Fibromyalgia and Cherries
Cherry
Advantage 4
Summer 2002
Courtesy of the Cherry Marketing Institute:
Some
consumers have discovered that Montmorency tart cherries can help
relieve the pain of Fibromyalgia, a debilitating muscle disorder. Here
is more information:
What is
Fibromyalgia Syndrome?
FMS (fibromyalgia syndrome) is a widespread musculoskeletal pain and
fatigue disorder for which the cause is still unknown. Fibromyalgia
means pain in the muscles, ligaments and tendons - the fibrous tissues
in the body. Most patients with fibromyalgia say that they ache all
over. Their muscles may feel like they have been pulled or overworked.
Sometimes the muscles twitch and at other times they burn. More women
than men are afflicted with fibromyalgia, but it shows up in people of
all ages.
In 1990, the
American College of Rheumatology, the official body of doctors who treat
arthritis and related conditions, developed criteria for diagnosing
fibromyalgia. It is diagnosed when the following symptoms are displayed:
A history of
widespread pain (pain on both sides of the body and above and below the
waist) that is present for at least three months.
Pain in at least 11 of 18 tender-point sites.
Common
Treatments
Traditional treatments are geared toward improving the quality of sleep,
as well as reducing pain. Because deep level (stage 4) sleep is so
crucial for many body functions, such as tissue repair, antibody
production, and perhaps even the regulation of various
neurotransmitters, hormones and immune system chemicals, the sleep
disorders that frequently occur in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue
patients are thought to be a major contributing factor to the symptoms
of this condition. Medicines that boost the body's level of serotonin
and norepinephrine - neurotransmitters that modulate sleep, pain and
immune system function - are commonly prescribed. In addition,
nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen may also
be beneficial.
Can
Cherries Help?
The consumption of cherries should never be considered a cure for
Fibromyalgia. However, some patients with Fibromyalgia have expressed to
the Cherry Marketing Institute that the consumption of Montmorency tart
cherry juice has helped alleviate some symptoms when combined with a
prescribed health regimen.
Why Would
This Be?
It is certainly possible that tart cherries could play a role in
alleviating some of the pain and discomfort brought on by Fibromyalgia.
First, cherries contain significant quantities of melatonin, which help
regulate the sleep cycle. One of the key treatment areas for patients
with fibromyalgia is to regulate the sleep cycle. Melatonin helps do
that. Further, the anthocyanins found in cherries contain some of the
highest levels of Cox-1 and Cox-2 inhibitors of any known food. The
anthocyanins found in cherries function in the same manner as ibuprofen,
and thus, may help relieve the pain of fibromyalgia syndrome.
