Fibromyalgia is difficult to treat
Fibromyalgia is a condition that is difficult to treat due to various factors. First and foremost, fibromyalgia is a complex condition that often comes with other symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, sleep problems, and cognitive issues such as memory loss and concentration problems. This makes it difficult to identify and treat the specific symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Another problem in the treatment of fibromyalgia is the lack of specific medications. While there are medications available to alleviate the symptoms of the condition, such as painkillers and antidepressants, there is no medication that can treat the condition itself.
In addition, fibromyalgia differs from person to person, making treatment even more difficult. What works for one person may not work for another. Due to this variability, it is often a challenge to find an effective treatment that suits an individual patient.
Finally, fibromyalgia is still not fully understood, which makes it difficult to treat the condition. The cause of fibromyalgia is not yet fully known, and there is still much that is not understood about how the condition works. Therefore, more research is needed to understand the underlying causes of the condition and develop more effective treatments. However, we believe that fibromyalgia is a result of inflammation in the body and possibly the brain.
Could psilocybin help?
We already wrote about fibromyalgia in May 2019 and that psychedelic therapy could help reduce the symptoms. These posts can be found on the forum (Fibromyalgia). We advised at the time to be cautious with allergens/gluten/leucins that can cause inflammation. For now, this is still a good advice that applies to more people. We suggested that psilocybin therapy could also have some effect by the stress-reducing properties of successful sessions. New research shows that psilocybin is anti-inflammatory and thus anti-inflammatory in nature. If the hypothesis is correct that fibromyalgia stems from inflammation, psilocybin could therefore also help people with fibromyalgia by its anti-inflammatory effect.
Research on psilocybin in fibromyalgia
In the past, positive results have been achieved in research into various psychedelics for pain. However, the size of the test groups was too small to draw conclusions. Nevertheless, the research suggests that positive results have been achieved. Moreover, a survey among people suffering from chronic pain and using psychedelics suggests the pain-relieving effects of such substances for people with fibromyalgia, arthritis, migraine, tension headaches, and sciatica.
Currently, there is also a scientific study underway and has been in phase 2 of the study since 2021. It is expected that this study, which specifically focuses on psilocybin in fibromyalgia, will move into a phase 3 study. This study is being conducted by TRYP Therapeutics. Progressing to a phase 3 study indicates that good results are likely to be achieved, but no results have yet been publicly published.
How does psilocybin work against fibromyalgia?
As we previously wrote, psilocybin can be effective against fibromyalgia because it works against inflammation. However, psilocybin has multiple mechanisms of action. Another mechanism is increasing the neurotrophin BDNF. After conversion to psilocin, psilocybin will release more BDNF. The image below shows that process.
BDNF (Brain-derived neurotrophic factor) is a protein that is essential for the growth, development, and survival of neurons in the brain. BDNF also supports neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to adapt to changes in its environment and form new neural connections. Research has shown that people with fibromyalgia have lower levels of BDNF than healthy people. This can lead to impaired neuroplasticity, which in turn can contribute to the impaired neuroplasticity and pain associated with fibromyalgia.
By stimulating BDNF production and increasing BDNF availability in the brain, treatments can improve neuroplasticity and possibly reduce the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Some ways to promote BDNF production include physical activity, healthy nutrition, socialization, and stress reduction. Additionally, medication aimed at increasing BDNF levels in the brain can be used to improve neuroplasticity and reduce symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Avoiding food for fibromyalgia
To prevent as many inflammations in the body as possible and thereby possibly alleviate fibromyalgia as much as possible, we recommend avoiding the intake of the following foods as much as possible. Gluten and lectins can indeed worsen the symptoms of fibromyalgia through low-grade inflammation. It is worth trying to eliminate gluten and lectins from the diet and then seeing if the symptoms improve.
Gluten
- Wheat
- Rogge
- Gerst
- Couscous
- Bulgur
- Wheat flour
- Flower
- Self-levelling baking flour
- Breadcrumbs
- Cereals muesli or cruesli
- Beer
Lectins
- Cereals (whole grain)
- Potatoes
- Tomatoes
- Beans
- Soy sauce
- Peanuts
- Lentils
- Peppers
- Eggplant
- Chickpeas
- Dairy products
Healthy fats against fibromyalgia
It is increasingly becoming clear that unhealthy fats play an important role in the development of chronic diseases. These fats, also known as oxidized fats, are present in foods that have been processed, fried, or heated in other ways. Oxidized fats can cause inflammatory reactions in our bodies through various processes. This can lead to damage to our tissues and thereby cause chronic diseases such as fibromyalgia. A more well-known example with scientific support is heart disease. It is therefore important to choose healthy fats and prevent or reduce the oxidation process of healthy fats by not frying them too hot.
Trips related to fibromyalgia
The active doses of psilocybin that are known to be anti-inflammatory are the amounts that you can get high on. High is a term that refers to hallucination and an internal journey. Through our psychedelic services, psilocybin sessions can also be booked where we help with preparation, the psilocybin session itself, and the integration of acquired insights. By choosing to Triptherapie be the organizer, you increase the chance of effectiveness. To date, more than 3,500 clients have used our knowledge. Please fill out the intake form with your goal and we will let you know what we can do for you.