What is the Ayurvedic Take on Fibromyalgia, and What Ayurvedic Products Could I Take to Treat My Fibromyalgia?
What is Fibromyalgia from a western perspective?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes pain all over the body. It often includes other co-morbidities such as depression, insomnia, anxiety, brain fog, and restlessness. As well as muscle stiffness and difficulty concentrating. There is a lack of through understanding of this condition in western medicine and pharmacological interventions are of little efficacy.
Research points towards it affecting women more than men, it is said that around 2% of the population suffers from these symptoms.
What is fibromyalgia from an Ayurvedic perspective?
As fibromyalgia is the name for a set of symptoms, these can be translated and assessed from an Ayurvedic perspective. Mamsa Gata Vata, the pathology of muscle pain, cramps, and seizing due to imbalanced Vata. Often seen with Vishada, the inability for the mind to perform its routine function properly, resulting in feelings of sadness, lack of confidence, depression and mental imbalance.
Getting to the Root of the Problem
Ayurveda is always looking to get to the root of any condition. What has caused a person to be experiencing these symptoms? Without getting to the root and cause of any condition, the symptoms will continue to appear.
Fibromyalgia would generally be termed a Vata imbalance. Vata is the dosha or humour that is behind all movement, pain and nervous system imbalance. When there is this level of a doshic imbalance, there might well be toxicity (a.k.a. ama) involved. Vata would also be behind the mental disturbance and restlessness.
My Suggestion for Ayurvedic Support with Fibromyalgia
One of the best things for treating any Vata-related imbalance is through internal and external oleation and lubrication therapy. As Vata is inherently dry, cold and scattered in its quality and energy field, these therapies bring unctuousness, warmth and containment to the situation. Ghruta or ghee is an amazing internal form of lubrication. As with any therapy that builds and supports, we need to make sure the body is clear of toxicity before it is added to further.
My suggestion therefore would be to: see an Ayurvedic practitioner and do a thorough cleanse with them, rooting out any ama. While at the same time seeing to your Vata disturbance, and looking to bring balance back to the vitiated doshas. Then they can help put you on a course of rejuvenation therapy, aka Rasayana.
I would also suggest a personalised deep and thorough pranayama routine for you to perform every day, to bring assurance and supportive rhythm back to your nervous system. All of these things require professional overseeing and examination. I do online consultations, so if you would like to discuss that, get in touch here.
Love
Selina
By Selina Van Orden
Selina Van Orden is an Ayurvedic physician who specialises in women's health, treatment of the mind, auto-immune conditions, gut health and general wellness. For more information see: atyourbest.one