Fibromyalgia: Symptoms, Causes and Natural Support

Strategies
drjockers.com/fibromyalgia/

June 16, 2016

Fibromyalgia is a condition characterized by chronic pain and fatigue.  3-5% of the

population suffers with this condition with over 80% being women.  This is one of the
fastest growing disabling conditions in the US.   There are not any specific lab tests or
definitive markers for the diagnosis.  Instead it relies on a bevy of symptoms and tender
points along the body.  This article discusses fibromyalgia symptoms, root cause factors
and natural support strategies.

Fibromyalgia is classically diagnosed with positive reaction to 11 of 18 specific tender

point sites on the body.  Other classic findings include chronic fatigue, sleep challenges,
normal blood tests and a history of widespread pain particularly in the neck and back (1).

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What Causes Fibromyalgia:

The medical community hasn’t come up with a true defining mechanism of action for
fibromyalgia.  Many have described it as a “central sensitization syndrome” caused by
biological abnormalities in the nervous system which act to produce pain and cognitive
impairments as well as pychological problems (2).

The term “fibro” means “fibrous tissue” in latin and “myo” means muscle in Greek with
“algia” meaning pain syndrome.  So the name implies a painful condition of the muscles
and connective tissue.  Individuals with fibromyalgia deal with a number of physical and
psychological issues including the following:

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The Process of Central Sensitization:

Most scientists believe this is a chronic nervous system sensitization condition of the

muscle fascia.  This means that the individual has heightened sense of pain and
tenderness despite the fact that inflammatory agents are not consistently present (3, 4).

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When you prick your finger, there is a whole host of sensory information that is processed
through the tissue cell, spinal cord and brain in order for you to perceive pain.  We all
have a certain threshold response that must be overcome in order for us to perceive a
painful response.  Individuals with fibromyalgia have a very low pain threshold to where
very little, if any, stimulus is needed in order to provoke a painful response.

HPA Axis Abnormalities:

One of the major factors associated with fibromyalgia is dysregulation in the
Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis (HPA).  This is a problem that occurs when someone
has a heightened and ongoing fight or flight stress response.  When you are stressed,
your HPA axis naturally increases its activity.  When this is prolonged it can create long-
term issues as these areas fatigue and fail.

Chronic pituitary and adrenal fatigue reduces sex hormone (estrogen, progesterone and
testosterone) production and human growth hormone (HGH) production.  These
hormones are critical for the healing process of the body.  Research has shown this is a
characteristic trait with individuals suffering from fibromyalgia (5, 6)

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Poor Healing Response:
Individuals with fibromyalgia typically have some sort of a triggering event such as a
physical, chemical or psychological trauma.  This could be a car accident or fall, a major
infection or exposure to a toxic chemical agent or the loss of a loved one, child abuse,
spousal abuse, etc.

This trauma drives up the HPA axis as it normally should.  The problem occurs when
these individuals are unable to heal and adapt properly.  Most people are able sleep, heal
and adapt to the trauma they experience in life.  After a few weeks they are much better.

Fibromyalgia occurs when the individual is unable to sleep and heal effectively.  The poor
healing response leads to increased pain sensations and that only drives up the HPA axis
even more creating a viscous cycle where the stress response blocks healing and
promotes further stress, pain and poor healing (7).

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The Microbiome and Fibromyalgia:

There has been a tremendous amount of research linking the gut microbiome and
neurological health.  Research has indicated that low levels of healthy lactobacillus and
Bifidobacterium are linked with increased brain and nervous system excitability and
neurological inflammation (8, 9).

The research shows that 30-70% of fibromyalgia patients suffer with small intestinal
bacterial overgrowth and digestive complaints (10, 11).  Some of the most common
complaints among fibromyalgia patients include irritable bowel syndrome and indigestion
or acid reflux (12, 13).

Additional Research done by Chris Kresser L.Ac found the following:

A study in 2008 found a relationship between alterations of the intestinal microbiota

(i.e. “gut flora”) and fibromyalgia. (14)
Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles found that 100%
(42/42) of fibromyalgia patients they studied had small intestinal bacterial
overgrowth (SIBO). (15)
A study of 40 patients with fibromyalgia, 28 (70%) had intestinal permeability (i.e.
leaky gut). Importantly, 12 of the 28 patients with leaky gut had no gut
symptoms.   This is one reason the gut is often overlooked as a potential
underlying cause of fibromyalgia. (16)

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Mold Problems and Fibromyalgia
Mold grows in water damaged buildings and can release toxic substances called
mycotoxins.  These mycotoxins such as afflotoxin, ochratoxins, trichothecenes have
delirious health effects on humans and are very rarely tested for or thought of by
conventional medicine (17).

One study showed that 104 out of 112 (93%) of individuals with fibromyalgia or chronic
fatigue syndrome had at least one mycotoxin in their urine.  Almost 30% had two or more
different mycotoxins in their urine (18).

Many of these people had high mold exposure from their home or from their work office.  I
ask my clients if they feel better when they are on vacation (away from their office and
home).  If one notices a big change when they are away from their normal surroundings it
is a red flag for mold illness.

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Biotoxins and Fibromyalgia

Biotoxins are hazardous organic substances that can cause significant damage to your
health. Examples of biotoxins include mold and fungi, bacteria, volatile organic
compounds (VOCs), endotoxins and actinomycetes.

Examples of biotoxins include:

Mold and yeast

Lyme disease
Viral infections
Bacterial endotoxins

A 1992 observational cohort study indicated that chronic Lyme disease can lead to
symptoms of fibromyalgia and is associated with the diagnosis.  A 2015 study found
similar symptoms in many individuals suffering with chronic Lyme disease (19, 20).  A
2019 study found that poor immune reactions to the HPV vaccine could also be a factor
involved in the development of neuroinflammation and fibromyalgia (21).

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Heavy Metal Toxicity and Fibromyalgia:

Many individuals with fibromyalgia have heavy metal toxicity.  The most common heavy
metals associated with this include mercury, aluminum and lead.   Risk factors for
mercury toxicity include a history of amalgam fillings or one’s mother having amalgam
fillings.  Additionally, many vaccines used to have mercury and some still do.

If you had an old home with lead based paints or have used a lot of lead based lipstick
you may have elevated levels.  If one is consuming a lot of food out of aluminum cans or
using aluminum cookware and getting flu vaccines which use aluminum as a
preservative.  City based tap water can have high levels of any or all of these major
heavy metals.

If you have various mineral deficiencies such as low zinc levels, it predisposes you to
having higher heavy metal levels.  You can get a urine test to look at your heavy metal
ratios.

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Mitochondrial Dysfunction:

Every cell of the body has mitochondria within it that produce energy for the cell.  The
mitochondria are the battery packs of the cell and they are extremely important.  High
levels of oxidative stress wear down the mitochondria and cause a dysfunctional state.

Studies have linked fibromyalgia with increased oxidative stress and mitochondrial
dysfunction (22, 23).  In particular, individuals with fibromyalgia have been shown to be
deficient in Coenzyme Q10 which is one of the most important free radical scavengers
within the cell and a necessary nutrient for the mitochondrial respiratory chain (MRT) (24).

Low levels of CoQ10 reduce MRT activity and intracellular oxygenation levels.  Treatment
with CoQ10 supplementation has been shown to be very successful for improving the
symptomatology of fibromyalgia (25, 26).

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Glutathione Depletion and Nrf2:

In fibromyalgia, the cells are under so much stress that there main protective shield,
glutathione (GSH) gets worn down and oxidative stress damages the mitochondria and
the DNA leading to cell death.  Poor blood sugar control and high environmental
toxin exposure are known to deplete glutathione levels and impair mitochondrial function
(27, 28).

A key pathway that maintains cellular glutathione levels and the ability of the cell to adapt
to stress is called Keap1-Nrf2.  When this pathway breaks down it causes increased
levels of oxidative stress within the cell that leads to the glutathione depletion and
mitochondrial dysfunction (29).

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Low Vitamin D Levels and Fibromyalgia:
Vitamin D deficiency is a significant problem in our society and especially so among
fibromyalgic patients.   Research shows that there is a correlation between vitamin D
levels and the level of pain and symptoms of fibromyalgia to where individuals with lower
vitamin D have lower pain thresholds than fibro patients with higher vitamin D levels (30).

In one study, 61% of fibromyalgic patients had vitamin D levels under 30 ng/ml which is
classically considered medically deficient.  These individuals saw significant improvement
in their fibro symptoms when there vitamin D levels exceeded 50 ng/ml (31)

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MTHFR and Fibromyalgia:

Methylation is a controlled transfer of a methyl group (one carbon and three hydrogen
atoms) onto proteins, amino acids, enzymes and DNA in every cell and tissue of the body
to regulate healing, cell energy, genetic expression of DNA, liver detoxification, immunity
and neurology.

Adapting to stress and the challenges of life is an aspect that methylation provides the
body.  Without adequate methylation processes the individual cannot adapt to stress
effectively.  Research shows that individuals with fibromyalgia have altered methylation
processes due to genetic polymorphysims (MTHFR, MTRR, A1AT and COMT among
others) and nutrient deficiencies (32, 33).

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Key methylation elements include methylated B vitamins (riboflavin, B6, folate and B12 in
particular), magnesium, selenium, zinc and various trace minerals.  Individuals with
fibromyalgia are often deficient in these key nutrients and need nutritional and
supplemental strategies to address these key methylating agents.

Low Oxalate Diet and Fibromyalgia:

Individuals with fibromyalgia may benefit from a low-oxalate diet.  Oxalates are naturally
occurring compounds in plants, animals and humans. The body is naturally able to
synthesize oxalates from various compounds such as excess vitamin C, fructose as well
as yeast.

Vitamin B-6 deficiency, magnesium and thiamine deficiency are also ideal circumstances
for increased oxalate synthesis. (34, 35, 36).  Clinically, I use the Great Plains laboratory
organic acid test to determine if someone has elevated oxalates in their system.  This is a
simple urine test done in the comfort of your own home.

This test also lets me analyze for vitamin B6 deficiencies and for Candida overgrowth
which are both major causes of hyperoxaluria and common issues involved with
fibromyalgia (37, 38, 39).  From a functional nutrition and natural medicine perspective
this test helps me to determine the cause and best diet and treatment for this condition.

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Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Lifestyle
Anti-inflammatory foods help to modulate the immune system and reduce inflammatory
activity in the body.  Great anti-inflammatory foods include coconut products, avocados,
olive oil, berries & phytonutrient rich vegetables.  Healthy meat sources such as grass-fed
beef, wild game, wild salmon, organic poultry and organic eggs are great if the gut can
tolerate them.

It is advisable for anyone with chronic inflammation to include organic vegetable juices,
fermented foods and functional beverages in their diet.   Homemade sauerkraut, apple
cider vinegar, coconut water kefir, and kimchi are great.  Begin with small doses of all of
these and add more if you tolerate them well.

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Powerful herbs such as turmeric, ginger, garlic, onion, rosemary, thyme, cinnamon, &
oregano among others should be used as much as possible to improve immune
coordination.

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Chiropractic Care for Fibromyalgia:

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People with fibromyalgia, chronic pain & fatigue are highly likely to have neurological
dysfunction in their upper neck.  Subluxation, or neurological interference, at the bottom
of the skull, C1 & C2 alter endorphin release into the body.  This leads to increased states
of pain, fatigue, anxiety and accelerated stress as well as malcoordinated immunity (40).

Well trained chiropractors can analyze these regions of the spine and give specific
corrective adjustments to restore balance and optimal neurological expression in these
regions.  This reduces the stress response and improves endorphin release.  This
improves the individual’s pain tolerance and overall well-being (41, 42).

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Natural Support Strategies For Fibromyalgia:

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Here are the best action steps to get started with on your journey to improve your health. 
It is important to note that these strategies are not FDA approved to prevent, mitigate,
treat or cure fibromyalgia and should not be considered as such.  You should always
consult with your physician before stopping or changing medications or taking on new
health strategies.

Additionally, you should be working with a functional health practitioner to help guide you
through these strategies.  This is not an exhaustive list and there are other natural
therapeutic strategies that I and functional health practitioners will utilize to help
individuals with fibromyalgia.

Change Your Diet:

Eating an anti-inflammatory diet rich in nutrient-dense foods is the first best thing you can
do to prevent inflammation and nervous system abnormalities. First, eliminate all
inflammatory foods, including refined sugar, gluten, refined oils, deep-fried and processed
foods, conventional dairy, grain-fed meat and eggs, soda and sugary drinks, and foods
that you are sensitive to.

Instead, it is important to eat an anti-inflammatory diet that is rich in nutrient dense

vegetables, low glycemic index fruits, herbs, spices, healthy fats, grass-fed meat, and
wild-caught fish.  I also recommend a ketogenic approach for individuals with
fibromyalgia. Getting into ketosis will enhance mitochondrial function and significantly
reduce inflammation in the body.

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Test For Food Sensitivities:
Most people with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome have leaky gut and food
sensitivities.  These sensitivities can be hard to pinpoint as they result in delayed
symptoms that are not life threatening.

The most common food sensitivities include gluten, corn, dairy, soy, peanuts and sugar. 
Some other potential food sensitivities to consider include all grains, eggs, nuts, seeds
and nightshade vegetables (tomatoes, potatoes, peppers and eggplant).

It can be helpful to do a 28 day elimination diet where you remove all of these and then
slowly add these back in one at a time.  You can also do both biofeedback and blood
testing to determine what foods are causing stress in your system and an elimination diet
to test how you are responding to eliminating certain foods for periods of time.

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Intermittent Fasting:  
Intermittent fasting is a form of fasting cycles between not eating (fasting) and eating
(feasting) over a period of time. The benefits of intermittent fasting benefits include
cellular repair, autophagy, immune regulation, inflammation levels, and insulin sensitivity.

It also helps to lower the risk of developing autoimmune and chronic inflammatory
conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.  Going 16–18 hours between dinner and
breakfast is one of the best ways to improve mitochondrial production.  Your body
improves energy efficiency by increasing and strengthening the mitochondria during
periods of fasting.  Consume your meals in a 6-8 hour window such as 11am–7pm or 12–
6pm.

When you do this you enhance cellular healing and reduce neuroinflammation in the
body.  To learn more about the benefits of intermittent fasting and best intermittent fasting
practices, I recommend this article.

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Reduce Stress:
Reducing stress is a critical for reducing inflammation and improving immune health. I
recommend that you reduce stressors from your life as much as possible. Turn off the
news, and only look at it once a day or a few times a week for a specific period. Reduce
your social media use and time on the internet.

Avoid people and situations that bring you down. Surround yourself with loving and
uplifting people. Engage in uplifting and relaxation-promoting activities. Read, try some
arts and crafts, play cards or board games, sing, and dance.

Spend time in nature and do some grounding walking barefoot on grass.  Practice daily
gratitude and try positive affirmations.  Practice self-love and laugh with friends and
family. Meditate, pray, journal, and try daily breathing exercises. Be grateful and smile
more.

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Improve Your Sleep:  
Prioritizing good sleep is just as important as reducing your stress levels. Develop a
regular schedule going to bed and getting up at the same time every day to support your
circadian rhythms.

Avoid electronics, sugar, caffeine, heavy foods, and stress close to the bed. Engage in
relaxing activities, including stretching, relaxing baths, meditation, and prayer. Make sure
that you have a supporting bed, pillow, and bedding, and sleep in a dark calming room.

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Power Up Your Nrf2 Pathway:
Nrf2 (NF-E2-related factor 2) is a transcription factor in humans encoded by a specific
gene that regulates the expression of a set of antioxidant and detoxifying genes.  This
pathway is activated under times of oxidative stress to enhance the expression of a
multitude of antioxidant and phase II liver detoxification enzymes that restore
homeostasis to the ox/redox cycles in the body (43, 44, 45).

The Nrf2 pathway has been researched to be a key player in the development or
prevention of chronic inflammation, neuroinflammation and autoimmune activity (46, 47,
48) .  Adding in clinical dosages of resveratrol, curcumin, quercetin, sulfuraphane and
green tea (EGCG) can be extraordinarily beneficial for driving up the Nrf2 Pathway.

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Include Magnesium & B Vitamin Rich Foods:  
Magnesium helps to improve blood sugar signaling patterns and improves mitochondrial
health.  The best magnesium and B vitamin rich foods include dark green leafy veggies,
avocados, grass-fed animal products, raw cacao and pumpkin seeds.

You can also do Epsom salt baths to support your magnesium levels.  It would also be
wise to supplement with a good magnesium and B complex supplement.  Look for
magnesium L-threonate which is the best form of magnesium for crossing the blood brain
barrier.

When it comes to B vitamins, it is best to look for one with pre-activated forms such as
methyl-folate, methyl-cobalamin (B12), Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate form of B6, and Riboflavin-
5-phosphate form of vitamin B2.  The methyl groups are in the active form and will be
better utilized by the body.

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Focus on Deep Breathing:
Improving your posture, seeing a high quality chiropractor and optimizing your breathing
patterns is highly recommended.  Taking time to slow down your breathing and take long-
deep breaths for a few minutes every hour will help reduce the sympathetic, fight or flight
part of the nervous system.

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The better we breathe, the better we will heal and the more blood flow we will get and the
better our immune and inflammatory health will be.  Follow these tips here to improve
your breathing patterns.

Use Anti-Oxidant Rich Herbs:

Carminatives are herbs that help to improve digestive health by reducing pathogens in
the gut, stimulating the production of stomach acid, bile and pancreatic enzymes and
modulating the gut microbiome.

Examples of these herbs include turmeric, ginger, oregano, garlic, basil, thyme and
rosemary.  These herbs are  help to improve digestion, reduce inflammation and support
a healthy brain.  There are a number of ways to use these that I discuss in the following
image.  I like putting the herbs on foods, using herbal teas, fermented foods and essential
oils.

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Ground Your Body:
In our society we are surrounded by toxic electromagnetic frequency’s (EMF’s).  These
EMF’s increase stress and inflammation within the body and can be a trigger for
neurological inflammation for some individuals.  Many people suffering with fibromyalgia
have a lot of trouble dealing with environments that are high in EMF.

By going outside daily and walking barefoot on grass, dirt or sand you absorb natural
EMF’s from the ground that balance your electrical rhythms.  Follow the steps in this
article here.

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Supplement With Omega 3’s:
Omega 3 fatty acids and in particular the long chain variety EPA and DHA are critical for
stabilizing blood sugar, reducing inflammation and pain. Consume grass-fed meat, grass-
fed butter, wild-caught fish, seafood and spirulina to get it in your diet.

Plant based omega 3’s such as flax oil only contain the small chain omega 3 called ALA
and do not have any DHA.  It is very hard for our body to convert ALA into DHA so it is
best to get a high quality fish or krill oil that is rich in EPA and DHA.  You want to find a
brand that is molecularly distilled to take out any heavy metals and other unwanted
contaminants.

Be sure to discuss with your physician before using as fish oils have a blood thinning
affect and can be contraindicated if you are on blood thinning medications.

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Improve Your Mitochondria:  
The mitochondria are the energy powerhouses of every cell.  When someone has an
autoimmune or chronic inflammatory disorder it is a clinical sign that they have
dysfunctional activity going on in the mitochondria.

Support your mitochondria with clinical doses of CoQ10, L-carnitine, N-acetyl cysteine,
creatine monohydrate, B vitamins, magnesium, alpha lipoic acid and D-ribose.  You can
find mitochondrial support supplements that have most if not all of these key nutrients.

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Optimize Your Vitamin D:  
Low vitamin D3 is associated with chronic inflammation and autoimmune conditions. 
Vitamin D is arguably one of the most powerful nutrients responsible for modulating and
coordinating the immune system.

In autoimmune disease, the immune system has a hard time differentiating self from non-
self (foreign invaders). Vitamin D helps the immune system make this important
distinction, which reduces autoimmune disease formation (49).  Vitamin D also helps to
modulate the immune system to reduce inflammation throughout the body (50).

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Support Gut Health
In order to reduce inflammation and autoimmunity, you have to repair and heal your
intestinal lining.  I recommend eating a gut friendly diet that works best for your body
type.  For some individuals with fibromyalgia, a low oxalate diet is very helpful.

Consuming liquid nutrition for is great for stimulating the digestive process, increasing

nutrient absorption, and improving gut health. Liquid nutrition does not require as much
energy to digest, so your body can focus on healing and repair. You can combine liquid
nutrition with fasting strategies for quicker healing.

Using a good quality bone broth collagen in a shake or smoothie is a great way to include
liquid nutrition in your diet. Collagen contains amino acids, including glycine and
glutamine, which are essential for healing leaky gut. These amino acids seal the holes in
the gut by healing damaged cells and building new tissue. Collagen also makes up the
villi, small finger-like structures on the intestinal wall and assists with water absorption in
the intestines.

Additionally, I recommend taking a daily probiotic supplement.  Probiotics helps to

optimize your gut health and improve your nutrient absorption while reducing gut related
inflammation.  When gut inflammation goes down it also reduces inflammatory mediators
that impact joint health.

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Reduce Toxin Exposure
Reducing your toxic exposure is critical for improving liver function and reducing
inflammation. Buy organic food as much as possible. Stop using conventional beauty,
body, and household products, and replace them with organic, natural, or homemade
alternatives.

Use glass, stainless steel, wood, and bamboo products instead of plastic. Spend time in
nature and breathe in the fresh air. Use a good indoor air filtration system. Make sure that
you drink clean, toxin-free water by using a high quality reverse osmosis system.  Add a
slice of lime for some extra flavor.

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Support Detoxification Pathways
It is not enough to put good things into your body, you have to make sure that the bad
things come out as well. Drink plenty of water to support detoxification through sweating
and urine. Support your detoxification pathways to protect your body from brain
inflammation.

I recommend using infrared saunas to promote detoxification through sweating. Try

rebounding and dry-skin brushing to support your lymphatic pathways.  Support two
major detoxifying organs, your kidneys and liver with herbs like milk thistle, parsley,
dandelion and bioactive carbons which can penetrate and remove toxins from deep within
the tissues and cells.

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Final Thoughts

Fibromyalgia is a serious issue that affects millions of people around the world. The
symptoms of fibromyalgia include pain, fatigue, sleep problems, depression, brain fog and
headaches. To help support your body, follow my recommendations in this article. You
may notice improvements in your pain, energy and overall health.

If you want to work with a functional health coach, I recommend this article with tips on
how to find a great coach. On our website, we offer long-distance functional health
coaching programs. For further support with your health goals, just reach out—our
fantastic coaches are here to support your journey.

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