Ayurvedic Treatment in Kerala for Fibromyalgia
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UNDERSTANDING FIBROMYALGIA
One of the most distressing things about fibromyalgia is its vague character - often nothing shows up in lab tests, nothing shows up in CT or MRI. You may even be told that it is all psychological. But you can't sleep, you are so tired that you can't go to work, you don't feel interested in anything, even your memory is affected. You see multiple doctors, multiple specialists, you get different diagnoses, you take antidepressants and painkillers but the pain doesn't go away and you don't feel any energy. Undergoing ayurvedic treatment in Kerala for fibromyalgia is a significant step towards your return to health and wellbeing, because ayurveda not only relieves the symptoms of fibromyalgia effectively, but also addresses all the physical and psychological aspects of the disease. With a complete course of ayurvedic treatment for fibromyalgia in Kerala that lasts three to four weeks, you can obtain significant relief of symptoms, feel energetic, enjoy better mood stability, have a far greater quality of life and say goodbye to antidepressants. The best part of ayurveda treatment for fibromyalgia is that there are neither lifelong medications nor harmful side effects.
What is fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia means generalised aches and pains all over the body along with chronic fatigue. The neck, shoulders, back and hip are the most vulnerable areas where pain and tenderness are usually seen. Muscles ache and twitch as if they are overworked and this is often accompanied by sleep and mood disorders and troubles with memory and concentration (this is called fibro fog). Although pain and tenderness are common features, the other symptoms are often different from person to person. Due to the pain and disturbed sleep, you may wake up not feeling fresh even after long hours of sleep. Some may also experience irritable bowel syndrome, tension headaches, anxiety and depression along with other symptoms which make the condition more miserable. Treatment at an ayurveda hospital in Kerala under the guidance of an experienced physician could provide excellent relief in all these physical and psychological symptoms.
What are the causes of fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a condition where, due to some neurological disturbances, pain signals are amplified and the patient experiences pain in an exaggerated way - i.e. the pain experienced is disproportionate to the external stimuli. The exaggerated pain and tenderness is believed to be due to a problem in the way the brain perceives pain - the brain will be in a constant state of heightened reactivity called “central sensitization”, so when nerve endings on the skin send signals to the brain in response to an external stimuli, the brain perceives it abnormally and the person experiences amplified pain to minor stimuli. What triggers these neurological changes? Apart from a genetic predisposition, physical stress like a road accident or a surgery and emotional stress like death or separation seem to play a big role in causing these changes. Sometimes chronic emotional stress over a period of time is the trigger for such neurological changes. Your treatment at the ayurvedic centre in Kerala will be aimed at correcting this exaggerated reactivity to pain and relieve other associated symptoms with suitable internal medicines, therapies, diet and lifestyle modifications.
What is the approach adopted in the ayurvedic treatment in Kerala for fibromyalgia?
Ayurveda explains that the functions of nerves and muscles are governed by the vata dosha in our body (Vata, pitta and kapha are the tridoshas in our body. If the proportions between these doshas are disturbed, it results in disease).. Certain factors like chronic stress, physical injuries, sleep deprivation, improper diet and lifestyle etc. aggravate vata dosha and lead to impaired digestion which result in gradual accumulation of toxins over a period of time. As a result of the accumulation of these toxins in muscle tissues and aggravation of vata dosha, the nerves that supply these muscles become hypersensitive to external stimuli. Ayurvedic treatment in Kerala for fibromyalgia therefore concentrates on bringing back the vata balance, removal of accumulated toxins and stabilizing the neurological functions.
AYURVEDIC TREATMENT FOR FIBROMYALGIA
How does ayurvedic treatment in Kerala for fibromyalgia work?
Ayurvedic treatment in Kerala for fibromyalgia addresses both physical and psychological aspects of the disease and attempts to -
Remove accumulated toxins from muscles: The accumulation of toxins in muscle tissues is the result of hampered digestion over a long period of time. By correcting your diet and with certain internal medicines, your metabolic fire is kindled first so that accumulated toxins are eliminated completely and further formation of toxins is arrested.
Relieve pain, fatigue and other symptoms: Symptoms like pain, tenderness, stiffness, tiredness, psychological and emotional imbalance etc. are primarily due to the aggravation of vata dosha. To pacify this vata dosha and reduce pain and other symptoms, various external and internal therapies like snehana (oleation), swedana (fomentation), abhyanga (therapeutic massage), various types of kizhis and dharas, vasti (therapeutic enema) etc may be adopted based on the physician assessment of your condition.
Reduce the hypersensitivity of nerves: The exaggerated pain perception and emotional instability indicate problems with the central nervous system. To restore normal neurological functions, panchakarma therapies like nasya that have a direct effect on the brain may be employed. This also helps in reducing the severity of headaches, depression, anxiety and other symptoms associated with fibromyalgia.
Enhance emotional health: Ayurvedic treatment in Kerala for fibromyalgia gives equal importance to reducing the psychological symptoms like mood instability, anxiety, depression etc. Therapeutic counselling, medicines and therapies like shirodhara, shirovasti, thalam etc.are used to optimise the functions of stress hormones, soothe nerves, correct sleep disorders and restore emotional health.
How successful is the ayurvedic treatment in Kerala for fibromyalgia?
Ayurvedic treatment in Kerala for fibromyalgia takes 3 to 4 weeks depending on the severity of your condition. Treatment taken during the initial stages yields best results; almost complete recovery from pain and other symptoms is possible during this stage and it is sustainable long term with proper diet and lifestyle changes. Even chronic cases of fibromyalgia with severe symptoms can be managed well with ayurvedic treatment with considerable reduction in the severity of symptoms.
AYURVEDIC DIET AND LIFESTYLE ADVICE
What is the diet recommended in the ayurvedic treatment for fibromyalgia?
Since fibromyalgia is caused by an abnormal increase of vata dosha, a diet that does not cause further aggravation of vata and instead pacifies vata is recommended. Avoid dried varieties of pulses, legumes and lentils like chickpea, horse gram, beans etc. Avoid bitter and astringent vegetables like brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, potatoes, cabbage etc as it can aggravate vata dosha. Dairy products like milk, buttermilk, ghee etc may be included in your diet and are best if mildly spiced with cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, ginger, cumin or asafoetida. Avoid raw vegetables, caffeine, frozen and canned foods as much as possible. While deep fried items are to be avoided, make sure properly cooked fresh lean meat and fish are part of your diet.
Satvik food is also recommended as part of ayurvedic treatment for fibromyalgia since it can enhance your psychological well being. Seasonal fruits, vegetables, organic whole grains like oats, barley, rice etc. are with sattvik quality and hence beneficial for you. Even though this is a general dietary guideline, make sure you have a discussion with your physician before your discharge from the ayurvedic centre in Kerala.
What is the lifestyle recommended in the ayurvedic treatment for fibromyalgia?
Your ayurvedic treatment in Kerala will give you the best results if you comply with the diet and lifestyle advice given to you by your physician. Fibromyalgia being a condition caused by vata predominance, avoid all those activities that cause increase in vata dosha. For example you may want to avoid strenuous activities, rigorous exercise, skipping meals, day sleep etc as all these can cause imbalance in vata dosha. Vata dosha has a strong tendency to be aggravated by cold weather and chilled water, so avoid these and stay comfortably warm always. Quit smoking and alcohol as these can worsen pain and cause depression like symptoms. Follow a healthy, daily routine for food, work, sleep, exercise etc. Find time for what makes you happy and your hobbies.Fill your mind with positive attitude and practise yoga and meditation for mental strength and calmness. During your stay at the ayurveda hospital in Kerala find some time with your physician to discuss your routine and lifestyle so that necessary modifications can be made.
SUMMARY
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition with varying manifestations and severity of symptoms. A disease that is often misunderstood as entirely a psychological problem, fibromyalgia can affect a person’s quality of life significantly. Even though modern medicine often fails to treat fibromyalgia effectively despite its use of antidepressants and painkillers, a course of inpatient ayurvedic treatment in Kerala for fibromyalgia that lasts 3 to 4 weeks could prove to be highly effective in significantly bringing down both physical as well as psychological symptoms. Ayurvedic treatment for fibromyalgia works by restoring dosha balance as well as by reducing the hypersensitivity of nerves. Treatment modalities include ayurvedic internal medicines, specific external therapies that have a direct action on the the brain and nerves, psychotherapy, yoga, meditation and diet and lifestyle modifications.
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FAQs
Do I need to come for follow up treatments after my first course of ayurvedic treatment in Kerala for fibromyalgia?
This totally depends on the severity of your condition and the advice of your treating physician. Recent onset with mild symptoms usually requires a single course of treatment and the benefits can be sustained with lifestyle changes and dietary modifications. Chronic cases with more severe symptoms require extensive management and might require one or two follow up treatment courses in the future years.
Can I discontinue the use of antidepressants and painkillers after I take ayurvedic treatment for fibromyalgia?
Yes. Gradual withdrawal of such medicines is suggested starting with dosage reduction. As the treatment progresses and depending on your improvement in symptoms, you will be able to discontinue those medicines and rely completely on ayurvedic medicines and treatment. Your treating physician will guide you correctly on this matter.