Ending Fibromyalgia with Natural Options

Aloha,

I feel it is important for us to take a moment and recognize how amazing our bodies are when they function at full capacity. Unfortunately, our bodies are not perfect and I feel it is worst when we know something is wrong and cannot do anything about it. In previous blog posts, I have talked about copper toxicity and fibromyalgia, however, I wanted to share my own experience on this topic.

A few weeks ago I had terrible bone pain, so I went into my oncologist for scans to determine what it could possibly be. In my mind, I thought cancer had returned and began preparing for this reality. As each scan returned one by one, every one was was negative only showing arthritis and a bulging lumbar (which I knew about for many years). I think I was in complete shock that no hidden issues were found! Fortunately, I made plans for the worst, but hoping for the best. It was such a relief to have these clear results. But my question then became, what was causing this amount of pain?

After talking with my aunt (since she experienced similar pain), I learned I may have too much copper in my body resulting in copper toxicity. Generally, copper toxicity causes fibromyalgia flare-ups so I started to take Copper Balance along with VARS Glutathione. During the first few days, I felt so much better as the pain became barely an ache and later was completely gone. After such a great improvement in a few days, I now understand my body is very sensitive to foods high in copper (basically my entire diet). 

Fibromyalgia is a widespread illness that can be improved and controlled with diet. For this reason, a Facebook group ‘End Fibromyalgia with Natural Options’ (Private Group & Open Group) is being launched to help those who experience struggle with fibromyalgia. On these pages, there will be recipes to choose from, support groups to interact with, and communities to share ideas.

I hope my story, along with these new Facebook Groups, will help you find answers and support to ease the pain you face on a daily basis. I applaud you for not allowing fibromyalgia to to control your life and always remember someone is there to help live a happier life!

Keep going, you got this! 

Melissa

Could Melatonin Help You Sleep Better and Longer?

Aloha,

Do you have problems falling asleep or staying asleep throughout the night? Did you know our body naturally produces a hormone called melatonin from our pineal gland? This hormone is what helps us sleep every night. Recently, I read a couple articles on the cycle of sleeping and waking. The first article comes from the National Sleep Foundation and they found:

“A key factor in how human sleep is regulated is exposure to light or to darkness. Exposure to light stimulates a nerve pathway from the retina in the eye to an area in the brain called the hypothalamus. There, a special center called the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) initiates signals to other parts of the brain that control hormones, body temperature and other functions that play a role in making us feel sleepy or wide awake.”

They explain around 9pm our bodies start to release melatonin into our bloodstream making us tired. Interestingly, this is generally the time I tend to start getting ready for bed. I highly recommend trying this natural hormone supplement to see if it will fit in your daily program. Sleep is an extremely important part of living a healthy lifestyle according to the US Department of Health and Human Services NIH (National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute):

“Sleep plays a vital role in good health and well-being throughout your life. Getting enough quality sleep at the right times can help protect your mental health, physical health, quality of life, and safety.”

What if our natural melatonin doesn’t function as it should? I am sure you have seen melatonin down the vitamin aisle at stores. What is the appropriate dosage to take? The right dosage will be different for everyone and may take a few attempts to experiment at different levels. However, finding that dosage amount and what time to take melatonin (how much sleep you need for it to wear off) is extremely important.

I discussed with friends their experiences with melatonin, one friend explained 5mg works great while others need 20mg or more. Everybody is different with how much melatonin is released within your body and how much extra you need to supplement to ensure a good night’s rest. Understanding your needs for melatonin can help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.  

Keep Smiling,

Melissa