Fibro Friends

Chronic Fatigue & Fibromaylgia Syndromes - Strategies for Healing Strategies for Healing

 Every person with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and/or fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) has a unique presentation of these conditions with various complications and sets of symptoms. There is no one treatment that can “cure” these syndromes or that is helpful to everyone however a combined approach of therapies can lead to an improved quality of life. Listed below are strategies and therapies that have been beneficial for myself and others.

1.   Diet and Chemical Exposure 

Impaired detoxification is common to chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia sufferers. Avoidance of stimulants, depressants, pharmaceutical drugs and toxic chemicals can make a big difference in feeling better. This includes alcohol, caffeine, sugar, pain relievers and additives in processed food. Unfortunately many physicians prescribe drugs for pain, depression and sleep, which become less effective with time and in the long run make a patient worse. Some people have a particular sensitivity to fluoride, which is discussed in the post "Fluoride Poisoning" fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2008/07/fluoride-poison.html. The optimal diet is one that is high in protein and minimally processed: organic meats, fish, eggs and dairy products, vegetables, nuts, whole grains and fruit. It is also important to consume salt and to drink plenty of water.

2.   Breathing and Oxygen

Breathing is the underlying force of life and many people with chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia have impaired or restricted breathing contributing to poor health and pain. People with CFS/FMS are often unaware that they are surviving on less air, which does not show up in an oxygen saturation test because their bodies compensate for this with low blood pressure. This is a cause of neurally mediated hypotension, a blood pressure abnormality common in Chronic Fatigue patients. Oral Systemic Balance is a treatment developed by a TMJ dentist named Farrand Robson that employs oral appliances to help patients breathe better and restore balance to the nervous system. It resulted in significant improvement in my own health and provided the foundation for my recovery which I discuss in my post “Oral Systemic Balance” fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2010/02/oral-systemic-b.html .The treatment is time consuming and expensive however I believe that it addresses a key sources of stress for those suffering from Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Syndromes. For more information call TMJ Diagnostics at (800)977-1945.

Dr. Majid Ali, a leader in the field of Integrative Medicine with an impressive list of credentials believes that all the symptoms of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndromes are caused by cellular oxygen deprivation and dysfunctional oxygen metabolism. His website that discusses this theory is: www.majidali.com/oygenand.htm. 

The website www.breathing.com  has information on holistic breathing development research, education and self-help programs developed by “The Optimal Breathing Coach” Mike White. I recommend ordering the Fundamentals of Breathing Development Video and Breathing Kit, which offers an effective program of breathing exercises. The site also contains information on EWOT (see below) and is a good source for purchasing oxygen generators/concentrators. (When purchasing items please mention that you were referred from this blog site). 

Improving breathing alone may not increase oxygen levels in the mitochondria, tissues and cells to healthy levels. Stress, physical trauma, aging and unresolved breathing issues gradually impair enzymatic functions and the body's ability to transfer oxygen to the cells. This can be reversed with a therapy called Exercise with Oxygen Therapy (EWOT). The therapy is relatively simple and inexpensive and can be done at home. It involves exercising for 15-30 minutes a day while breathing high flow oxygen produced by an oxygen generator. To learn more about this read my post "Exercise With Oxygen Therapy" at fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2010/09/exercise-with-oxygen-therapy.html.                                                                                        

3. Neurofeedback

Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Syndromes are conditions of neurological exhaustion and physical stress that result in dysregulation of the Central Nervous System. Dr. Len Ochs, a pioneer in the biofeedback field developed a unique form of EEG feedback or neurofeedback called Low Energy Neurofeedback System (LENS)  that has helped many people with CFS/FMS. The system operates entirely different from traditional EEG or neurofeedback training. Treatment involves very short (a few seconds per session) feedback of the dominant frequency the brain is producing at an offset. This results in the brain jumping out of its existing patterns and breaking up dysfunction. The therapy works best for those who have resolved underlying physical stressors that led to their condition i.e. obstructive breathing and infections. For more information read the book "The Healing Power of Neurofeedback" by Stephen Larsen and go to www.ochslabs.com/. For more information on LENS and my experience with this go to: fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2010/05/biofeedback-therapies-for-cfs-fms.html.

Some people who have sustained severe physical trauma and stress benefit from the addition of NeuroField,  a pulsed electromagnetic fields therapy to their LENS treatments. The therapy was developed by Dr. Nicholas Dogris and is practiced primarily by LENS providers. For more information go to: www.neurofield.org.  and read my post "Energy Medicine of the Future". http://fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2011/03/energy-medicine-of-the-future.html 

4. Frequency Specific Microcurrent

Frequency Specific Microcurrent is a system of treatment using microamperage current and the resonance effects of frequencies on tissues and conditions to create beneficial changes in symptoms and health. FSM is effective at treating nerve and muscle pain, inflammation and scar tissue. There is one frequency combination that has been observed to eliminate pain in fibromyalgia associated with spine trauma. Another frequency combination eliminates pain that manifests itself as chronic Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness. For more information go to: www.frequencyspecific.com and read the post "Frequency Specific Microcurent" http://fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2012/01/freq.html.

5. Energetic Fitness Systems

The Energetic Fitness System is a unique energy technology that provides energy to the body to help it heal. Based on the work of the scientist Nikola Tesla, the technology creates analog harmonic frequency patterns that are different for each person. The user sits in a non-metal chair with bare feet on an energized glass plate while holding a 5-inch diameter energized glass bulb in the hands while high voltage with no current at a broad spectrum of random wavelengths is maintained between the hands and the feet. The system has helped many individuals with CFS and FMS. For more information go to: http://energeticfitness.com/ and read my post "Energetic Fitness System".  http://fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2011/07/energetic-fitness-system.html.

6. Thyroid Function

Most chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia patients suffer from symptoms of hypothyroidism, which include low body temperature (below 98 degrees), fatigue and constipation, even though their thyroid blood tests are normal and/or they are taking thyroid replacement. Dr. Denis Wilson discovered that this condition which is called  “Wilson’s Thyroid Syndrome”, "Wilson's Low Body Temperature Syndrome" or “Wilson’s Syndrome” can be reversed by taking for a period of time the active thyroid hormone T3. Returning my body’s temperature and thyroid function to normal was one of the big breakthroughs of my healing and I think it is an issue for many CFS/FMS patients. You can read more about this at www.wilsonssyndrome.com and in my post “Thyroid Function" fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2009/03/thyroid-function.html.

7. Biofeedback Self-Regulation Skills

Biofeedback is the process of becoming aware of various physiological functions using instruments that provide information on these systems and through practice learning to manipulate them at will. I have found two biofeedback modalities: Surface EMG and Hand-Warming to be particularly beneficial in reducing the symptoms of an agitated sympathetic nervous system. Although I have personally not been successful in using HeartMath as a biofeedback tool it has helped many other people. All modalities use instruments that are inexpensive and can be practiced on ones own. 

An electromyograph (EMG) is an instrument that uses surface electrodes to detect muscle contraction. EMG biofeedback employs this instrument to measure the surface electromyogram (SEMG) using one or more active electrodes that are placed over a target muscle and actively record the muscle tone in microvolts. Paying attention to this feedback one can manipulate and decrease agitated muscle contractions. The therapy is particular helpful for fibromyalgia, which often manifests itself as a condition of hypertoned muscles that over contract. By placing electrodes on the tender or trigger points one can learn to retrain the muscles to relax. Surface EMG is also helpful for tension headaches, repetitive strain injuries and general calming of the nervous system. An inexpensive home unit can be purchased from Win Health www.win-health.com/neurotrac_simplex.html.

Hand-Warming or temperature biofeedback is a self-regulation skill that employs a feedback thermometer that detects skin temperature with a sensor that is attached to a finger. Paying attention to this feedback one can manipulate circulation to the extremities of the body which is often shunted in response to stress. The skill is helpful for preventing migraine headaches, arresting night sweats and general calming of the nervous system. An inexpensive Indoor/Outdoor thermometer can be purchased at a hardware or electronics store such as Radio Shack for this purpose using First Aid tape to afix the "outdoor" temperature sensor to one's finger.

HeartMath is a company that has developed a heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback technology called emWave which analyzes the beat to beat changes in the time intervals between heart beats, a measure of physiological stress. The program teaches the user to create positive heart rhythms that have a calming and balancing effect on the brain and entire body. Mastering this "coherence" technique through a three step process and the visual and auditory feedback from the emWave can improve health, energy, mental clarity and emotional balance and is particularly helpful for improving sleep. The emWave Coherence System is available as a computer application or a hand held device. For more information go to: www.heartmath.com. 

To read more about biofeedback treatments for CFS and my personal experience exploring them go to: fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2010/05/biofeedback-therapies-for-cfs-fms.html. 

8. Adrenal Exhaustion

Adrenal exhaustion is common to all CFS/FMS due to the enormous stress of living with these conditions. Mainstream endocrinologists do not diagnose or treat adrenal fatigue because there is nothing fundamentally wrong with the adrenal glands i.e. cancer or autoimmune disease. Holistic and naturopathic physicians diagnose this condition through saliva tests and treat with small amount of hydrocortisol, adrenal cortical extracts or live cell therapy for a few months to give the adrenal glands a chance to recover. Taking hydrocortisol has been helpful for those suffering from severe gastrointestinal issues as well. I have benefited from this therapy for short periods of time however my symptoms of adrenal exhaustion both experientially and as measured by cortisol levels did not completely resolved until after I did LENS neurofeedback training. By healing the adaptive patterns that my brain acquired over years of living with chronic physical stress, my body was finally able to repair itself. To read more on this go to my post "Adrenal Exhaustion" fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2008/10/adrenal-fatigue.html  

 9. Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN)

The drug Naltrexone was originally approved in a high dose for the purpose of helping heroin or opium addicts by blocking opioid receptors. When taken at a much smaller dose it has the effect of boosting a body's immune system by causing an increase in endorphin and enkephalin production. LDN is helpful for a variety of conditions that are triggered by a deficiency of endorphins including cancer, HIV/AIDS and autoimmune diseases as well as persons with CFS and FMS. LDN is safe, inexpensive and has no reported side-effects. For more information go to: http://lowdosenaltrexone.org/ and read my post http://fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2011/10/low-dose-naltrexone.html

10. Earthing/Grounding 

Earthing is the practice of connecting with the energy emanating from the surface of the earth by standing or walking barefoot on the ground; or through the use of floor pads and conductive bed sheets linked by a wire to a ground rod outside or plugged into a wall outlet with a ground system. Reported benefits of Earthing on a regular basis include improved sleep, increased energy, improvement or elimination of symptoms of auto immune and inflammatory disorders, accelerated recovery from intense physical activity, normalization of the body's biological rhythms, reduction of jet lag, relief from hormonal and menstrual symptoms, and protection against environmental electromagnetic fields (EMFs). Some persons with CFS and FMS have reported dramatic improvements in their conditions especially in the area of sleep from Earthing. Others including myself appear to be hyper senstive to Earthing products which aggravate symptoms. To learn more about this read my post on Earthing at: fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2011/01/earthing-healing-from-the-ground-up.html . For more information and to order Earthing products go to: www.earthing.com. A source for handcrafted leather moccasins which provide non-insulating natural earthing footwear is:  http://www.wassookeagmoccasins.com

11. Electromagnetic Pollution

Many chronically ill persons including those with CFS & FSM are sensitive to environmental stresses from man-made radio frequencies (RFs) and electromagnetic fields (EMFs). They may be sick due to living in close proximity to a cellular tower; and may be particularly sensitive to the radiation coming from wireless devices, computers and microwave transmissions including microwave ovens and cell phones. Safe Living Technologies Inc. is a company that provides a lot of good information on the subject as well as technology and products to evaluate and protect your home from electromagnetic radiation. http://safelivingtechnologies.ca/  There are a number of other companies that sell products that claim to provide protection from the adverse effects of "electrosmog" including www.earthing.com (see strategy #6), http://earthcalm.com/ and http://mystressblocker.com however their effectiveness varies with with each individual and the science behind them remains controversial at this point. The MRS2000 is a pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF) device designed for personal use that simulates earth based frequencies using more sophisticated and expensive technology. A good site for information on this is: http://gaiaresonance.com. I discuss electromagnetic pollution and PEMF therapies in my post:   http://fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2011/03/energy-medicine-of-the-future.html  .

12. Low Intensity Laser Therapy

Low Intensity Laser Therapy also known as Cold Laser Therapy and Phototherapy is a noninvasive therapy that utilizes light emissions from a laser diode or super luminous diodes to help facilitate healing and relieve pain in injured or damaged tissues. It has proven to be effective in a variety of conditions including tendinitis, musculoskeletal injuries, wounds, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetic neuropathy.  I used a system facilitated by a chiropractor called BioFlex Professional System manufactured by Meditech International Inc. www.bioflexlaser.com which was moderately helpful for my fibromyalgia muscle pain and plantar fasciitis. To read more about laser therapy go to: fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2010/07/phototherapy-healing-with-light.html To learn more about my experience and research on fibromyalgia go to: fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2009/12/f.html. 

13. Glutathione

Glutathione is the master antioxidant found in every cell of the body. It is responsible for transporting proteins between cells, detoxifying chemicals and environmental pollutants, activating the immune system and regenerating a variety of other antioxidants. Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia patients have low levels of glutathione and this causes some of the symptoms associated with the disorder including brain fog. Taking glutathione orally is ineffective because it is destroyed by stomach acid. Some physicians treat chronically ill patients with glutathione injections or include glutathione in a intravenous solution with vitamins and minerals. These therapies are expensive and their effects immediate and short term. There are supplements that can increase the production of glutathione including vitamin C, alpha lipoic acid, milk thistle and N-acetyl cysteine. Dr. Robert Keller, a doctor who treated many chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia patients developed after 10 years of research a glutathione optimizer, which is a patented formula of supplements called MAXGXL. To order his original formula go to: http://robkellermd.com/link.php?go=glutathione.html&affid=67246. A more recently developed product produced by Max International Corporation called MaxONE contains RiboCeine, a patented combination of D-Ribose and L-Cysteine developed after 25 years of research by the Japanese scientist Dr. Nagasawa. RiboCeine has also shown to be effective in raising glutathione levels. For more information go to: www.maxgxl.com.

An alternative method is using a nonotechnology homeopathic patch that stimulates acupuncture points to increase the production of glutathione. For more information go to: www.lifewave.com. 

 To learn about my experience exploring the detoxification issue go to fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2009/05/detoxification.html.

To download interesting articles written by Rich Van Konynenburg, Ph.D.,an independent researcher about the role of glutathione depletion in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome" go to: www.aboutmecfs.org/Trt/TrtGSHIntro.aspxaboutmecfs.org/Trt/TrtGSHIntro.aspx.

14. Protein Deficiency 

Fibromyalgia patients have chronically low levels of amino acids and are deficient in systemic protein, which provide the materials to maintain, protect and repair body functions. This is most likely due to inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract that makes it difficult to completely digest protein, carbohydrates and fats. A chiropractor named Dr. Brice Vickery has studied this area extensively and developed a patented formula of amino acids called “Platinum Plus Essential Amino Acids” that is beneficial in addressing protein deficiency and improves many of the symptoms of fibromyalgia. To learn more about this read my post “Protein Deficiency” fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2009/01/protein-deficiency-fibromyalgia.html.You can order the amino acids at: www.supernutrient.com.

15. Infections & Complicating Conditions 

CFS/FMS patients are prone to a variety of infections and conditions including yeast overgrowth or candida, intestinal parasites, heavy metal toxicity and mercury poisoning, viral, retroviral and mycoplasma infections, helicobacter pylori, and Lyme disease. This is due to lack of oxygen, inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, depletion of glutathione and stress. These conditions can be treated by a good holistic physician using herbs, short term courses of antibiotics and probiotics. An interesting website that discusses research on chronic infections is www.immed.org. 

16. Atlas Profilax

Atlas Profilax is a physical therapy developed in Switzerland by Rene-Claudius Shumperli, which employs a vibrating instrument that massages the sub-occipital muscles of the neck. This results in a freeing and relocating the first cervical vertebra or atlas. The treatment is gentle, safe and usually permanent typically requiring only one session. Cost for the treatment and follow-ups is $250. Although the treatment was not helpful for me, I know of a few people who got significant improvement in fibromyalgia symptoms from it. To read about their experiences check out the post "Atlas Profilax" fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2008/10/atlas-profilax.html . For more information on the procedure and to find a practitioner go to: www.atlasprofilax.ch/.

17. Lymphatic Dysfunction 

The lymphatic system is a specialized component of the circulatory system which functions to remove excess fluids from body tissues, absorb fatty acids and produce immune cells. FMS patients have a sluggish or restricted flow of lymph resulting in mild edema. This is due to chronically tense or contracted muscles that block blood and lymph flow. Some people have experienced a decrease of symptoms by taking decongestants and expectorants such as guaifenesin. An alternative treatment is using an electronic vibrational massage instrument called Lymph Star Pro that facilitates lymph drainage. The device is manufactured by Arcturus Star Products www.arcturusstar.com.  Low Intensity Laser Therapy (see strategy #6) and EMG biofeedback (strategy #5) are also therapeutic for lymph function.

18. Gastrointestinal Problems

Many people with CFS/FMS suffer from gastrointestinal problems including constipation, loose stools, bloating, and flatulence. There are multiple causes of these symptoms including intestinal parasites that can be treated with appropriate antibiotics, low production of stomach acid which can improve by taking hydrochloric acid capsules after meals and low production of digestive enzymes by the pancreas which can be treated by taking digestive enzymes. An excellent laboratory used primarily by naturopathic or holistic physicians for diagnosing these disorders is Diagnos-Techs, Inc in Tukwila, WA.  Some including myself have experienced good results in resolving gastrointestional problems from taking Mila, a proprietary blend of chia seeds that is high in fiber, antioxidants and essential fatty acids. For more information read my post http://fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2011/11/mila-the-healthiest-raw-food-in-the-world.html and go to http://www.lifemax.net/dardenburns. 

19. Physical Therapies

I have explored a variety of physical modalities extensively in my search for better health including many kinds of acupuncture, massage, Rolfing, cranial sacral work, Tragger, chiropractic, Reiki, etc. I have found two forms of physical therapy to be particularly beneficial: Feldenkrais and Bowen Work.  Both these therapies are very gentle and noninvasive which is important for CFS/FMS patients who can overreact to more aggressive treatments. Feldenkrais addresses patterns of movement and posture that can cause pain. Its practitioners are well educated and can help individuals attain the most efficient and stress free way to move, stand and sit as well as an overall awareness of one’s body. For more information and to locate a practitioner go to: www.feldenkrais.com. Bowen Work stimulates healing through subtle moves that release tension in specific areas of the body and restore physical balance. For more information and to locate a practitioner go to: usbr@bowtech.com. Both therapies activate the sympathetic nervous system and are excellent adjuncts to healing.

Exercise is a tricky and sometimes impossible activity for persons with CFS/FMS depending on the severity of the condition. Overdoing it can result in a flare-up of symptoms and compound the exhaustive state. Mild exercise and movement such as walking, yoga and Tai Chi well within the limits of one's capacity for exertion however are beneficial.

20.  Stress Management

The challenge of living with conditions that cause ongoing fatigue, pain and insomnia is huge. Persons with CFS/FMS are under incredible stress physically and therefore have a low tolerance for additional stress in their personal lives. They need to learn to pace their activities and to make good decisions whenever possible about relationships, work and lifestyle that minimize personal stress. I have been very fortunate to have people in my life who are supportive and understanding and to not have to solely support myself financially. I have benefited from learning meditation, relaxation and biofeedback self regulation skills.  I also have built into my schedule a half hour “nap” after lunch that has been a lifesaver.

Frequency Specific Microcurrent

Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM) is a system of energy medicine that employs low levels of electrical current in millionths of an ampere to stimulate the healing of specific health conditions. The frequencies used in FSM are square wave electromagnetic pulses created by a battery operated device that supplies electricity on two channels firing at the same time. Specific frequencies address specific conditions with the frequency thought to address or neutralize the condition on one channel and the frequency thought to address the tissue on the other. 

The history of electromagnetic therapy devices started in the early 1900's when many medical and osteopathic physicians were exploring the use of frequencies to treat patients. In 1934 Maurice Fishbein of the American Medical Association clamped down on electromagnetic therapies by declaring them "unscientific" and threatened to revoke the medical licenses of physicians who used them. Electromagnetic research and treatments declined and their equipment was removed from the market by the FDA in the mid-1950's. In the 1980's microcurrent began to be used by physicians in Europe and the United States for stimulating healing in wounds and fractures. Units delivering micro amperage current were approved in the category of TENS by the FDA for pain management. (TENS or Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is a device that blocks pain using higher levels of current than FSM measured in milliamps, which was patented in 1974).

In 1994 Dr. Carolyn McMakin, a chiropractor practicing in Portland, Oregon began using microcurrent frequencies obtained from the clinical notes of Dr. Harry Van Gelder, a retired osteopath with additional frequencies obtained from the writings of Dr. Albert Abrams and Dr. McWilliams. She discovered that the frequencies appeared to do exactly what they were purported to do with no other effects, in other words the frequency listed to decrease inflammation reduced redness and swelling and the one to stop bleeding reduced bleeding. After successfully treating patients with frequencies and observing their effects McMakin began teaching the technique in 1997 to other health practitioners who were able to reproduce the same results. FSM is currently taught in seminars throughout the United States and in Ireland to medical and naturopatic physicians, chiropractors, physical therapists and acupuncturists. There are frequencies to address over 200 conditions including inflammation, scar tissue, herpes virus/shingles, nerve pain, brain fog, wound healing, and acute PTSD. One frequency combination or protocol has been found to eliminate the full body pain associated with fibromyalgia caused by spine trauma. 

In July of 2011 I traveled to Portland, Oregon to see Dr. Carolyn McMaken to found out if FSM would be beneficial for me. After a lengthy intake of my medical history, McMaken declared that I did not have fibromyalgia since my pain was not random and triggered almost entirely by physical exertion. In my opinion fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue are syndromes that encompass a wide variety of overlapping disorders and McMaken was simply stating that I did not have the kind of full body fibromyalgia pain caused by cervical trauma that responds to FSM. McMaken treated me with for a number of other conditions that she thought might be beneficial including concussion, liver toxicity, parasympathetic nervous system toxicity, and pituitary. She diagnosed the potential benefit of a frequency by my symptoms and also by feeling the muscle tension in my arm which softened in response to some frequencies during treatment. After my treatment session I felt positively intoxicated for about a half hour, a response according to McMaken that typically happens the first several times a person does FSM . 

McMaken thought that the pain I experience after using my muscles was similar to a condition called Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness which FSM has shown to help and has a published study on these results. Although McMaken had never encountered anyone like myself who had this condition in a chronic way, I personally know many people with fibromyalgia who have this condition which I describe in my post "Fibromyalgia Muscle Dysfunction". Delayed Onest Muscle Soreness or DOMS is the pain and stiffness felt in muscles several hours to days after unaccustomed or strenuous exercies resulting from muscle damage caused by eccentric exercise. DOMS is a universal symptom experience by most people who take a break from exercising or do an unfamiliar eccentric exercise. This symptom typically goes away once a person becomes accustomed to the exercise. In my case I am not able to tolerate exercise no matter how gradually I build up to it and damage my soft tissue with a very small amount of demand and stretching. The only remedies I have found is to limit my activities, practice EMG biofeedback on my muscles and rest.  A month after my initial visit I returned to Portland to see if FSM frequencies for DOMS would help my muscle condition. Prior to my first treatment I took a strenuous walk and did some yoga stretching. The next day I challenged myself further with a longer walk and more exercise followed by another FSM treatment. I felt intoxicated after both treatments and did not developed symptoms of muscle soreness. Dr. McMaken felt that the treatment was successul and sold me for $2,000 a Custom Care microcurrent unit distributed by Precision Distributing Precision, a company operated out of her residence in Longview, Washington. The unit was loaded with a number of frequency protocols for conditions that might be helpful for me including DOMS which I was instructed to run whenever I experienced muscle soreness. After I returned home I experienced another several days of respite from my muscle condition and continued with moderate activity followed by running the DOMS protocol on my Custom Care unit. Gradually over the period of a week my muscle condition returned and the frequencies appeared to become ineffective and then provoked an agitation of my nervous system. 

Unable to help me any further Dr. McMaken referred me to Dr. Catherine Willner, a neurologist and close colleague of McMaken's who resides in Durango, Colorado and practices FSM. Dr. Willner is an intellectual with impressive knowledge of both conventional and alternative medicine who practiced for ten years at the Mayo Clinic. She spent seven hours with me discussing my health history and did one session of FSM. Dr. Willner was puzzled by my unique set of symptoms and recommended that I do further testing at Swedish NeuroScience in Seattle to diagnose possible muscle pathology. She recommended that I experiment with additional FSM protocols at home. In order to add these protocols to my Custom Care Unit, it needed to be shipped back to Dr. McMakin, a process that took ten days. Further experimentation with these FSM frequencies on my own produced no positive results. When I requested to return my unit for a refund Dr. McMakin said that this was not possible. Since my unit includes many other frequencies that I did not use including wound healing, sinus cold and shingles, it may prove helpful to me or others I know in the future. 

Although I did not experience a resolution in any of my remaining health issues with FSM I feel overall a bit healthier than before I did the treatments. I know from personal reports that FSM has benefited many people with specific conditions particularly in the area of pain relief. I also know that FSM is very safe and low risk so in this way it is worth investigating for those suffering from chronic illness, however the success of the therapy is dependent on the proper diagnosis of the practitioner and whether there is a protocol for the patient's conditon. For more information and to find a FSM practitioner go to: www.frequencyspecific.com. For information on other forms in the emerging field of energy medicine read the post "Energy Medicine of the Future" http://fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2011/03/energy-medicine-of-the-future.html 

Custom Care microcurrent unit. Black graphite gloves are inserted between a wet towel and placed between treated area, usually the back and abdomen. 

Mila - The Healthiest Raw Food in the World?

Like many people with chronic health issues I have experimented with taking a variety of nutritional supplement in my quest for better health. Over the years I spent a small fortune trying various vitamins, minerals, herbs, digestive enzymes, and supplement formulas recommended by naturopathic and medical physicians, chiropractors, articles on the Internet, friends, and network marketing sales people. The big breakthroughs in my health however did not come from consuming any of these products and over time I became increasingly intolerant of supplements altogether. I have come to the conclusion for myself that the best way to obtain good nutrition is through eating  a variety of whole foods. 

The journalist Michael Pollan is one of my heroes on the subject of healthy eating. Through his articles in the New York Times magazine and books including "The Omnivore's Dilema" and "In Defense of Food" he has raised public awareness about the industrialization of agriculture and the flaws of nutritional science. In the case of my family he is preaching to the choir as we've been eating primarily whole foods for years, growing our own vegetables, raising chickens for eggs, and having the good fortune to have access to Alaskan seafood and pasture raised beef. I think that human beings can utilize the nutrition in whole foods better than vitamins and minerals that have been synthesized into supplement form. 

There are some foods that are particularly dense in beneficial nutrients. These so called "super foods" provide a great source of nutrition in a natural way and provide a good alternative to nutritional supplements. Some common super foods include salmon, eggs, garlic, green leafy vegetables, quinoa and yogurt. Other more obscure super foods from around the globe that are marketed specifically for their health benefits include chlorella, spirulina, goji and acai berries, raw cacao, maca and noni. 

Mila is proprietary selection of the whole raw chia seed or Salvia hispanica L. - a super food originally cultivated by the Aztecs who referred to it as "running food". When the Spanish conquered the Aztecs they burned the chia fields as a means of suppressing the native culture. In recent times chia has been "rediscovered" as a remarkable super food and source of dietary fiber, protein, omega 3 fatty acids, antioxidants and phytonutrients. After years of careful scientific study Mila was developed using specially selected chia strains grown at specific altitudes and latitudes with specific soils and growing seasons to produce the highest nutritional value. The raw seeds are opened and reduced to a powder with a proprietary "cold fracture" technology that keeps all the omega ols intact and maximizes this food's bio-availability. Mila can be mixed with water or any beverage or combined with a variety of foods and does not require refrigeration. 

I found out about Mila from a friend of mine who suffers from fibromyalgia. She told me that Mila had made a big difference in her irritable bowel symptoms and energy. I was reluctant to try Mila considering my hypersensitivity to many foods and supplements but I found that I tolerate Mila quite well. My bowel movements improved within a few days and are now are more regular and normal looking. For best results I let the Mila soak in liquid for at least six minutes before drinking.  After over ten years of chronic constipation, bloating and occasional loose stools this is a welcome change. I had previously tried probiotics, digestive enzymes and hydrochloric acid to address this issue with little success. If this is all Mila can do for me I will be pleased. Although I personally do not think that diet alone can provide the catalyist for systemic changes required to reverse serious conditions such as chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, a healthy diet is nonetheless an important requirement which is why I list it as my number one "Strategy for Healing" in the opening post of this blog. I think that Mila which contains exceptionally high levels of omega fatty acids, protein and fiber as well as calcium, magnesium, iron and selenium is a positive addition to my diet. 

Mila is sold by independent distributors of the network marketing company Lifemax. If you want to order some Mila you can buy it from me at http://www.lifemax.net/dardenburns. There is a lot of good information on the website. I am happy to send any my "fibro friends" free samples and will be interested to keep track of how others do with this.

Low Dose Naltrexone

The drug Naltrexone was originally approved in 1984 at the 50mg. dose for helping heroin and opium addicts. It works by blocking the reception of the opioid hormones beta-endorphin and metenkephalin in the cells of the the immune system. In 1985 Dr. Bernard Bihari, MD discovered that a much smaller does (3 mg.) when taken at bedtime produced a brief blockage of opioid receptors between 2 and 4 AM. This results in an increase in endorphin and enkephalin production which is beneficial to the immune system. Low Dose Naltrexone or LDN has shown to be effective in helping persons with HIV/AIDS, cancer, autoimmune diseases, multiple sclerosis, and central nervous system disorders including Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Syndromes. 

Because Naltrexone is a generic drug that is without patent protection, no pharmaceutical company will bear the expense of large clinical trials necessary for FDA approval of LDN however over the last few years there have been a growth in small studies of LDN for conditions including  one for fibromyalgia by Stanford Medical School in 2009. In the study six out of ten participants felt significantly better than placebo reducing their symptoms of pain, fatigue, stress, sleep problems gastrointestinal complaints, and headaches. For more information on the study go to: http://snapl.stanford.edu/research/ldn.html. Similar results were replicated by surveys on treatment effectiveness by both fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue patients by the advocacy group "CureTogether" http://curetogether.com. 

Low levels endorphins are generally present in diseases associated with immune deficiencies. In this way this relatively safe drug can be helpful for a variety of conditions. The therapeutic dose of LDN is 1.5-4.5 mg. taken nightly. Larger doses block opoid receptors for too long a period of time to be effective. LDN needs to prescribed by a physician and prepared by a reliable compounding pharmacy. The drug is inexpensive - approximately $38 for one month's supply and has no known side effects except more vivid dreams. 

Although I am generally opposed to the treatment of CFS and FMS with pharmaceutical drugs, LDN falls into a different category. It is relatively safe, inexpensive and appears to have no bad effects. I personally know several persons who have benefited from taking LDN on a regular basis. Although not a cure it gives these individuals an important "edge" in their quality of life. This is a treatment that definitely is worth investigating. For more information go to: http://lowdosenaltrexone.org/

 

Fibromyalgia - A Perspective on Muscle Dysfunction and Effective Treatments

Fibromyalgia Syndrome remains a mysterious conglomeration of symptoms for which there is no definitive cause or treatment. The muscle condition characteristic of fibromyalgia is particularly poorly understood. To add to the confusion fibromyalgia patients are often referred to rheumatologists for diagnosis and treatment despite the fact that fibromyalgia is not an autoimmune disease or an inflammatory condition. So what exactly is fibromyalgia?

“Fibro” refers to the fibers of the muscle tissue. “Myalgia” means pain in the soft or connective tissue of the muscles; tendons, which attach the muscles to the bones; and ligaments, which attach the bones to other bones. Myalgia is also referred to as “Soft Tissue Rheumatism”.  It is most commonly caused by the overuse or stretching of a specific muscle or group of muscles that occur in conditions such as tendinitis or carpal tunnel.  In the case of fibromyalgia syndrome the condition is systemic occurring on both sides of the body above and below the waist. The muscles in fibromyalgia patients are chronically agitated and over contract when used. In other words fibromyalgia is a condition of hypertoned muscles that do not relax. The chronically contracted muscles inhibit blood flow and lymph flow resulting in  pain, adhesion, and injury in the muscle tissue. When a person with fibromyalgia forces their muscles to work they develop sore spots called trigger points. These points are felt as painful lumps or nodules that can be palpated by an experienced physical therapist or physician. A number of doctors who specialize in fibromyalgia believe that the cause of painful trigger points is metastatic calcium produced by chronically contracted muscles which cannot receive proper blood flow. The tissues become hypoxic (less than normal amounts of oxygen in the tissues) and contract further setting the calcium more permanently within the soft tissues.  Severely impaired fibromyalgia patients have large lumps of calcium deposits sometimes referred to as scar tissue at their trigger points. Rhematologists have identified 18 specific trigger or tender points that they use to diagnose fibromyalgia. According to The American College of Rheumatology a person should have pain in a least 11 of 18 tender points to be diagnosed with fibromyalgia while other doctors think one can have fewer points. The truth is that there is a lot of variation in the symptoms of fibromyalgia patients and in one patient from time to time as the severity of the condition fluctuates.

One thing that all fibromyalgia patients have in common is that when they push their muscles beyond a certain threshold their condition worsens. The threshold varies from patient to patient and day to day in an individual patient. A severely ill patient will aggravate their condition by trying to perform simple tasks such as walking, climbing stairs or doing light housework. A less severe patient may lead a relatively functional life but their condition is aggravated by more rigorous activities such as exercise or gardening. One of the major misnomers of fibromyalgia is that exercise is beneficial. A certain amount of movement helps with the condition because it increases blood flow to the damaged tissue however increasing the demands of muscles beyond a person’s threshold with weight bearing and repetitive activity will result in a relapse in muscle injury and pain. Persons with fibromyalgia refer to a relapse as a “flare” which can aggravate into full body pain lasting several days or weeks. Severely ill fibromyalgia patients are in a flare all the time or as they say “24/7”.

The pain caused by the muscle condition of fibromyalgia ranges from mild discomfort to severe pain depending on the individual. The pain does not respond to anti-inflammatory drugs and is only marginally treatable with narcotic painkillers. Unfortunately many fibromyalgia patients end up on an illusive course of taking increasing amounts of drugs for pain relief which have horrible side effects. The only sure way to limit the pain is to limit one’s activities and to give the muscles plenty of rest after exertion. Other palliative measures include cold and heat therapy and very gentle bodywork such as Feldenkrais or Bowen Work. When my fibromyalgia is bad I put ice packs on the muscles I use each day. I also take lots of alternating hot and cold showers. The relief is temporary but is a useful coping tool to manage my pain.  I also have adopted a lifestyle where I constantly rotate my activities, never using any one set of muscles for more than 15 minutes.

Some fibromyalgia patients respond to large doses of magnesium, which relax the muscles and counters their tendency to over contract. I have a friend who manages her condition quite well simply taking magnesium supplements. Trans dermal application of magnesium are thought to be even more effective. A good source for magnesium oil, gel, lotion and flakes that are absorbed through the skin is http://www.ancient-minerals.com. Fibromyalgia patients have also reported a benefit from taking vitamin D and amino acids (see my post "Protein Deficiency" fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2009/01/protein-deficiency-fibromyalgia.html ), which many people are deficient in and can contribute to muscle pain and weakness.

Dr. R. Paul St. Amand promotes the treatment of fibromyalgia with the expectorant guaifenesin commonly found in over the counter cold remedies. St. Amand  believes that the retention of calcium in the cells of fibromyalgia is a result of an inability to produce energy or ATP (adenosine triphospate - a biochemical term for cellular energy) and an abnormality in phosphate excretion. His protocol, which involves taking regular doses of guaifenesin and avoiding products that contain salicylates has been helpful for some fibromyalgia patients. For more information go to: www.fibromyalgiatreatment.com. An interesting article by Mark London that thoroughly researches the use of guaifenesin for fibromyalgia can by found at http://web.mit.edu/london/www/guai.html.  According to London’s research guaifenesin acts as a muscle relaxant by depressing transmission of nerve impulses in the central nervous system.

Dr. Samuel Yue, a medical doctor in Minnesota believes that fibromyalgia is caused by a systemic deficit of relaxin hormone or the inability of the body to utilize this hormone. This hormone, which is associated with pregnancy when it is produced in large amounts is necessary to maintain the integrity of collagen and connective tissues of the body. He prescribes the hormone relaxin, which has been helpful for some fibromyalgia patients in releasing sustained muscle contractions and the resolution of their tender points. The hormone is available in a supplement form called “Vitalaxin” developed by Dr. Yue and is available from numerous supplement supply companies.

I have personally tried taking large doses of magnesium and vitamin D, did the guaifenesin protocol for four months and took relaxin hormone both orally and by injection under Dr. Yue’s supervision. Unfortunately I did not experience any change or improvement with these treatments however I do not dismiss testimonials by others who have found them helpful.

There are several flawed theories on the cause of fibromyalgia. One is that fibromyalgia is caused by not getting adequate sleep particularly in the deep REM stage. It is true that most if not all fibromyalgia patients suffer from insomnia but disordered sleep in my opinion is just another symptom of a syndrome that affects many systems of the body. Many individuals suffer from insomnia but do not have fibromyalgia and those fibromyalgia patients who take medications to improve their sleep still suffer from the disorder. Other theories suggest that fibromyalgia is caused by toxins or gastrointestinal inflammation. It is also true that many fibromyalgia patients have gastrointestinal issues and an impaired ability to eliminate toxins (read my post "Detoxification" fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2009/05/detoxification.html). While this is an important component in fibromyalgia syndrome, it is unlikely that toxins directly cause the muscle dysfunction experienced in fibromyalgia. Another theory is that fibromyalgia sufferers have some kind of impaired or altered perception of pain as if somehow their pain is not real or that bad, they just perceive it to be so. This theory should be soundly debunked and is an insult to anyone suffering from fibromyalgia and skilled physical therapists that can observe the abnormal muscle tissue in painful areas of the disorder.

In 1994 researchers at the University of Texas discovered an elevation in the level of the neurotransmitter Substance P in the spinal fluid of patients suffering from FMS. Substance P is a 11-amnio acid neuropeptide that is distributed throughout the peripheral and central nervous systems and is localized in the primary sensory neurons and the neurons intrinsic to the gastrointestinal tract. Researchers at Viral Immune Pathology (www.vipdx.com) have developed a test for cerebral spinal fluid which measures the amount of Substance P in patients and is a reliable diagnostic marker to differentiate between CFS and FMS. 

A 2002 study by a team of researchers at Oregon Health and Science University led by Robert Bennett, MD found that persons with fibromyalgia have an inability to secrete growth hormone during exercise. They surmised that another hypothalamic hormone – somatostatin – was probably blocking the release of growth hormone. This is a manifestation of a disordered hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis found in persons with Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Syndromes. Treatment with daily Human Growth Hormone injections is expensive but has been reported to improve quality of life and energy level, reduce pain, and improve exercise capacity and muscle strength. An inexpensive, safe alternative to HGH injections is a homeopathic HGH spray reported by some to have positive results. Go to: www.drmaxpowers.com.

A couple of interesting scientific studies were conducted on the muscle; and collagen and muscle pathology in fibromyalgia patients by the Parker Institue, Department of Rheumatolgy and the Danish National Library of Science and Medicine in Copenhagen, Denmark. They found that fibromyalgia patients had a significantly lower amount of intramuscular collagen that may lower the threshold for muscle micro-injury and thereby result in nonspecific signs of muscle pathology. Studies on muscle metabolism in fibromyalgia patients showed that there is a defect that is not seen at rest and when the patient is working at a submaximal load, but is seen under maximal loading and under static contraction. Blood flow did not increase as the load increased indicating a disturbed local regulation of microcirculation; lower levels of ATP and phosphocreatine were found in muscle biopsies of fibromyalgia patients; and fibromyalgia patients had EMG activity between muscle contractions indicating a prolonged relaxation or recovery time in patients withfibromyalgia.  http://rheumatology.oxfordjournals.org/content/43/1/27

It is my personal opinion that the muscle condition of fibromyalgia is a symptom of dysfunction in the Central Nervous System resulting from a protective response of the brain to physical stress and trauma. In my case this was due to the prolonged stress of living with an obstructive breathing disorder that became increasingly difficult to compensate for and eventually lead to a state of neurological exhaustion. The actual tipping point for me was rehearsing a very difficult piano piece on a poor instrument which set in motion some sort of trauma to my neuromuscular system. This incident occurred after I had struggled with chronic fatigue for 28 years, was functionally hypothyroid and had just entered menopause. Others develop fibromyalgia after some traumatic event such as a car accident, surgery, childbirth, toxic exposure or physical abuse. When confronted with severe trauma the brain “shuts down” and becomes less flexible and more reactive. It is important to note that the mechanisms and triggers for pain are not the same in all patients with fibromyalgia however all share in common a state of central sensitization. 

Dr. Paul Whitcomb whom I have written extensively about in my blog was able to help many fibromyalgia patients at his clinic by doing frequent adjustments to the top vertebrae of the spine, which resulted in dampening the agitated nervous system. For a fortunate few the results were long lasting. For others including myself the relief was temporary. Check my post “Paul Whitcomb – Friend or Foe” http://fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2008/08/paul-whitcomb---friend-or-foe-1.html.  I have since discovered a gentle movement employed by Bowen Work and cranial sacral therapists at the base of the head that calms the nerves to the peripheral muscles, basically accomplishing the same thing that Whitcomb did with a lot less force and without hurting the neck. However as with Whitcomb's technique the effects are temporary. 

In 2007 I was diagnosed with an obstructive breathing problem by Dr. Farrand Robson and began treatment for that with Oral Systemic Balance a therapy that uses oral appliances or mouth pieces to facilitate ease of breathing. To read more about that go to my post http://fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2010/02/oral-systemic-b.html. At the time my fibromyalgia was quite severe causing me to be in pain most of the time and making it difficult for me to drive a car, carry grocery bags or walk more than one block.  Although I experienced dramatic improvements in my health with OSB and a resolution of the underlying stressor that led me to develop chronic fatigue syndrome, many symptoms including my fibromyalgia muscle condition did not go away. This I believed was the result of traumatic injury to my nervous system after years of living with profound physical. Recovery required me to find additional therapies to reverse these dysfunctions.  

The field of neurofeedback specifically addresses dysfunction of the Central Nervous System and offers a lot of promise for those suffering from fibromyalgia as well as many other chronic disorders. Some people have reported good results from doing programs of EEG biofeedback or neurofeedback training. The patient sits in a comfortable chair with sensors placed on either side of the scalp, which are attached to a computer that picks up brain wave activity. Feedback is produced through visualization on a computer monitor and sound and is monitored by a neurofeedback technician. The patient receives positive feedback when it moves towards a more balanced and flexible pattern. I did over 50 sessions of Zengar neurofeedback training and although I made progress in each session, they did not results in improvements in my health. I think this was because my dysfunctional brain patterns were very entrenched.

I then learned about an entirely different form of neurofeedback called “Low Energy Neurofeedback Systems or LENS, which has been helpful for people who do not respond to neurofeedback training and achieves results in less time.  A LENS session lasts only seconds as opposed to a neurofeedback training session, which typically lasts around 45 minutes. During a LENS a person receives feedback of its own dominant brain wave frequency at a slight offset. The brain recognizes its own pattern and shifts away from it. What is unique about LENS is that the shifts are permanent and the brain reintegrates healing on its own. I experienced moderate improvements in many symptoms with LENS but my muscle condition did not improve. For more information go to: www.ochslabs.com. 

In the book "The Healing Power of Neurofeedback" by Stephen Larsen there are references to the additional benefits of surface EMG biofeedback training for fibromyalgia patients doing LENS. An electromyograph (EMG) is an instrument that uses surface electrodes to detect muscle contraction using one or more active electrodes that are placed over a target muscle and actively record the muscle tone in microvolts. Paying attention to this feedback one can manipulate and decrease agitated muscle contractions. I found an inexpensive home unit on the Internet manufactured in England by Verity Medical Let and distributed by Win Health at www.win-health.com/neurotrac_simplex.html. I began practicing for a half hour once or twice a day, training my muscles tone to decrease. Within several weeks I noticed an improvement in my muscle tone resulting in an increase in the amount of physical activity I could "get away with". Doing daily biofeedback training provides a valuable tool to help my muscles recover more quickly after exertion but it does not prevent injury from reoccuring. To read more about various forms of biofeedback and neurofeedback and my experience with them read my post "Biofeedback Therapies for CFS & FMS"  http://fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2010/05/biofeedback-therapies-for-cfs-fms.html 

Low Intenstiy/Level or "Cold" Laser Therapy is a treatment that is helpful for treating pain in some people with fibromyalgia. It involves the application of red to near infrared light produced by Low Level Lasers Diodes (LLLD) and/or Superluminous Diodes (SLD) over the skin which results in a healing response of the tissues. This healing response includes increased production of ATP, RNA and DNA synthesis, serotonin and endorphins, collagen synthesis, growth hormone and improved lymphatic drainage. I explored a form of Low Intensity Laser Therapy manufactured by a company called MediTech used by my chiropractor. The pain relief was moderate and not long lasting. For more information on light therapies and my personal experience read my post "Phototherapy - Healing with Light".  http://fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2010/07/phototherapy-healing-with-light.html 

The developing fields of energy medicine which employ various forms of electrical current to help the body heal are also helpful in the treatment of fibromyalgia. These therapies employ non-invasive devices that generate low levels of electrical energy to stimulate cellular repair. Cell membranes vibrate at specific frequencies and diseased cells have weaker amplitudes and unbalanced electronic charges in the molecules often referred to as free radical damage. The therapies work by re-charging the damaged molecular systems and thus restoring balance and increased energy into body systems. Studies have demonstrated their effectiveness in healing soft tissue wounds, aiding in bone growth and repair, suppressing inflammatory responses at the cell membrane level and alleviating pain.

Dr. Carol McMakin is a chiropractor in Portland, Oregon who specializes in a treatment called Frequency Specific Microcurrent, which employs microamperage current and the resonance effects of specific frequencies on tissues and conditions to create beneficial changes in symptoms and health. FSM is effective at treating nerve and muscle pain, inflammation and scar tissue. McMakin has developed one frequency combination that has been observed to eliminate severe all body pain in fibromyalgia associated with spine trauma.  She reports success treating hundreds of fibromyalgia patients with this protocol. For more information go to: frequencyspecific.com.

Another form of energy medicine employed mainly by LENS practitioners as an adjunct therapy to neurofeedback is NeuroField, a pulsed electromagnetic field therapy developed by Dr. Nicholas Dogris which treats the energy field around a person with specific frequencies shown to be beneficial for various conditions. I spent seven months doing NeuroField treatments in conjunction with LENS treatments with a therapist in California with modest improvements in my overall health. To read more about my experience and the entire field of energy medicine read my post "Energy Medicine of the Future"http://fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2011/03/energy-medicine-of-the-future.html.

"The Energetic Fitness System" is a static electrical energy field therapy based on the science of Nicola Tesla. This therapy differs from other forms of energy medicine because the electrical frequencies are not set by a computer program determined by a practitioner. Rather the energy field produces analog harmonic frequency patterns that are rapidly changing and different for each person; the theory being that the individual using EFS "tunes" to the energetic field and gets the frequencies he or she needs to heal and balance their body. I have personally found EFS to be the most beneficial form of energy medicine that I have used. For more information on EFS and my personal experience with it read my post "Energetic Fitness System"  http://fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2011/07/energetic-fitness-system.html. 

In conclusion the condition of fibromyalgia varies from person to person, however most have in common an agitated nervous system that results in dysfunctional muscle function and pain in the connective tissues. Recovery requires a combination of therapies that can address underlying causes of stress on the body, calm the nervous system and provide the body with energy to heal. Just as there is no one cause of fibromyalgia, there is no one "cure" or treatment that works for everyone. Each person must find through trial and error what works for them. Considering the fact that most of the effective therapies are not covered by health insurance or even known about in the medical community, this makes the task of getting better difficult. I am hopeful that effective therapies will eventually become more available and contribute to an improved quality of life for those suffering from fibromyalgia. 

Courage

Courage doesn't always roar.

Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day singing

"I will try again tomorrow".  -  Mary Anne Radamacher 

Energetic Fitness Systems

The Energetic Fitness System is a unique energy medicine technology that infuses energy into the human body via a high static electrical field.  The origins of the technology are attributed to the scientific work of Nikola Tesla in the late 1800's. Tesla, an inventor and visionary genius in the field of electricity pioneered the science that forms the basis of alternating current (AC) electric power systems, X-rays, and wireless energy transmissions. Tesla believed that it was possible to use electricity to provide energy for the human body to function optimally. He wrote the following about a particularly stressful time in his life:

"I was so blue and discouraged in those days that I do not believe I could have borne up but for the regular treatments of electricity that I applied to myself. It puts into the entire body what it needs most - Life Force."

Because of Tesla's eccentric personality and unbelievable claims about many possible scientific developments, he was regarded as a "mad scientist" and never received a patent on his energy medicine technology. Replicas of his original machine and theories about its use survived quietly over the past 100 years. Justin Brost stumbled upon a person who had a crude version of this technology, which resulted in the relief of severe neck pain he suffered from after one session. His curiosity was piqued, Brost spent the past eleven years developing a product that incorporates modern materials and components and with the help of other researchers designed a new technology that provides maximum benefits. EFS has an impressive list of scientific advisers including James Oschman, Ph.D. the famous authority on energy medicine and author of "Energy Medicine: the scientific basis", and "Energy Medicine: in therapeutics and human performance". Brost is careful to make no medical claims on the Energetic Fitness System saying only that the technology gives the body the energy to heal itself. However he has witnessed remarkable improvements in those using EFS with many health conditions including muscular skeletal injuries, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, spinal cord injuries, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia as well as optimal performance for athletes.

The EFS user sits in a non-metal chair with bare feet on an energized glass plate while holding a 5-inch diameter energized glass bulb called the Plasma Containment System (PCS) in the hands while high voltage with no current at a broad spectrum of random wavelengths is maintained between the hands and the feet. The user feels a static vibration in the hands that gradually moves further up into the wrists and arms. The PCS creates an orange/pink glow and emits an ozone odor. The intensity of the energy can be regulated by how much contact there is in the feet on the glass plate. Over time and the user "equalizes" with the energy to a comfortable level. The energy field creates analog harmonic frequency patterns that are rapidly changing and different for each person. This is in contrast to other energy technologies where the frequencies are digital and predetermined by a computer program. The theory is that that the individual using EFS "tunes" to the energetic field and gets the frequencies he or she needs to heal and balance their body.

In May 2011 I traveled to Bellingham, Washington to meet Justin Brost and try out the Energetic Fitness System technology. Justin and his wife Shannon operate their business out a of small light industrial space where they do the final assembly of EFS units and ship them to customers. It is clear that the Brosts are passionate about this technology and dedicated to making it available to the public. At this point they have sold around 250 units mostly to individuals. Their goal however is to have EFS units in doctors' offices, sports centers, spas massage and physical therapy clinics. Since the units do not require any complicated programming and are easy to operate these "charging" sessions would be affordable to the everyday client. 

Given my highly reactive and sensitive nature I was afraid I might have a bad response to the EFS but fortunately that was not the case. Initially I had an positive emotional response to the energy that felt like a release. My first session lasted around 50 minutes. Afterwards I felt tired but relaxed and I slept well that night - a good sign for me. Encouraged by this response I commuted to Bellingham twice a week for the next month to pursue this therapy. Over that time I noticed a gradual increase in my energy, resolution of low back pain, and resolution of chronic sore feet and buttocks. I did not however experience any improvement in my muscle condition which is triggered by exercise and exertion. At the end of the month I purchased my own EFS unit to use at home. I was optimistic that by doing the EFS at home on a daily basis I might experience further improvements. I did 25 minute sessions daily for five days. This is the recommended amount that corresponds to the Chinese medical perspective that the human energy system cycles at 20-25 minute intervals. Feeling quite good I challenged my muscle condition by gardening two days in a row for an hour and a half each day. The third day my muscles were very painful and I "flared" into a fibromyalgia episode. I was hopeful that the EFS would help me recover more quickly from this flare so I increased my sessions to 50 minutes two days in a row. On the second day I had a severe agitation of my nervous system. I consulted with Justin who recommended that I take off one day and return to 25 minute daily sessions. I took off two days and then tried another session but had a bad reaction to that as well. It was obvious to me that I had overdone the therapy and I needed to take a break. After two weeks I was able to tolerate another EFS session but reacted again after four times of using the unit every other day so I decided to take a break from the therapy.

I definitely gained benefits from EFS that were cumulative and have stayed with me but EFS alone was not able to resolve my fibromyalgia muscle condition.  My personal recovery involves two important components: increasing the energy in my body and decreasing the agitation in my central nervous system that I developed over the years of living with profound physical stress and exhaustion. The EFS was helpful for increasing my energy but after a period of time it agitated my nervous system. My recovery needs to be balanced with other therapies like LENS neurofeedback. After a break from EFS for several months while I did more LENS sessions, I have returned to EFS with no adverse reactions and am optimistic that this combination of therapies that will facilitate my complete recovery.

It is important to keep in mind that each person with chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia as well as all other chronic illnesses has a unique presentation of these conditions with various complications and sets of symptoms.  Although there are commonalities and overlapping issues, each person can only find through trial and error what works for them. I believe that recovery is possible but there is no "silver bullet" treatment that can cure these conditions just as there is no one cause for them. (For more on this read my post "What Causes CFS & FMS"  http://fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2010/08/what-causes-chronic-fatigue-and-fibromyalgia-syndromes.html). I think that the Energetic Fitness System is an important therapeutic tool that may be helpful for many individuals with CFS and FSM. Caution needs to be exercised for highly sensitive individuals like myself who can "overdose" on the treatment but otherwise the modality is very safe. To learn more about it go to:http://energeticfitness.com/

 Here I am using the EFS at home. 

   Notice the orange glow created by the PCS bulb which emits an ozone smell.  

Fibromyalgia Awareness Day - A Message of Hope

Fibromylagia Syndrome (FMS) is a debilitating health condition that is largely misunderstood by the public and health care establishment. Patients suffer from a variety of complaints including all over muscle and body pain, insomnia, gastrointestinal issues, brain fog, and fatigue. When they seek help from medical doctors their symptoms are often dismissed as being psychosomatic in origin, which compounds the emotional stress of living with the condition. There is a wide range in the degree of severity in people with FMS but many are too disabled to work full time or to work at all. The condition places tremendous pressure on personal relationships, marriages and families. In the face of all this suffering it is easy to lose hope.

In the summer of 2008 I started a blog entitled "Fibro Friends" dedicated to providing information about fibromyalgia and its closely related condition Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).  The blog is a result of my exhaustive search over for the past 30 years to find effective treatments to improve my health. I began suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in 1973 and Fibromyalgia in 2001. The primary difference between Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Syndromes is that Fibromyalgia includes an agitation of the neuromuscular system resulting in chronic pain. (For more on this read my post "Fibromyalgia Muscle Dysfunction" http://fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2009/12/f.html.) I have spent the equivalent of a part time career consulting health care professionals and trying various treatments and therapies. The vast majority of the things I tried were not helpful, which I summarize in my post "What Didn't Work" http://fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2009/07/what-didnt-work.html.  However in recent years I found a number of therapies that brought about a significant improvement in my health and a gradual reversal of my symptoms. These therapies are not well known either in the main stream or alternative medical communities or the fibromyalgia patient community. 

The first significant breakthrough for me happened in 2005 when I learned about Wilson's Low Body Syndrome and followed the specific protocol developed by Dr. Denis Wilson to raise my body temperature to 98.6 degrees. According to Wilson's theory many individuals develop symptoms of hyperthyroidism, which include fatigue, constipation, low body temperature and a slow pulse after long periods of stress. This can be reversed by taking compounded T3 or liothyronine for a period of time in a prescribed way. For more information on this go to: www.wilsonssyndrome.com.

The most important breakthrough for me began in 2007 when I improved my ability to breathe with oral appliances designed by a TMJ dentist named Dr. Farrand Robson. Robson has developed a cutting edge science called Oral Systemic Balance that helps facilitate ease of breathing, speaking and swallowing. Many people with FMS and CFS as well as other chronic illnesses have benefited from this therapy. It is my personal opinion that impaired breathing due to a restricted air passage is a predisposition to developing CFS and FSM. For more information read my post "Oral Systemic Balance" http://fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2010/02/oral-systemic-b.html.

A third significant breakthrough occurred when I started doing LENS or Low Energy Neurofeedback System, a unique form of neurofeedback developed by Len Ochs, PHD that is particularly effective in healing traumatic brain injury and disorders of the Central Nervous System. The system operates entirely different from traditional EEG or neurofeedback training. Treatment involves very short (a few seconds per session) feedback of the dominant frequency the brain is producing at an offset, which results in the brain jumping out of its existing patterns and breaking up dysfunction. It has been helpful for many people with CFS and FMS who suffer from dysfunctional brain patterns as a result from living with neurological exhaustion and physical stress. For more information read my post "Biofeedback Therapies for CFS and FMS" http://fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2010/05/biofeedback-therapies-for-cfs-fms.html.

Presently I am exploring a form of energy medicine called the Energetic Fitness Systems that provides energy to the body to help it heal. Based on the work of the scientist Nikola Tesla, the technology creates analog harmonic frequency patterns that are different for each person. The user sits in a non-metal chair with bare feet on an energized glass plate while holding a 5-inch diameter energized glass bulb in the hands while high voltage with no current at a broad spectrum of random wavelengths is maintained between the hands and the feet. I think this therapy has tremendous potential for helping individuals with CFS and FMS.  For more information go to: http://energeticfitness.com/ and watch for my upcoming post as I report my experience and research.

Of paramount importance to healing from CFS and FMS is following a healthy diet devoid of drugs, stimulants and depressants. Other ancillary therapies that helped me were short term use of hydrocortisol and a couple of patented nutritional supplement formulas MAX GXL and Platinum Plus Amino Acid; mud pack detoxification therapy; and biofeedback self-regulation techniques.  I summarize these treatments and many others in my opening post "Chronic Fatigue and Fibromaylgia" http://fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2011/05/chro.html with links to the appropriate websites. Then in subsequent posts I discuss in detail various treatments and topics. 

My personal opinion is that there is no single cause of CFS and FMS, that these are conditions that result from an accumulation of physical stress and trauma for which the body cannot accommodate. For more on this read my post "What Causes CFS and FMS" http://fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2010/08/what-causes-chronic-fatigue-and-fibromyalgia-syndromes.html. Reversing these syndromes requires a combination of long term strategies and treatments that will provide the body the energy and capacity to heal. It is important to understand that each individual has a unique presentation of these conditions and what works for one person may not be helpful for another. One can only find out through trial and error what is beneficial. Since there are few health care professionals that understand fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome and few effective treatments that are covered by health insurance this leaves the exhaustive task of pursuing and financially funding treatments to the individual. It is my dream that someday patients can go to a clinic where comprehensive care with cutting edge treatments are available and affordable but for now the road to recovery although possible is a difficult and expensive undertaking. 

In conclusion I want to embrace all those who are suffering from the devastating conditions of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndromes and to let them know that they are not alone. We can learn from our shared experiences and pursue the hope of getting better together. We are each of us pioneers in our experience with these illnesses, in our quest for validation from society and our search for understanding and healing. 

(For more inspiration read my post "Hope" http://fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2010/08/hope.html .)

Energy Medicine of the Future

The term "Energy Medicine" refers to therapies that use energy or physics rather than chemistry to heal. These therapies are generally divided into two categories: putative energy fields that are theorized and cannot be measured or presently confirmed by scientific investigation; and veritable energy fields that can be measured and proven scientifically. 

Examples of putative energy field therapies include acupuncture and acupressure, Reiki, Qi Gong, therapeutic touch, hands on and distant healing, and applied kinesiology (muscle testing). These therapies are based on the premise that all bodies are infused with a subtle energy or vital life force referred to as "qi" or "chi" in Chinese medicine and "prana" in Ayurvedic medicine. The health of a body's energy is determined by the overall flow, balance, and harmony of a person's vital force energy; and imbalances or blockages in the natural flow of energy fields in the body can result in disease. Acupuncture and acupressure are believed to act by correcting imbalances in the flow of energy along meridians or energy channels.  In therapies such as healing touch and Reiki, a healer is believed to emit and transmit healing energy to a recipient as a way to restore health. Some of these therapies are associated with religious ideas of spirit and the power of prayer. 

Examples of veritable energy field therapies include light therapies which I discuss in my post "Phototherapy" http://fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2010/07/phototherapy-healing-with-light.html, microcurrent therapies which I discuss in my post "Frequency Specific Microcurrent http://fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2012/01/freq.html, vibrational therapies, magnetic therapies, cymatic therapy that uses sound waves, and pulsed electromagnetic field therapies. These therapies are based on the fact that all living beings are primarily energetic and governed by electrical impulses. They employ devices that generate low levels of energy at specific frequencies and amplitudes that promote healing. The science and technology of these therapies is developing rapidly and provides effective nonpharmalogical treatments for many chronic conditions. 

Like many persons with Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Syndromes I have pursued a variety of putative energy field therapies including extensive treatments of various forms of acupuncture. Although I received temporary relief from acupuncture, these treatments became less effective over time and failed to address the systemic causes of my health condition. I have never benefited from the more esoteric forms of energy healing like Reiki. Although I remain open minded about these kinds of therapies and believe they can elicit a relaxation response in many individuals, I do not think that they are in and of themselves an effective strategy for healing from CFS or FMS.

One of the most promising veritable energy field therapies is Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy or PEMFT. This therapy employs non-invasive devices that generate electrical energy and direct a series of magnetic pulses that induce tiny electrical charges to stimulate cellular repair. One of the properties of PEMF that make it particularly effective is that it can penetrate through matter with relatively low energy loss. Many studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of PEMF in healing soft tissue wounds, aiding in bone growth and repair, suppressing inflammatory responses at the cell membrane level and alleviating pain. Beginning in 1979 the FDA began approving PEMF devices for such uses that are now employed in mainstream medical settings. 

PEMF generators (also known as magnetic resonance stimulators) are also used to simulate or mimic the naturally occurring earth based energies or electromagnetic fields in our environment. Originally developed for use in modern spacecraft after the first astronauts and cosmonauts became ill when they went into space, devices employing similar technologies are now used to combat electromagnetic pollution or smog and to promote health maintenance in general. 

There are three kinds of bioenergetically active signals in our natural environment:

1. Schumann Resonances - electromagnetic waves produced and excited by electrical currents in lightning (every second approximately 200 lighting strikes occur somewhere on earth) which are trapped in the ionosphere, a resonant cavity surrounding the earth between its surface and 100 kilometers above its surface. Originally observed by the physicist Nikola Tesla and then named for the German physicist Otto Schummann who discovered in 1954 that these waves have a main frequency of 7.8 Herz. This is the same frequency as the alpha rhythm of the brain. 

2. Geomagnetic waves - electromagnetic waves produced by 64 vital trace elements or minerals found in the earth's crust each possessing its own specific vibration. These are the same vital minerals found in the red blood corpuscles of human beings.

3. Solar waves - Ultra High Frequency (UHF) electromagnetic waves that correspond to natural sunlight.

These three natural electromagnetic signals are essential for the health and optimal functioning of all living organisms. Ancient Chinese teachings state that human beings need two balanced environmental signals to achieve good health: the YANG or masculine signal from above which corresponds to the Schumann resonances and the YIN or feminine waves coming from below which correspond to the relatively weaker geomangetic waves. Research done by the German physicist Dr. Wolfgang Ludwig  confirmed that human health depends on these natural electromagnetic signals. 

A number of factors have altered the natural electromagnetic geomagnetic environment that we presently live in. Over the past 100-300 years the earth's magnetic field has declined 50% and human development has resulted in a lowering of the water table. Man-made radio frequencies and electromagnetic fields created by power transmission lines, radio transmitters, wireless devices, cell phones, computers and microwaves have also altered the natural electromagnetic and geomagnetic environment.  Compound this with the fact that the average person spends most of the day indoors shielded and insulated from the earth's natural EMFs and walks outside on asphalt in insulating footwear and there is a powerful case to be made that all of this is contributing stress in living creatures on earth.

There are many technological devices on the market that claim to protect the body from the harmful effects of man-made electromagnetic pollution and stimulate earth based frequencies. One is Earthing which I discuss at length in my post "Earthing - Healing from the Ground Up"  http://fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2011/01/earthing-healing-from-the-ground-up.html . Another company called Earthcalm http://earthcalm.com/ produces devices that employ scalar resonance technology to mirror the structure of the earth's EMFs. The effectiveness of these devices varies with from individual to individual and the science behind many of them remains controversial. 

The MRS2000 is a PEMF generator designed for personal use that duplicates or mimics in intensity and frequency the earth's natural electromagnetic signals. Described as a "whole body battery charger" that provides a catalyst for energy production in the cells and helps to increase oxygenation, hydration and nutrient absorption; improve circulation; balance the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system and promote deep relaxing sleep; and alleviate pain and inflammation, the MRS2000 is recommended for health maintenance as well as resolution of chronic health problems. The device includes a full body mat that persons lie on for 8 minutes twice a day and an applicator probe for use on problem areas. Testimonials on the benefits of using the MRS2000 include many people with CFS and FMS. An informative website belonging to a MRS2000 distributor is: http://gaiaresonance.com.

My own experience with the MRS2000 was negative resulting in a dramatic aggravation of my nervous system and a flare up of my fibromyalgia after lying on the mat for only two minutes at the most sensitive level and setting. A "fibro friend" of mine also tried the unit with no improvements and an agitation of her nervous system after 4 sessions. Needless to say I am one of the most sensitive/reactive individuals out there. But the question remains if a magnetic or electron deficiency is a contributing factor to developing chronic fatigue and or fibromyalgia syndromes. I do not think this is the case for myself because the onset of my illness preceded the general use of personal computers, cell phones and microwaves and I do not feel any different camping out in the wilderness far away from modern technologies as I do at home. I think there is evidence that chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia like symptoms can result from electromagnetic pollution. Individuals may be sick due to living in proximity to a cellular tower or power transmission lines and may be particularly sensitive to the radiation coming from wireless devices, computers and microwave transmissions including microwave ovens and cell phones. Safe Living Technologies Inc. is a company that provides a lot of good information on the subject as well as technology and products to evaluate and protect your home from electromagnetic radiation. http://safelivingtechnologies.ca/.  

One of the most promising therapeutic technologies in the field of energy medicine today is NeuroField. (www.neurofield.org)  Developed after years of research by a psychologist named Nicholas Drogris, PHD it employs a PEMF generator, the NeuroField X1000 with specific treatment protocols for various conditions. Described as an energy replenishment and stress reduction device, NeuroField is generally used by psychologists to enhance the effectiveness of traditional neurofeedback and LENS (Low Energy Neurofeedback System). Dr. Dogris worked closely with Len Ochs, PHD the developer of LENS a unique form of neurofeedback that involves feedback lasting only a few seconds of dominant frequencies at slight offsets. This feedback which is given at each of 20 different sites of the brain determined by a diagnostic brain map results in breaking up dysfunctional patterns which stimulates the brain to move towards more healthy balanced patterns. In other words LENS is a disentrainment neurofeedback device that disrupts the brain, causing it to re-organize itself. Dr. Dogris observed that this process pulls a lot of energy from the body. He hypothesized that better results might be obtained when the body had the energy to repair itself which led him to develop NeuroField.  (For more information on various forms of biofeedback and neurofeedback including LENS go to: http://fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2010/05/biofeedback-therapies-for-cfs-fms.html.)  

NeuroField is based on the same principles as other forms of energy medicine - that we are primarily energetic beings and that our biology is a summation of a dynamic interconnected web of energy. Energy is stored in every cell of the body and the overall "biofield", a term describing the subtle field that permeates and extends beyond the physical body is a summation of energy emitted from every cell in the human body. Cell membranes vibrate at specific frequencies. Diseased cells have weaker amplitudes and unbalanced electronic charges in the molecules often termed as free radical damage. The NeuroFieldX1000  acts by supplying pulses of energy into the biofield at specific frequencies and amplitudes determined by studying healthy body function, re-charging the damaged molecular systems and thus restoring balance and increased energy into body systems. The generator is operated by a sophisticated software program that individualizes treatment and is connected to a specialized cap that supplies EMF pulses into the field of energy around the skull and travels to other regions of the body. 

My own healing journey is presently benefiting greatly from NeuroField in addition LENS treatments. I began this combination of therapies a couple of months ago after reaching a plateau in my recovery with LENS treatments alone. I was aware that some LENS practitioners were getting better results especially for physical problems with the addition of NeuroField. In November of 2010 I traveled to Bishop, California to be evaluated by Dr. Dogris who did a Quantatative Electroencephalograph (QEEG) map on 20 sites of the brain. The evaluation showed "seizure-like" activity in my brain in several sites and suppression or inhibition of function in others. This type of pattern is typical of individuals who have experienced severe stress.  Although I have recovered completely from chronic fatigue my nervous system remains hyper vigilant and fragile after years of struggling in an exhaustive state due to oxygen deprivation.  This explains my remaining symptoms which include disturbed sleep, fibromyalgia muscle flares after physical exertion and severe sensitivity to stimulants; and also could explain my adverse reactions with other therapies. Dr. Dogris was optimistic that NeuroField could help me and at the end of 2010 I began weekly treatments with Dr. Candia Smith in Orinda, California (the closest practitioner to my home in the Seattle area). NeuroField combined with LENS treatments recently developed by Len Ochs for highly reactive individuals is proving to be the winning combination facilitating my recovery. I have seen a dramatic improvement in my remaining symptoms over the course of treatments during the past two months and I am optimistic that with time my brain and body will restore and maintain balance. 

Although my sensitivities and reactiveness are severe compared to most other individuals, imbalance of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems is common in all people with CFS and FMS. I think my case is more pronounced because of the length of my illness, the fact that I have successfully treated all secondary infections and pathogens - conditions that tend to suppress the nervous system, and the fact that I do not take any sleep aids which basically act by suppressing the electrical activity of the brain. 

Another interesting technology in the field of energy medicine is the Energetic Fitness Systems. Described as a tool for balancing the body's energetic system, the system generates a broad range of rapidly changing frequencies that are not programmed and are different for each person. The user sits in a non-metal chair with bare feet on an energized glass plate while holding a 5-inch diameter energized glass bulb in the hands while high voltage with no current at a broad spectrum of random wavelengths is maintained between the hands and the feet. The system has helped many individuals with fibromyalgia.  For more information go to: http://energeticfitness.com/ and read my post "Energetic Fitness Systems http://fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2011/07/energetic-fitness-system.html .

I think that the emerging therapies of energy medicine hold tremendous potential for the treatment of disease and the maintenance of health. Eventually most putative fields of energy will be verified by scientific study confirming what the ancients and healers have intuitively observed for centuries. When this knowledge is combined with cutting edge forms of technology and biofeedback we will have an effective foundation for medicine in the future. 

A Battle for Legitimacy - Understanding Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Enephalomyelitis and Yoga’s Role in its Treatment

The following paper was written by Lis Wagner as part of her teacher training program at Eight Limbs Yoga in Seattle, Washington. Lis' research included reading articles in my blog and interviewing me and other persons with CFS. 

 

Darden Burns led a healthy and active life into early adulthood. She got daily exercise and plenty of sleep, ate healthy foods, played music, had a moderate workload in school and a low-stress lifestyle, and did not suffer from depression. At age 19 her health changed overnight; the morning after having an alcoholic drink Darden woke up hung over with flu-like symptoms. Her symptoms lingered for months. Countless medical examinations and blood tests produced no answers, months turned into years, and Darden was forced to dramatically change her lifestyle to accommodate a mysterious, unnamed chronic illness. Later in life, she would come to label her illness chronic fatigue syndrome, or CFS.[1]

Unlike Darden, Quinn[2] began experiencing symptoms gradually after undergoing a hysterectomy in her mid 40s. She developed irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and debilitating migraines. As years went by, her host of symptoms grew to include severe fatigue, heart palpitations, brain fog, vertigo, muscle ache, constant thirst, insomnia, hypersensitivity to food and drugs, and persistent nausea. Her symptoms left her increasingly unable to perform daily tasks or leave the house, let alone participate fully in her family’s lives. She visited one doctor after another, each one prescribing medications, diets, and therapies to address one aspect of her ill health rather than looking at her condition as a whole. The treatments sometimes worked for a time, but provided no complete answer. What was most baffling was the fact that Quinn appeared relatively healthy on paper; tests continually came back with “normal” blood levels and negative diagnoses for acute illnesses. Quinn was diagnosed with CFS after all other possible diagnoses were ruled out. Despite her years of physical suffering and the significant financial burden of her illness, the most painful aspect of Quinn’s experience has been the lack of understanding and support from family, friends, and medical professionals. Her condition has often been perceived as psychosomatic—a product of hypochondria, malingering or depression. Like many CFS sufferers, her illness is often considered to be “all in her head.”

CFS has only recently begun to gain credibility as a biologically-based medical condition. Research on the condition is in its infancy, and the majority the American general public has either never heard of CFS or knows it as “yuppie flu.”[3] The suffering of CFS patients is profoundly complex and misunderstood, yet it is real and can be treated. There is no known cure for CFS, and treatments for the illness are as varied as the diverse array of it sufferers. Yoga has stood out as an especially effective treatment for CFS because of its holistic approach to healing; unlike drugs, diets, physical therapy, or psychotherapy alone, yoga is a means to address physical, mental, and spiritual issues, all of which play roles in CFS.

 History of ME/CFS: a Disease in Search of a Name

The earliest record of an ME/CFS-like illness was reported in the 1860s and was deemed neurasthenia. In 1956, MD A Melvin Ramsay coined the term myalgic encephalomyelitis, or ME, in a Lancet article describing outbreaks in Europe of a disease marked by debilitating fatigue. Incidences of ME-like illnesses were not reported in the U.S. until 1984. Soon after, the National Institute of Allergy and Infections Diseases decided on the name chronic Epstein-Barr virus (CEBV). This name was only briefly used in medical journals; in 1988 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a case definition for the illness and labeled it chronic fatigue syndrome. This name has received quite a bit of resistance; according to CFS sufferer and ProHealth Inc. founder Rich Carson, the name “chronic fatigue syndrome' is universally perceived as trivializing, dismissive, and thoroughly inaccurate. [4] In contrast, myalgic encephalomyelitis, which refers to inflammation of the brain and spinal cord that often comes with the condition, prompts a more serious attitude.[5] In 2006 Carson launched the Fair Name Campaign with the goal of changing the condition’s name to further legitimize it as a serious medical condition. Though there is still no consensus on an official name for the disease, CFS and ME/CFS are currently the most commonly used titles. 

Symptoms and Diagnosis

Physicians will only diagnose ME/CFS after they have ruled out all possible acute conditions. In biomedical terms, ME/CFS is not technically a treatable illness; MDs will test for conditions such as sleep apnea, hypothyroidism, and depression before diagnosing ME/CFS. [6]   

The CDC has since revised its 1988 CFS case definition to allow for more effective research, evaluation, and classification of CFS sufferers.[7] According to the CDC, a patient diagnosed with CFS has been experiencing persistent and unexplained fatigue that is not due to ongoing exertion, is new (not lifelong), is not improved with bed rest, and significantly reduces previous levels of activity. But fatigue is not the whole picture; to be diagnosed with CFS, the patient must also be experiencing at least four other listed symptoms for at least six months. In reality, the list of symptoms that may accompany ME/CFS is long and varied, but in terms of what the Western biomedical community recognizes under CDC guidelines, the list includes impaired memory or concentration (brain fog), postexertional malaise, unrefreshing sleep, muscle pain, multijoint pain without swelling, headaches, sore throat, and tender lymph nodes.[8] A patient experiencing less than four of these symptoms is diagnosed with chronic fatigue, rather than CFS.  

 Causes

There is no single proven cause of ME/CFS. It is often initiated by a stressful event on the body, which may be a viral infection like mononucleosis, a hysterectomy causing hormone imbalance as in Quinn’s case, or something as simple as a drink of alcohol, as was the case with Darden. Such an event, in combination with preexisting physical, neurological, or genetic abnormalities, can cause ME/CFS. Darden, on her thoroughly researched blog about ME/CFS and fibromyalgia, uses Malcom Gladwell’s idea to illustrate the way a stressed body can reach “’The Tipping Point:’ the moment of critical mass, the threshold or boiling point when sudden change occurs. … The brain responds to crisis by downgrading functions to conserve energy, which can affect nearly every organ and system of the body and results in profound fatigue that is not relieved by rest.”[9]

Epstein-barr virus (EBV) or mononucleosis is the most common viral infection linked to ME/CFS because of their similar symptoms. Other viruses have shown to result in post-infective conditions that meet criteria for ME/CFS in some patients, but research has only discovered one virus that may have a specific link to ME/CFS: the human retrovirus xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus, or XMRV.[10]

Immune system abnormalities often contribute to ME/CFS. Again there is no constant trend: some patients appear to have an overactive immune response, while others have below average immune activity. Allergies appear to be common preexisting problems among ME/CFS patients. Autoimmune deficiencies also may play a role, yet studies are inconclusive.

Other significant pieces in the ME/CFS puzzle are nutritional deficiencies--many patients struggle with impaired absorption of nutrients and reduced ability to make efficient use of them; exposure to toxins; and electromagnetic field (EMF) pollution.

The most promising work done regarding ME/CFS points toward genetic variation in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis; the HPA axis is a major part of the neuroendocrine system that controls reactions to stress and regulates many body processes, including digestion, the immune system, mood and emotions, sleep patterns, and energy storage and expenditure. Studies have shown that women with ME/CFS exhibit lower cortisol levels in the morning—a time of high stress on the body—than healthy women and men.[11] This abnormality signifies adrenal fatigue, which is a condition often too mild to be recognized by blood tests and thus is only recognized by alternative medicine. Overall, investigation in this vein explores the most prevalent and central cause of ME/CFS: the body’s response to stress. This fits in with Darden’s definition of ME/CFS: that it is a specific response to overwhelming stress.

Airway obstruction causing inability to breathe optimally appears to play a significant hand in exacerbating this specific response to stress. Many ME/CFS sufferers are surviving on less air than healthy people, often due to an oversized tongue and/or jaw. But this does not show up in oxygen saturation tests because their bodies compensate with low blood pressure, often causing neurally mediated hypotension, colloquially termed the fainting reflex. Neither Darden nor Quinn realized that their airways were obstructed until exploring an alternative therapy called Oral Systemic Balance (see Treatments section below).

 Treatments

There are no simple treatments or prescription drugs developed for CFS. Treatment often includes multiple therapies, both “traditional” and “alternative,” and is aimed more toward coping with symptoms rather than eliminating them. Patients must tailor and periodically revise their treatments to accommodate complicated changing symptoms.

On the more mainstream side of the spectrum, treatments include antidepressants, counseling, cognitive-behavioral therapy, exercise therapy, pain medication, and sleep management techniques. In the realm of alternative medicine, treatments range from dietary modifications; detoxification; use of supplements; and hormone replacement; to Atlas Profilax, a physical procedure that adjusts the C1 vertebra; grounding, which reconnects the body with the earth’s energy flow of electrons; and Low Energy Neurofeedback System (LENS) for resetting brain wave patterns, to name a few.[12]

Oral Systemic Balance (OSB) is one alternative therapy that stands out from the rest due to its high rate of effectiveness. Developed by TMJ dentist Ferrand Robson, the treatment employs individualized oral appliances to open the airway and thereby improve breathing and restore balance to the nervous system. Thus, OSB is especially relevant in light of yoga’s role in treating ME/CFS; like pranayama, OSB works to achieve optimum oxygen intake by physically adjusting the body to respire in the most efficient and least taxing way possible.

Yoga as Treatment for ME/CFS

When Darden fell ill with ME/CFS she had to completely change her lifestyle. Though she had to give up many activities that she loved, she practiced yoga for 25 years until her health further declined and she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia—ME/CFS’s sister disease characterized by muscle tightening and pain--in her late 40s. Darden believes that her yoga practice played a pivotal role in keeping her symptoms at bay and staving off her decline into fibromyalgia as long as possible. Results of an Iowa College of Medicine study lend credence to Darden’s experience. The two-year study showed that ME/CFS patients who included yoga in their treatment felt better on a regular basis than those who used other treatment methods without yoga.[13]

An appropriate yoga practice for a person with ME/CFS is one that is carefully tailored to his or her specific symptoms, abilities, and limitations. If the patient is healthy and mobile enough to practice asana, it should be gentle and restorative. Yin, Kripalu, and Anasura styles are appropriate, rather than more vigorous or didactic styles like Ashtanga and Iyengar. Use of a chair, wall, and props is strongly recommended.

Pranayama can be incredibly powerful in regulating the nervous system and one’s response to stress. ME/CFS patients should begin a pranayama practice with simple one-to-one rounds of diaphragmatic breath. Once that is comfortably mastered, he/she can move to energizing techniques employing longer inhales and ujjayi breath in the morning, and calming breath with longer exhales before bedtime. Practicing at appropriate times of day is especially important for ME/CFS patients so that they can strive to maintain healthy circadian rhythms and sleep patterns. Meditation can be immensely effective for bringing much-needed relaxation, slowing heart rate, reducing anxiety and depression, and improving concentration.

Because ME/CFS is a complex, incurable illness that instills doubt, uncertainty, and guilt, its victims often develop fear of and detachment from their physical bodies. Bainbridge Island-based physical therapist and yoga teacher Suzanne Brassel emphasizes how yoga empowers people with ME/CFS to be present and mindful in their bodies. She encourages them to acknowledge their pain, rather than ignoring it or pretending it’s not there. Drawing from a background in Kripalu and Anasura yoga, Suzanne employs a forgiving, supportive, and individualized style of yoga for her ME/CFS patients. She endorses using pranayama for anyone practicing yoga, not just advanced students, and she breaks down asanas into small movements to bolster body awareness and mindfulness in her ME/CFS patients. Like Darden, Suzanne has great faith in yoga as a multidimensional treatment for ME/CFS that is unparalleled in its effectiveness.

 Conclusion

The most fundamental step in increasing legitimacy for this misunderstood illness is awareness. We practice yoga so that we can understand our bodies and souls and thus live more mindfully in the world. In the same spirit, we should inspire those around us to regard ME/CFS--or any misunderstood illness for that matter--with an open and curious mind, rather than dismissing it as malingering or a yuppie disease.

Works Cited

Burns, Darden. Chronic Fatigue & Fibromaylgia Syndromes - Strategies for Healing. Fibro Friends weblog. 26 June 2010. http://fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/chronic-fatigue-syndrome/

Burns, Darden. What Causes Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Syndromes? Fibro Friends weblog. 9 Aug. 2010. http://fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/chronic-fatigue-syndrome/

Carson, Rich. Founder’s Corner: Fair Name Campaign Update - Exciting New Direction. ProHealth.com. 19 May 2008. http://www.prohealth.com/library/showarticle.cfm?libid=13675;

CFS Case Definition; Diagnosis. CDC.gov. http://www.cdc.gov/cfs/general/case_definition/index.html; http://www.cdc.gov/cfs/general/diagnosis/index.html 

Causes, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. University of Maryland Medical Center.13 Jan. 2009. http://www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/what_causes_chronic_fatigue_syndrome_000007_3.htm

Grady, Denise. Virus Is Found in Many With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. New York Times. 8 Oct. 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/09/health/research/09virus.html

Kelly, Alice Lesch. Rest for the Weary. Yoga Journal. http://www.yogajournal.com/health/124

Nauert, Rick PhD. Stress Triggers Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. PsychCentral.com 18 Jan. 2008. http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/01/18/stress-triggers-chronic-fatigue-syndrome/1804.html

Richards, Karen Lee. A Disease in Search of a Name: The History of CFS and the Efforts to Change Its Name. http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/chronic-fatigue-151675-5.html

 

---

[1] Information taken from an interview with Burns on 10 Dec. 2010.

[2] Name changed for patient confidentiality.

[3] In November of 1990, Newsweek published a cover story on CFS, deeming it “yuppie flu” based on evidence that the condition largely affects upper middle class women. Richards, Karen Lee. A Disease in Search of a Name: The History of CFS and the Efforts to Change Its Name. HealthCentral.com.

[4] Carson, Rich. Founder’s Corner: Fair Name Campaign Update - Exciting New Direction. ProHealth.com. 19 May 2008.

[5] A 1999 Depaul University study showed that medical trainees were more likely to regard a patient’s illness as psychologically-driven when labeled as CFS versus ME. Richards, Karen Lee. A Disease in Search of A Name.

[6] Information gathered from a phone interview with Patrick N. Wagner, MD on 25 Dec. 2010.

[7] Though there has been considerable controversy and disagreement over the CDC’s work surrounding ME/CFS, I will use its guidelines in the interest of authority and simplicity. The CDC’s current guidelines demand patients be subgrouped based on the length and type of fatigue/symptom onset. CFS Case Definition; CFS. CDC.gov.

[8] Diagnosis; CFS. CDC.gov.

[9] Burns, Darden. What Causes Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Syndromes? Fibro Friends weblog. 9 Aug. 2010.

[10] Grady, Denise. Virus Is Found in Many With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. New York Times. 8 Oct. 2009; Causes, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. University of Maryland Medical Center. 13 Jan. 2009.

[11] Nauert, Rick PhD. Stress Triggers Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. PsychCentral.com 18 Jan. 2008.

[12] Burns, Darden. Chronic Fatigue & Fibromaylgia Syndromes - Strategies for Healing. Fibro Friends weblog. 26 June 2010.

[13] Kelly, Alice Lesch. Rest for the Weary. Yoga Journal. 

 

Earthing - Healing from the Ground Up

Earthing is the practice of connecting with bare feet to the electrical energy emanating from the surface of the earth by standing, walking or lying on the ground; or through the use of conductive floor pads and bed sheet that are linked by a wire to an outside ground rod or plugged into a wall outlet with a grounding system. The term "Earthing" was coined by its discoverer Cinton Ober, an entrepreneur in the cable and telecommunications industries who gave up his affluent lifestyle to search for a meaningful purpose in his life. One day in 1998 while sitting in a park, Clinton observed that all the people passing by were wearing shoes with thick rubber or plastic soles. He wondered if there was on impact on people's health from being insulated from the electrical surface charge on the ground. From his background in the cable industry Clinton knew that electronic equipment needed to be grounded to operate without interference. He wondered if the same could be true for human beings. 

Clinton measured the electrical charges created on his body at various places in his apartment with a voltmeter, an instrument that measures the electrical potential differences between the earth and any electrical object. He was surprised  to discover that the highest level of electromagnetic field (EMF) voltage was in his bedroom. He conducted an experiment on himself sleeping on a bed that he grounded with a grid of metallic duct tape that was linked with a wire to a rod placed in the ground outside. Clinton slept soundly for the first time in years and his chronic back pain went away. He then started grounding other people who experienced similar positive results. Clinton became convinced that connecting directly to the surface of the earth has tremendous healing power and he embarked on a mission to validate this discovery and to share it with others.

The benefits of "Earthing" have been substantiated by several scientific studies and are getting the attention of open minded physicians particularly since the publication of the book "Earthing: The most important health discovery ever?" in 2010. The science of Earthing is based on the principle that all living creatures are electrical by nature and that the human body is a dynamic conductor of electrical impulses. The energy residing on the surface of the earth is primarily electrical in the form of negatively charged free electrons. Free radicals, the main source of inflammation, tissue destruction and disease are positively charged. The practice of Earthing effectively neutralizes the positively charged free radicals. Earthing also protects the body's delicate bioelectrical circuitry against static electricity and interference in the form of Electromagnetic Fields (EMGs). Our disconnection from the earth's natural surface energy due to living in elevated structures and wearing insulated shoes results in an "electron deficient" state that leads to inflammatory and autoimmune disease, poor sleep, dysfunction and accelerated aging. Exposure to the ground provides an electrical "nutrient" as important as oxygen, light and water and is the best natural antioxidant and inflammatory agent. 

The sole of the foot has more nerve endings than any other part of the human body so walking bare foot or simply sitting with one's feet planted on the ground is the best way to gather the free electrons and natural energy from the earth. Since this is not always possible given people's lifestyle and cold weather Clinton developed "bare foot substitutes" in the form of floor and desk pads, bed sheets, sheet like sleeping bags for travel and athletes, pads for pets, and electrode patches and body bands that can be attached near an injury or wound or and area of acute pain or inflammation. These products connect with a wire to a ground system in a house (the single round hole in an electrical outlet) or to a wire that goes outside and is attached to a rod placed in the ground. The products are sold at the website: www.earthing.com. 

The benefits from Earthing as summarized in the book "Earthing" are as follows:

•     Defuses the cause of inflammation, and improves or eliminates the symptoms     of  many inflammation-related disorders
•      Reduces or eliminates chronic pain.
•     Improves sleep in most cases.
•     Increases energy
•     Lowers stress and promotes calmness in the body by cooling down the nervous         system and stress hormones
•     Normalizes the body's biological rhythms
•     Thins blood and improves blood pressure and flow.
•     Relieves muscle tension and headaches
•     Lessens hormonal and menstrual symptoms
•     Dramatically speeds healing and helps prevent bedsores.
•     Reduces or eliminates jet lag.
•     Protects the body against potentially health-disturbing environmental     electromagnetic fields (EMFs).
•     Accelerates recovery from intense athletic activity.

"Earthing" is full of convincing testimonials from individuals who have benefited from using Earthing products for relief from a vast number of health disorders including insomnia, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, fibromyalgia, electro-sensitivity, premenstrual syndrome, headaches, asthma, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, autism and recovery from sports injuries. 

After reading the book I was very enthusiastic about trying Earthing myself. I began by spending an hour each day walking around barefoot in my yard which I found calming in general and therapeutic for the soles of my feet which tend to be sore. I also spent a couple nights sleeping outside in a tent and got a few hours of deep sleep doing this before winter weather set in.  I then ordered a floor pad and bed sheet from earthing.com. I suffer from very disturbed sleep and I was particularly eager to see if sleeping with the products would helpful for this. The products caused a buzzing or tingling in my feet, which is a symptom I have when I rest after an active or stressful day. According to the Earthing book the tingling sensation is related to the initial re-energizing, re-synchronizing and normalizing effects that the transfer of energy generates and usually diminishes after a few sessions of Earthing. For me this sensation became more intense with each day that I used the products. During the first week I felt O.K. using the products although they did not improve my sleep. After a week and a half I had a relapse in my fibromyalgia muscle condition which I attributed to "overdoing" it physically however I was not able to recover from this and my muscle tone as measured by my EMG biofeedback unit remained high as I continued using the Earthing products. The sleep I was getting was not as restorative as it usually is and I became increasingly more exhausted. Then I began to forget small things and developed brain fog a symptom I have NEVER had before. I talked to the people at Earthing.com who encouraged me to stick with the products but after a complete meltdown emotionally I discontinued using them. My brain fog went away within a day but it was several weeks before my nervous system recovered from this experience.

While I was conducting my personal experiment with Earthing I heard from a number of my "fibro friends" who were also trying the products. Three of them had bad responses that resulted in an aggravation of chronic symptoms while another three had good responses most notably with improved sleep. I sent the sheets to a friend who suffers from severe fibromyalgia who was unable to sleep in her bed. After the first night of sleeping with the Earthing sheet she called me to enthusiastically report that she slept through the night and she continues to report good sleep with the product although she has not experienced any improvements in fibromyalgia symptoms as a result of this. I gave the sheets to several of my family members including my mother who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis. None experienced any positive changes as a result of using the products and my mother who usually sleeps quite well developed agitated, disturbed sleep after two weeks of using the sheets. A number of other individuals reported to me that they felt agitated and emotionally irritable when using the products.

In conclusion Earthing may have positive benefits for some persons with Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Syndromes particularly in the area of sleep however caution needs to be exercised when using the Earthing products because they may actually aggravate symptoms in others with these conditions. I recommend starting with the floor pad first and going slowly to monitor your response. The Earthing Institute claims that these products are entirely safe, that you cannot overuse them and that the effects are identical to standing barefoot on the ground. I disagree. I suspect that the metal in the Earthing products amplifies the electrical energy coming from the ground which can overwhelm certain individuals while other individuals benefit from this amplification. My person theory is that people who are "Yang" deficient benefit from Earthing because it facilitates more contact with the stronger natural electromagnetic field called Schumann waves that are created by lightning strikes on the earth's surface. On the other hand for people who are "Yin" deficient like myself this therapy is counterproductive because they need more contact with the weaker geomagnetic waves produces by vital trace elements found in the earth's crust. Unfortunately I do not know of any therapy that accomplishes the later or if my theory is true. 

As I have stated before each person with Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia has a unique presentation of these syndromes and requires a unique combination of strategies to heal. One can only find out through experimentation which therapies will be beneficial. Earthing may prove to be an inexpensive break through treatment for many people who suffer from chronic illness but it is not beneficial for everyone. I am interested to hear how others respond to Earthing products. Meanwhile I look forward to spring when I can resume walking bare foot on the ground!

P.S. A source for handcrafted leather moccasins which provide non-insulating natural earthing footwear is:  http://www.wassookeagmoccasins.com

     Earthing "naturally" with bare feet on the ground.

        Earthing with a "bare foot substitute" - a floor pad sold at earthing.com.