What Are They and Do They Work? Ear Seeds:

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Ear seeds are everywhere these days. And though the name may call to mind visions of flowering plants sprouting from your earlobes, they’re actually a form of acupressure, which targets acupuncture points without using needles. So what can these tiny but mighty acupressure tools do for you? Acupuncturist Thuy Kim Nguyen, DAOM, LAc​, explains what ear seeds are, what they do and how to use them for the most benefit. What are ear seeds? Based in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), ear seeds are a form of auriculotherapy, which uses acupressure points in the…

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Fibromyalgia and Nausea

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We’ve all experienced that sick feeling from time to time. However, for those with Fibro it’s often more frequent and the nausea is worse. Nausea can last for a day, a week or even several months. Some individuals may find that it is sporadic, and others find that it occurs on a daily basis, dramatically impacting their quality of life. In most cases, nausea is not the only symptom. Typically, it’s accompanied by: – Heart palpitations – Dizziness – Chills – Feeling faint – Sweating – Vomiting – Difficulty breathing…

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Low-dose naltrexone in the treatment of fibromyalgia

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: A systematic review and narrative synthesis Background Fibromyalgia is characterised by chronic, widespread musculoskeletal pain and other systemic symptoms. Current pharmaceutical intervention does not provide consistent pain relief and has detrimental side effects. Clinical experience, case reports, and internet support groups, have increased interest in low-dose naltrexone (1–5 mg) as an off‑label treatment for fibromyalgia symptoms. This article summarises the literature around the pathophysiology of fibromyalgia, as well as the evidence on low-dose naltrexone as a potential treatment option. Methods A systematic literature search was conducted using the key words ‘naltrexone’,…

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Saturated vs. Unsaturated Fats

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Your body needs dietary fat, but it’s best to limit some saturated fats By Jennifer Moll, PharmD  Table of Contents The main difference between saturated and unsaturated fat is their form at room temperature and their impact on your health. Dietary fats are important for your body to stay healthy. They provide energy, protect your organs, maintain cell growth, stabilize blood pressure, and help your body to absorb certain nutrients.1 The key is eating healthy types of fat. Saturated fats (including a type called trans fat) tend to stay solid at room temperature and can cause fatty deposits in…

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What Is Major Depressive Disorder?

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By Jenn Sinrich   Medically reviewed by Lindsay Cook, PharmDPrint  Table of Contents Depression is a common and serious mood disorder that impacts the way an individual feels, thinks, and acts on a daily basis. It also goes by the name major depressive disorder (MDD), or clinical depression. Someone who is depressed may experience a lack of interest and excitement in everyday activities that they once enjoyed, and the overall emotional toll that depression can take on a person’s wellbeing can lead to emotional, physical, and mental issues that can impact nearly every facet…

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What to Eat When You Have Fibromyalgia

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Dietary Recommendations for Better Management By Adrienne Dellwo  Table of Contents Fibromyalgia can be difficult to manage, but there is evidence that certain dietary changes can benefit people living with this chronic pain disorder. What exactly might help can differ from person to person, but some have reported improvement with increased intake of antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids and decreased consumption of food allergens and gluten. Although research supporting the use of diet in fibromyalgia is of low quality overall, a 2019 review published in the Annals of Medicine reported that diet rendered positive results in five of…

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What Are the Symptoms of Fibromyalgia?

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You’ve been feeling run down lately. Tired, achy, everything hurts. You can’t concentrate. You can’t sleep. You don’t feel like… you. It’s like you have the flu, but you don’t have a fever and you’re not getting better. Your doctor says nothing seems to be wrong, but the symptoms persist. What’s happening? It’s possible that it could be fibromyalgia, a chronic pain disorder. Here’s how to recognize the red flags of this condition, and where to get help. Basics Refresh: What Is Fibromyalgia? Fibromyalgia (sometimes shortened to just “fibro”) is a…

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What’s The Difference With Fibromyalgia and Lupus ?

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By Adrienne Dellwo  Table of Contents Pain. Fatigue. Malaise. These symptoms are just part of life when you have fibromyalgia (FMS) or lupus. When you have both fibromyalgia and lupus, you get a double helping of those symptoms, in addition to the other symptoms of both conditions. FMS and lupus are both hard to diagnose, and because their primary symptoms can be very similar, people with FMS are sometimes misdiagnosed as having lupus, and vice versa. A sizable number of people have both conditions, which complicates diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, it’s important for those with FMS…

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Autoimmunity and Neuroinflammation in Fibromyalgia

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By Adrienne Dellwo  Table of Contents Fibromyalgia (FM) may be an autoimmune disease, where your immune system attacks healthy cells by mistake. For years, the evidence seemed to point away from that. This issue is still far from decided, but opinion may be swaying back toward autoimmunity. Some research suggests FM may be an autoimmune disease involving neuroinflammation, an inflammatory response within the brain and spinal cord, and small-fiber neuropathy, which is weakness and pain from nerve damage.1 That hypothesis isn’t getting widespread acceptance in the medical community, though. This article looks at what…

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Fibromyalgia Is An Autoimmune Disease?

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Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes chronic pain throughout the body, fatigue, anxiety, and nerve dysfunction. Today, it affects the life of 4 million people in the US alone and, if left untreated, it can lead to disability. Given that there is no definitive cure for fibromyalgia, treatments primarily aim to ease its symptoms. Despite how common and debilitating this condition is, its “invisible” nature has led to a delay in the research on its causes, symptoms, and prognosis. Certainly, with clinical trials only starting in the 1980s, a lot is yet to be understood…

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