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Best herbs for Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Below are herbs that show promise in treating Fibromyalgia Syndrome. But remember, herbs – like any other treatment – can’t do all the work on their own. Pain management is done through combination of various treatments/therapies, starting with exercise, a good diet, and mind-body work.

Always consult your doctor before taking a supplement, especially if you are taking prescription medications, are pregnant or breastfeeding, are taking blood-thinning medications, have special or severe medical conditions (including but not limited to heart, kidney, or liver disease; high blood pressure; stomach disorders; ulcers; blood clotting abnormalities; or depression).
Boswellia (Do not take boswellia if you are pregnant.)
Form and dosage	Take as directed on the label.
Comments	Good for morning stiffness and joint pain.
Cat’s claw (Do not take cat’s claw if you take insulin for diabetes. Do not use this herb if you are pregnant or nursing.)
Form and dosage	Capsules. Take up to 3,000 mg daily.
Comments	Numerous anecdotal reports of improvement in symptoms after approximately 3 months use.
Kava
Form and dosage	Kavapyrone tablets. Take 60~120 mg daily.
Comments	Helps induce sleep. May be combined with passionflower or valerian.
St. John’s wort
Form and dosage	Hypericin capsules. Take at least 900 mg daily for 2~3 months.
Comments	Raises serotonin levels; restores sleep and eases pain.
Willow bark
Form and dosage	Salicin tablets. Take as directed on the label.
Comments	Aspirin-like pain relief without risk of bleeding or stomach upset.

Recommendations:

Do not discontinue any prescription antidepressant medications you may be taking when starting to use St. John’s wort. The herb complements and reinforces the effect of the drug. Treatment, however, takes time. While a few people with fibromyalgia experience pain relief immediately, results usually take at least a month and frequently longer.

Take 800 milligrams of the supplement S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) daily for at least six weeks to control symptoms. Five clinical studies show that SAMe relieves depression, fatigue, morning stiffness, muscular weakness, and pain in fibromyalgia. It is significantly more effective in treating the condition than TENS.

Complement antidepressant therapy with 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan (5-HTP) and magnesium. 5-HTP increases the effect of St. John’s wort and/or amitriptyline hydrochloride (Elavil). Take 50 to 100 milligrams three times a day, every other day for three months. Magnesium supplements stimulate serotonin production and provide muscle cells with necessary energy, which helps to avoid a muscle burn. The best forms of magnesium for fibromyalgia are those bound to aspartate, citrate, fumarate, malate, or succinate, chemicals involved in the energy cycle of muscle cells. Take 200 to 250 milligrams three times daily.

Include pomegranates and pomegranate juice in your diet. They have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Drink plenty of liquids to help flush out toxins. The best choices are steam-distilled water and herbal teas. Fresh vegetable juices supply necessary vitamins and minerals.

Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and sugar. These products increase the body’s production of lactic acid.

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