| Fibromyalgia is a familiar word today. Television | | | | sent to a highly specialized lab somewhere in the |
| and magazine advertisements flood our airwaves | | | | middle of the country. While waiting for the test |
| and glossy pages, heightening public awareness. | | | | results, my body was still ailing, but my spirit, for |
| Some promise cures, while others just proclaim | | | | the first time, was beginning to heal. |
| aid in alleviating certain symptoms. Well, fourteen | | | | The test results came back...and the catch-all |
| years ago, this was certainly not the case. The | | | | category of 'fibromyalgia' may have actually been |
| internet was in its infancy stage (as far as public | | | | incorrect. The condition I had was adrenal |
| use) and the barrage of pertinent information that | | | | exhaustion and systematic Candida, an |
| the average person now has at his fingertips just | | | | overgrowth of yeast in the body which can |
| didn't exist then. I know...because fourteen years | | | | wreak havoc on every major system in the |
| ago, I was suffering...and looking for answers. | | | | body. Again, back then, nobody ever heard of |
| My plight back then mimicked those of many | | | | this, let alone diagnose it. Today, the web alone, |
| others - severe fatigue, muscle and joint pain, | | | | has millions of pages dedicated to it. To combat |
| slight sore throat and a general steadiness of | | | | and cure this, I met with the nutritionist in this |
| feeling lousy. I remember telling my family and | | | | holistic practice and was put on a very strict diet |
| friends, "I wish you could live in my body for just | | | | excluding sugar, breads, starches and many, |
| one day.....you wouldn't believe that I've lived this | | | | many other things. Basically, the only thing I could |
| way for so long!" At the time, I had a two year | | | | eat was protein, vegetables and the occasional |
| old and a five year old who expected me to | | | | treat of popcorn and rice cakes. I was given quite |
| exude the vigor and energy they saw from other | | | | a few supplements to boost my immune system |
| stay-at-home mothers. I saw general doctors, | | | | and normalize my adrenal function. Lastly, my |
| specialists, acupuncturists, massage therapists and | | | | doctor (again, quite some years ahead of the |
| a myriad of others who gave me even a glimmer | | | | curve) told me to get pure Matcha Green Tea |
| of hope to recapture my life. Any literature out | | | | Powder because of the antioxidants and |
| there at the time was nothing but depressing...the | | | | numerous healing capabilities and have the tea |
| most optimistic headline would read "How I've | | | | twice a day. |
| Learned to Cope with Fibromyalgia and Try to | | | | Today, fourteen years later, I play competitive |
| Lead a Normal Life for the Last Twenty Years". | | | | tennis three times per week and am in the gym |
| Gathering the current information at the time | | | | six times per week since getting certified as a |
| simply put me in hopeless, negative state. But, by | | | | personal trainer. My energy level is high, my |
| some miracle, my luck and mood would change. | | | | stress levels are low and my outlook on most |
| Through some remote channel of friends, I | | | | things is always optimistic. I still grimace when I |
| learned about a Holistic practice in a neighboring | | | | hear the term "fibromyalgia" and wonder if that's |
| state and made an appointment. My particular | | | | really what these inflicted people have. I am no |
| doctor (yes, a real medical doctor) was well | | | | longer on a rigid diet (still need my fix of licorice |
| versed in both Eastern and Western medicine and | | | | often) and now take only two supplements per |
| was originally from Russia...and our first | | | | day. The only routine I have never stopped is |
| appointment was an entire hour long dialogue. The | | | | drinking my matcha green tea twice per day - |
| tests administered there were none like the | | | | especially since the health benefits go well beyond |
| hundreds I had previously had...saliva test and hair | | | | what I thought years ago. |
| analysis, in addition to blood, urine and stool and | | | | |