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Fibromyalgia: How integrative medicine helps
New insights into treating fibromyalgia syndrome with integrative & natural medicine! Discover how exercise, heat applications and phytotherapy can help.
Fibromyalgia: How integrative medicine helps
Fibromyalgia syndrome is a disorder characterized by a variety of symptoms, including chronic pain occurring anywhere in the body, unrefreshing sleep, and a tendency to physical and/or mental exhaustion. Treatment according to the S3 guidelines is based on a multimodal approach, which is particularly used for severe forms of the disease. This means that a combination of different treatment methods is used.
Recommended treatments include endurance, weight-bearing and functional training as they have a strong recommendation in the guidelines. In addition, meditative forms of exercise such as yoga or Qigong are suggested. Another focus is on combating lifestyle factors such as lack of physical activity and obesity by using nutritional therapy and regulatory procedures.
The rediscovery of self-efficacy, i.e. belief in one's own abilities to overcome challenges, is the focus of treatment. Applications of heat, such as warm baths, saunas, infrared cabins or exercises in warm thermal water, are also part of the guidelines.
A current field of research deals with whole-body hyperthermia using water-filtered infrared A radiation. Self-help strategies such as dry brushing according to Kneipp or massages with essential oils (e.g. rosemary, mallow or aconite pain oil) are also part of the recommendations. When selecting treatment methods, the patient's preferences should be taken into account, which can also include herbal painkillers or sleeping pills.
Acupuncture, be it in the form of ear or body acupuncture, is recognized as part of the multimodal concept. The Clinic for Integrative Medicine and Naturopathy at the hospital in Bamberg offers outpatient, day-care and inpatient services that are covered by health insurance.
Possible future developments could include even greater individualization of therapy and the integration of other natural and complementary treatment methods. Research in areas such as whole-body hyperthermia could open up new treatment options and lead to adjustments in guidelines.
Basic terms explained:
- Fibromyalgiesyndrom: Eine chronische Erkrankung, die durch weit verbreitete Schmerzen im Körper und andere Symptome gekennzeichnet ist.
- Multimodal: Die Verwendung von mehreren unterschiedlichen Behandlungsmethoden gleichzeitig.
- Selbstwirksamkeit: Das Vertrauen in die eigenen Fähigkeiten, gewünschte Handlungen erfolgreich auszuführen.
- Natürliche und komplementäre Behandlungsmethoden: Therapien, die neben der herkömmlichen Medizin eingesetzt werden können, um die Gesundheit zu fördern oder Beschwerden zu lindern.
- Hyperthermie: Erhöhung der Körpertemperatur zu therapeutischen Zwecken.
The role of complementary therapies in the treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome
Fibromyalgia syndrome is classified as a functional somatic syndrome and is characterized by a range of symptom complexes, including chronic, widespread pain, non-restorative sleep, and a tendency to physical and/or mental fatigue. According to the S3 guidelines, the core principle of treatment is based on a multimodal approach, especially for severe forms of the disease. Within this framework, complementary, naturopathic and integrative forms of treatment have an established status.
Recommended treatment methods
- Ausdauer-, Gewichts- und Funktionstraining erhalten starke Behandlungsempfehlungen mit einem hohen Konsensgrad.
- Meditative Bewegungsformen wie Yoga oder Qigong werden ebenfalls empfohlen.
- Als weiterer Lebensstilfaktor wird Übergewicht anerkannt und in der Ernährungstherapie und Regulationstherapie thematisiert.
- Wärmeanwendungen, wie warme Bäder/Duschen, Saunen, Infrarotkabinen oder Bewegung in warmem Thermalwasser sind laut Richtlinien empfohlen.
- Die Ganzkörperhyperthermie mit wassergefilterter Infrarot A-Strahlung stellt ein aktuelles Forschungsgebiet dar.
- Zu den Selbsthilfestrategien zählen trockene Bürstungen gemäß Kneipp oder Massagen mit Rosmarinöl, Malvenöl oder dem Aconit-Schmerzöl.
Phytotherapeutic treatments and acupuncture
Taking patient preferences into account, plant therapeutic agents can be used to treat pain (ash bark/quaking aspen bark/goldenrod) and for sleep disorders, both in the form of sleep-promoting compresses (lavender heart compress) and internally (valerian, lavender oil capsules, lemon balm). Acupuncture treatment (both ear and body acupuncture) is accepted as part of a multimodal concept.
Clinical implementation
The Clinic for Integrative Medicine and Naturopathy at the hospital in Bamberg offers three different formats of inpatient, day clinic and outpatient treatment, which are covered by health insurance. This highlights the importance and recognition of complementary therapies in traditional medical settings.
This nuanced approach reflects the recognition that fibromyalgia syndrome is a multifactorial disease that requires an individualized, patient-centered, and holistic treatment strategy. Integrating complementary methods alongside conventional treatments enables more comprehensive support for those affected and highlights the importance of self-efficacy and lifestyle management.