Tag: natural healing

Melatonin, Valerian, and Fibromyalgia

Sleep is an essential function to recharge our bodies and minds.

In the early days after my fibromyalgia diagnosis (back in 2000), I remember reading somewhere that Melatonin wasn’t good for auto-immune disorders. Although FMS isn’t an auto-immune disorder, it wasn’t well understood (still isn’t) back in those days, so I never tried it. After researching natural alternatives, I settled on Valerian. It worked for me for many years, but these days it sometimes gives me a foggy feeling in the morning if I take a supplement.

Fibromyalgia is characterized by widespread pain and fatigue. People with fibromyalgia often have insomnia, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, or their sleep is often disrupted by pain. People with fibromyalgia may also experience an alteration in their patterns of slow wave sleep, which is the deepest stage of sleep.

Sleep is an essential function1 that allows your body and mind to recharge, leaving you refreshed and alert when you wake up. Healthy sleep also helps the body remain healthy and stave off diseases. Without enough sleep, the brain cannot function properly.

Sleep Foundation

After yet another sleepless night recently, I decided to do look into Melatonin.

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Clean Eating: Red, White and Blueberry Smoothie

Triple Berry Smoothie Bowl Recipe

In America, this is the weekend that we celebrate Independence Day, typically with cookouts and fireworks. In the days of Coronavirus, our family won’t be celebrating in the traditional ways. Since late March, we have been doing our best to #StayAtHome. This year that means no BBQs with friends or watching fireworks with big crowds. It will be a simple BBQ at home for the family.

During quarantine I have been practicing self-care with proper eating and extra walks with the dog to get out of the house. These habits also help me to keep the fibromyalgia flare-ups to a minimum. The neighborhood has gotten a bit boring, so this past week I discovered some lovely nearby walking trails. After a particularly long walk this morning, I made this Red-White-and-Blue Triple-Berry-Coconut smoothie bowl that I thought would make a nice 4th of July treat!

Triple Berry Red, White, and Blueberry Smoothie Bowl
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Clean Eating: Peppermint Mocha Mousse

It’s the holidays! It’s so easy to overindulge at this time of year. Even just a nibble here or there adds up. I ❤️ sweets but I try my best not to eat too many at the holidays, so I don’t derail my healthy habits. With my fibromyalgia I have said for years if I eat crap, I feel like crap. The easiest way to avoid the temptations is to make sure I have a little something to treat myself. 😉

This recipe is so simple and you can make it look elegant with a few toppings. And by using full-fat coconut milk, you are getting added health benefits for your heart and immune system. The MCTs found in this milk are good for your gut and the good fats and protein combination help satisfy your appetite.

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Magnesium and Fibromyalgia

Magnesium plays a role in over 300 bodily processes.

I have long touted the benefits of magnesium (read past posts here and here) for pain relief and sleep. Dr. Roger Murphree calls it “the most important mineral you can take if you have fibromyalgia.” People with fibromyalgia tend to be deficient in this mineral, and when under stress your magnesium is used up. A fibro body tends to be under stress every day, especially during a flare, so it stands to reason supplementing magnesium can have great benefits.

“Relief is a wonderful emotion, highly underrated. In fact I prefer it to elation or joy. Relief lets the air out of the Tire of Pain.” ~ Adriana Trigiani

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