Fibromyalgia is indicated by chronic pain, constant fatigue, and sharp changes in mood. There are only a handful of treatments that can effectively attenuate all of the symptoms associated with this chronic disease.
In addition to these treatments modalities, there are supplements that can increase fibromyalgia pain relief. These adjuncts can reduce pain caused by the disease, improve sleep, increase energy, and decrease inflammation levels.
Some of these supplements are essential oils. They are used to relieve pain and fatigue caused by health problems similar to fibromyalgia. The most promising ones are capsicum, lavender, and peppermint. (Related: Soursop leaves may alleviate symptoms of fibromyalgia.)
The relaxing and mood-lifting effects of lavender oil extract
Lavender essential oil is a very relaxing compound used in aromatherapy. It is involved in the regulation of mood responses and the central and autonomic nervous systems, all of which are sorely affected by the onset of fibromyalgia.
In a 2012 study supported by Chulalongkorn University, volunteers who breathed in lavender oil extract displayed improved blood pressure, slower heart rate, and cooler skin temperatures. Furthermore, some of the participants said that they felt fresher after sleeping in a room filled with the vaporized essential oil. They also believed they felt more active during the day that followed that sleep.
In a different experiment, Spanish and Danish researchers found that lavender halted serotonin transport receptors in the central nervous system. The essential oil also decreased the activity of NMDA receptors. These receptors block important neurochemicals that affect mood. By stopping these receptors, lavender could improve mood problems such as depression.
Peppermint oil is a stamina booster and a muscle pain reliever
There are two ways by which peppermint essential oil can offer fibromyalgia pain relief. First, it alleviates the pain of muscles that have been strained by the chronic disease. Second, it also increases the stamina of the patient.
A daily dose of 500 milliliters (ml) of water with one drop of peppermint extract can improve energy levels, extend the amount of time before exhaustion sets in, increase the power of the muscles, and enhance work levels. These improvements take less than 10 days to appear.
You can combine peppermint oil supplementation with aerobic exercise. Cardio exercises are considered to be an important means of therapy for fibromyalgia that do not involve the use of pharmaceutical drugs. By increasing your stamina, peppermint oil can help you beat fibromyalgia by allowing you to work out more.
If you can't stand the hot taste of capsicum oil, use the topical cream
Last but not least on the list is capsicum essential oil. This compound is responsible for the tongue-searing heat of most spicy foods. It also alleviates pain by disabling the nerve receptors that normally process pain-related signals.
As you can guess, red peppers contain the highest amount of this oil. A good rule of thumb is that the redder and hotter the pepper, the stronger its pain-relieving effect for people suffering from fibromyalgia. But if you cannot stand the heat of spicy foods, there are also capsicum topical creams that can be directly applied to the skin.
In 2010, researchers from the University of Freiburg tested one of these creams on patients afflicted with chronic pain. They found that treated patients experienced 26 percent less pain than untreated counterparts. This led them to conclude that capsicum essential oil is a promising way to treat the symptoms of fibromyalgia.
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