What Are the Different Types of Alternative Medicine for Fibromyalgia?

While no single conventional or alternative medicine for fibromyalgia has been successful in managing the symptoms of the disorder, a number of different approaches have shown some promise. Most physicians recommend that rather than using a single drug treatment patients instead incorporate a cluster of different modalities of alternative medicine into an individual treatment package. The different types of alternative medicine for fibromyalgia can generally be grouped into three distinct categories: lifestyle modification, physical manipulation, and dietary supplements. Used together or alongside conventional medicine, these approaches may help reduce the pain, mental fog, depression and other symptoms of the condition.

One of the most popular types of alternative medicine for fibromyalgia in the category of physical manipulation is acupuncture. This procedure is becoming more widely used in the United States and Canada as a complement to conventional pharmaceutical pain relief for number of different conditions. It has even been used to reduce the amount of anesthesia required to perform minor surgeries. Other patients report improved levels of well-being from the use of massage, particularly massage that is focused on what are known as trigger points. Unlike the painful spots used to diagnose fibromyalgia, manipulation of these trigger points are believed by some to help prevent the knotting and spreading of musculoskelatal pain that often characterizes the condition.

While the fatigue and muscle pain of the condition may make the idea of incorporating exercise into their routine a daunting prospect for many sufferers, it remains one of the most reliable of behavioral remedies for the condition. Yoga is another popular alternative medicine for fibromyalgia, as is tai chi. According to the accounts of many sufferers, exercise like yoga and tai chi may provide a reduction in pain as well as an improvement in mood and energy levels. This finding also has the support of the Mayo Clinic, which has found that relaxation practices, which slow and regulate the breathing, can help with some of the psychological symptoms of the condition.

A number of dietary supplements may complement existing drug therapies for the condition. The supplement 5-hydroxytryptophan has been used to help improve sleep and mood by some patients, as has the hormone melatonin. Perhaps the most popular supplement for fibromyalgia is s-adenosylmethionine, also known as SAM-e or ademetionine, due to its effects on pain, mood and energy levels. Historically, gamma-hydroxybutyrate had been used as an alternative medicine for fibromyalgia, but due to its potential for addiction and abuse, it is now available only by prescription. Since SAM-e and other supplements may interact with some common fibromyalgia medications, it is important that physicians carefully cross-check supplement drug interactions before making any changes to a patient's regimen.