Naturopathic care can support individuals with fibromyalgia by addressing underlying factors. These include stress, nutrition, sleep, movement and gut health. Fibromyalgia syndrome influences central sensitization to the point where ordinary signals turn into widespread fatigue, tenderness, and cognitive dysfunction.
Fibromyalgia is a condition that affects 2-4% of the global population, according to data from Technische Universität München.
A comprehensive and personalized plan naturopathic approach can improve coping with triggers (such as poor diet, stress, and pollution).
Naturopathy addresses areas that conventional medicine does not. Conventional doctors commonly prescribe pain medications and many do not look for underlying causes. Naturopaths for example commonly use botanical adaptogens to restore balance to the nervous system and HPA axis, recommend specific nutrients to support cellular recovery, and teach mind-body therapies to support nervous system hypervigilance. The goal is to help the patient become as resilient to stress and triggers as possible, especially those living in a fast paced environment like NYC.
Lifestyle elements like sleep disruptions and stress amplify the nociceptive thresholds and perpetuate chronic exhaustion. This leads to higher fibromyalgia sensitivity, stimulating an already-reactive nervous system.
Below are some common fibromyalgia urban factors that contribute to hypersensitivity:
Collectively, these symptoms don’t trigger fibromyalgia on their own but worsen the symptoms. The NYC noise that keeps you up at night keeps the body from entering full repair mode, gradually increasing pain perception.
Urban noise in New York, especially at night, will disrupt sleep and contribute to an increase in pain and fatigue. Chronic noise/overnight arousals disrupt restorative rest because sounds like traffic, 3 AM police sirens, and even your HVAC trigger micro-arousals (even if you don’t wake up completely).
As small as this may seem, this disrupts the slow-wake and REM sleep state. Both are necessary for the nervous system and pain modulation. Such noise doesn’t just annoy you, but triggers neural circuits related to pain processing. Getting adequate rest is essential to avoid pain amplification.
People with fibromyalgia already have their recovery system compromised. Individuals with fibromyalgia report sound sensitivity; therefore reducing nighttime noise can help sleep quality.
Not to mention, compromised rest leads to higher cortisol levels, especially in the evening and morning. Cortisol also increases pain perception and intensifies pain symptoms, especially in FM patients who already have the predisposition.
Naturopathic tools like mind-body medicine techniques may modulate pathways that involve the brainstem, limbic system, and cortex to offer pain relief. It desensitizes the pain circuits and restores homeostatic balance through nutritional support, lifestyle interventions, anti-inflammatory diets, and mind-body therapies.
Below are some common naturopathic fibro pathways that are modulated through treatment:
Naturopathy on its own doesn’t just flip a switch in the body but reshapes the path that sends pain signals. With time, naturopathic intervention may lead to fewer stimuli overlaps and decreased pain perception or possibly a reduction in brain fog.
Mitochondrial support revitalizes cellular energetics and combats oxidative fatigue. Mitochondrial dysfunction which can include ATP depletion, and oxidative stress have been reported in some FS studies. This is why it is important to support a healthy sleep routine, ensure proper movement and exercise and check nutrient status to support energy levels.
Below are the most common support systems to offer mitochondrial support:
Mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell. Cross-sectional studies at Università Degli Studi di Milano showed that patients with fibromyalgia showed a significantly lower mitochondrial function, which affects symptoms.
This dysfunction relates to low levels of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which depletes the cellular fuel. Support through nutrients like CoQ10 restoration is frequently employed to restore mitochondrial activity and generate more ATP.
Constant stress and high sensory output in the NYC lifestyle can contribute to the oxidative load on the body. This causes dysfunction of the mitochondria, leading to a condition called mitochondrial burnout. Minerals like magnesium can support muscle and nerve function to assist in better sleep, and antioxidants like Coq10, ALA and glutathione can support oxidative burden and fatigue in the long run.
Sedentarism associated with the New York lifestyle, such as commutes or long hours negatively impacts the mitochondria and causes higher fatigue levels. Turnover improves when there’s movement, which makes nutrients and exercise a good ally for mitochondrial support.
Natural agents that feature anti-nociceptive inhibit glial inflammation and ease hyperalgesia (i.e., higher pain sensitivity).
The following holistic fibro-remedies are frequently used to address widespread tenderness:
It’s important to check for interactions if you are on traditional treatments for fibromyalgia or other conditions. For example, while curcumin is a well-tolerated ingredient, it has the potential to interact with blood thinners.
Adaptogens like rhodiola and ashwagandha support stress resilience and support the HPA axis and buffer the allostatic load. This is relevant in high-stress environments such as NYC, with its crowded commutes, erratic schedules, and poor sleep quality.
Here is how specific adaptogens help:
New York dwellers should consider combining adaptogen supplements with a healthy diet and an exercise routine. Monitor for improvements in sleep quality and see how you feel within 4-8 weeks.
Gentle movements by New York City dwellers lubricate the fascial planes and alleviate muscular guarding. This decreases fibro stiffness and improves daily function.
Consider the following therapies:
Exercises like stationary biking or walking through NYC parks also reduce stiffness while keeping the impact low.
Yoga adaptations support fibro mobility by fostering joint stability and improving kinesthetic awareness, and you can find a studio in NYC that best fits your needs. Yoga exercises lead to proprioceptive improvement that builds body awareness, which becomes impaired in patients with fibromyalgia.
Below are some restorative yin yoga poses to try if you have a busy lifestyle:
Anywhere from 10-30 minutes of gentle yoga every evening or morning can improve mobility and support stress levels.
Dietary interventions such as gut-healing foods and anti-inflammatory diets mitigate the systemic flares of fibromyalgia and reduce pain perception. Below are some diets to consider:
Anti-inflammatory diets keep systemic inflammation at lower levels and increase the pain threshold. Incorporate vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean protein. Avoid deep-fried foods and high-sugar snacks, as they increase systemic inflammation.
Certain foods trigger the already sensitized nervous system, worsening FM symptoms.
Consider antihistamine diets to quell mast cell activation and manage your histamine tolerance. To do so, you would eliminate or significantly reduce the following products:
You can also do other foods outside of higher histamine containing foods, including gluten, dairy, eggs, nuts, and more.
Some may do an elimination for at least 2-4 weeks, and some longer at 4-6 weeks. Once the elimination process is complete, you would gradually reintroduce one food on the list at a time and observe if you have a reaction. You should wait a few days to see how they have an effect on you and don’t introduce more than 1 at a time. Also, do not introduce another food if you experienced a symptom flare from a food you recently introduced back in. Wait until you are back to your normal and then continue reintroducing the foods. Symptoms may vary and can include itching, flushing, dizziness, anxiety, an increase in pain, bloating and more. These may suggest a sensitivity to the specific food category and can worsen fibromyalgia symptoms.
Gut symptoms are very common in individuals with fibromyalgia. One study reported that 73% of patients with fibromyalgia had altered bowel habits, suggesting significant gut involvement.PMC+1 In addition, small studies of low-FODMAP diets in fibromyalgia (especially when IBS is present) show reductions in gastrointestinal symptoms and fibromyalgia-related pain, so a supervised low-FODMAP trial may be considered in appropriate patients.ScienceDirect+1
When the gut microbiota is compromised, it adds another stress source for the body to manage. Dysbiosis may lead to intestinal permeability also known as “leaky gut”, which sends toxins into the bloodstream and further increases inflammation and pain.
When you help the gut recover, it indirectly helps the body reduce the pain sensitivity load. Those not dairy sensitive can focus on probiotic foods like yogurt and kefir, but also whole grains and legumes that are rich in fiber.
Milestones such as FIQR scores and sleep quality indices validate the neural rewiring and reflect incremental gains of the naturopathic treatment. Naturopaths also track energy and pain metrics that suggest functional improvement.
Below are key metrics to track:
Clinical trials from Tufts Medical Center have shown that mind–body approaches like tai chi can make improve fibromyalgia symptoms. In one 24-week study, participants practicing tai chi reduced their Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire scores by nearly 30 points (roughly a 40–45% improvement), well above the 14% threshold researchers use to define a clinically important change. Improvements in pain, function, and sleep were still present months later in those who kept up with the practice.
Patients can initiate naturopathic fibromyalgia support in NYC by contacting Naturally Sue Wellness, the office of Dr. Susan Cucchiara.
Comprehensive intake for urban patients includes the following:
Patients in New York can opt for convenient telehealth treatments. Dr. Susan Cucchiara or Dr. Sparks will create a comprehensive plan to restore the body’s functional capacity and make life in NYC easier.
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