Friday, May 9, 2008

Natural Treatment for Fibromyalgia

Natural Treatment Protocol for Fibromyalgia

CorvalenM (1 scoop 2X/day in water with food (Take 1 scoop 3X/day for the first 3 weeks) and then decrease to 2X/day). CORvalenM contains pure Bioenergy RIBOSE to help your cells and tissues make the energy they need to stay healthy. It also provides magnesium and malate, vital ingredients your body needs to use energy efficiently. Ribose has been gaining a lot of attention because it has been clinically proven to be critical in rebuilding cellular energy. The result of energy restoration leaves people feeling less pain with more energy. This unique, safe, and clinically proven combination of ingredients accelerates your body's own natural process of energy synthesis and utilization. Ribose is a five-carbon monosaccharide that is vital for the cellular synthesis of ATP (adenosine triphosphate). Adenosine triphosphate is the energy of life and ribose is one of the fundamental building blocks of ATP. Supplemental ribose has been proven to effectively speed energy recovery in cells, represented in improved cardiac function, muscle recovery and overall quality of life.

Metagenics COQ10 ST-100 (1 gel cap 2X/day with meals) Important in energy production, enhances immune function, decrease the frequency of migraine headaches, assist weight loss when dieting, improve exercise tolerance in sedentary people, decrease allergies.

Metagenics EPA/DHA Extra Strength 720 (2 gel caps 2X/day with meal (fat). Fish oil levels are low in CFS/FMS patients. Decrease anger, anxiety, depression, increase vigor, improve attention, cognition, physiological functions and mood. Decreases dry eyes.


Metagenics Myocalm (2 tablets up to 3 tabletsAs needed for muscle tightness). Natural muscle relaxer, tension, anxiety. Supplies important minerals involved in muscular contraction and relaxation responses. May help relieve minor muscle pain associated with stress or physical exertion, and may prevent nocturnal leg muscle cramps.

Metagenics Fibroplex or Fibroplex Plus
Metagenics Fibroplex has: Thiamin (as thiamin mononitrate) 50 mgVitamin B6 (as pyridoxine HCl) 50 mgMagnesium (as magnesium bis-glycinate†) 150 mgManganese (as manganese glycinate†) 5 mgMalic Acid 600 mg. (2-4 tablets 2X/day (pain & energy) Take up to 8 tablets a day to find your correct dose)
Metagenics Fibroplex® Plus - Support for Muscle Tenderness and Discomfort
Fibroplex® Plus provides targeted nutritional support for soft tissues in those with muscle tenderness and discomfort. Featuring a blend of specific vitamins, minerals, and amino acids in an easy-to-use delivery form, this specialized formula works by supporting cellular energy production and muscular and nervous system function.Provides targeted nutrition for soft tissue in those with muscle tenderness and discomfort. Provides targeted support for energy metabolism and neuromuscular function. Supports cellular energy production and mitochondrial function. Provides magnesium in the form of an amino acid chelate designed to be easily absorbed.
In recent years, evidence has accumulated to suggest that FM is the result of local hypoxia in the muscles. For instance, patients with FM have low muscle-tissue oxygen pressure in affected muscles, and to a lesser degree the same was found in other tissues. Muscle biopsies from affected areas showed muscle tissue breakdown and mitochondrial damage. Additionally, low levels of the high energy phosphates ATP, ADP, and phosphocreatine were found. It has been hypothesized that in hypoxic muscle tissues glycolysis is inhibited, reducing ATP synthesis. This stimulates the process of gluconeogenesis, which results in the breakdown of muscle proteins to amino acids that can be utilized as substrates for ATP synthesis. This muscle tissue breakdown, which has been observed in muscle biopsies taken from FM patients, is hypothesized to result in the muscle pain characteristic of FM. Malic acid is both derived from food sources and synthesized in the body through the citric acid (Krebs) cycle. Its importance to the production of energy in the body during both aerobic and anaerobic conditions is well established. Under aerobic conditions, the oxidation of malate to oxaloacetate provides reducing equivalents to the mitochondria through the malate-aspartate redox shuttle. During anaerobic conditions, where a buildup of excess of reducing equivalents inhibits glycolysis, malic acids simultaneous reduction to succinate and oxidation to oxaloacetate is capable of removing the accumulating reducing equivalents. This allows malic acid to reverse hypoxias inhibition of glycolysis and energy production. This may allow malic acid to improve energy production in FM, reversing the negative effect of the relative hypoxia that has been found in these patients.Because of its obvious relationship to energy depletion during exercise, malic acid may be of benefit to healthy individuals interested in maximizing their energy production, as well as those with FM. In the rat it has been found that only tissue malate is depleted following exhaustive physical activity. Other key metabolites from the citric acid cycle needed for energy production were found to be unchanged. Because of this, a deficiency of malic acid has been hypothesized to be a major cause of physical exhaustion. The administration of malic acid to rats has been shown to elevate mitochondrial malate and increase mitochondrial respiration and energy production. Surprisingly, relatively small amounts of exogenous malic acid were required to increase mitochondrial energy production and ATP formation. Under hypoxic conditions there is an increased demand and utilization of malic acid, and this demand is normally met by increasing the synthesis of malic acid through gluconeogenesis and muscle proteinbreakdown. This ultimately results in muscle breakdown and damage.In a study on the effect of the oral administration of malic acid to rats, a significant increase in anaerobic endurance was found. Interestingly, the improvement in endurance was not accompanied by an increase in carbohydrate and oxygen utilization, suggesting that malic acid has carbohydrate and oxygen-sparing effects. In addition, malic acid is the only metabolite of the citric acid cycle positively correlated with physical activity. It has also been demonstrated that exercise-induced mitochondrial respiration is associated with an accumulation of malic acid. In humans, endurance training is associated with a significant increase in the enzymes involved with malic acid metabolism.Because of the compelling evidence that malic acid plays a central role in energy production, especially during hypoxic conditions, malic acid supplements have been examined for their effects on FM. Subjective improvement in pain was observed within 48 hours of supplementation with 1200 - 2400 milligrams of malic acid, and this improvement was lost following the discontinuation of malic acid for 48 hours. These studies also used magnesium supplements, due to the fact that magnesium is often low in FM patients. Therefore, malic acid supplements may be of benefit in these conditions. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome has also been found to be associated with FM, and malic acid supplementation may be of use in improving energy production in this condition as well. Lastly, malic acid may be of use as a general supplement aimed at ensuring an optimal level of malic acid within the cells, and thus, maintaining an optimal level of energy production.

Metagenics MyocalmPM (3 tablets 60 minutes before bedtime) Useful as a sleep aid, muscle and tension relief. Promotes a feeling of calm.

Metagenics Tran-Q (relax muscles, ease tension) 6-8 tablets/day in divided doses if muscles still tense/tight with Myocalm. Helps to promote relaxation and sense of well being.

Metagenics UltraInflamX
See UltraInflamXModified Step Program for directions. May lower inflammatory response by modulating the pro-inflammatory “cascade”, supporting the anti-inflammatory “pathways”, and quenching the excessive free-radical production that may be associated with increased inflammation. Important in all chronic inflammatory conditions. Useful in fibromyalgia.