relocation, or even remodeling a building. Dr. Hope Fay, a naturopathic doctor in Seattle has found links with chronic fatigue syndrome and malnutrition. This malnutrition can either come from an overall poor diet, dietary restrictions due to disease or allergies, or mal-absorption of nutrients.

Symptoms of fibromyalgia can include chronic pain, debilitating chronic fatigue, sleep disturbances, generalized muscle and joint paint, intermittent flu-like symptoms, depression, anxiety, digestive disturbances, general malaise, and cognitive impairment. That is a pretty impressive list for something that used to be considered an imaginary disease. But, that is part of the problem. Taken by themselves each of these symptoms are indicative of a number of different things. When doctors would test for those other things and come up empty they would throw up their hands, sometimes declaring nothing was wrong and it was all in your head.

Dr. Elizabeth Wotton, a naturopathic doctor at Compass Family Health Center in Plymouth Massachusetts has a plan of attack that agrees with both of the doctors above. She says to start out by supporting the immune system. We all know there are several Enriching Gifts products that can be helpful here. I would recommend starting with the Enriching Gifts Plant Enzymes. These can be helpful in two different ways. By taking the strain of digestion off the immune system you can free it up to do its job. Secondly by increasing the digestibility of your food you will increase the absorption of your food. This can help with absorption problems. Sometimes you will need to add some betaine hydrochloride, but check with your doctor first. Doctors can tell if you are creating enough hydrochloric acid, or if you need to supplement it. Dr. Fay recommends finding a Plant Enzyme supplement with a wide range of supplements, just like the Enriching Gifts Plant Enzymes has.

Enriching Gifts Sterol-Max is another product that supports your immune system. Taking six Enriching Gifts Sterol-Max first thing in the morning an hour before eating can boost your immune system. In some ways in reacts the way that Astragalus works, by increasing the activity of protective cells and raising the level of antibodies in your system. Both of them work to support the immune system, helping it balance itself. I’m sure if Dr. Wotton had heard about Enriching Gifts Sterol-Max that would be what she would be recommending.

Dr. Fay says to increase your vitamins and minerals. The best way I know to do that is to include Enriching Gifts Complete Vitamins Plus in your daily routine. Enriching Gifts Complete Vitamins Plus provides all the needed vitamins and minerals in the proper amounts and in harmony with each other. With the B vitamins it contains it will also combat the fatigue associated with fibromyalgia.

Dr. Gilbere says diet can plan an important role in living with pain and inflammation. By avoiding fruits and vegetables from the nightshade family you can decrease the inflammation, and thereby the pain in your body. Some members of the nightshade family are: tobacco, tomatoes, tomatillos, potatoes, peppers, paprika, eggplant, huckleberries, and blueberries. Some of these can be hidden additives in foods such as potato starch in processed foods as an extender and paprika listed as ‘natural spices’. To test and see if you are sensitive to these foods you need to get off of them for about 90 days, and then add them back one at a time. If you are sensitive your pain should slowing go away during the 90 days, but come back with a vengeance as you eat those foods again.

So, if you have fibromyalgia take heart. It is not in your imagination. Even though the doctors can’t do much more than treat the symptoms there is nutritional and lifestyle choices you can make that will make coping with this illness a lot easier.