Score one more for yoga!

Researchers say light stretching can do what a pharmacy full of drugs often cannot: Bring real relief to women suffering from fibromyalgia, the mystifying and often debilitating pain condition.

Researchers from York University in Toronto asked 22 women to take 75-minute hatha yoga classes twice a week. After just eight weeks, the women reported less pain than they did at the start of the study.

They also felt better about their condition, reporting less helplessness and more acceptance, and they were less likely to focus on the worst possible outcomes of the disease.

Although those responses were based on a questionnaire given before and after the study, there were also noticeable changes on a much more objective level. The researchers say the women had higher levels of the “stress hormone” cortisol after eight weeks of yoga lessons.

Now, that might sound bad. “Stress hormone” sounds like trouble, and you definitely don’t want too much of it hanging around.

But too little can be even worse, because the stress hormone is needed to help control inflammation and regulate blood pressure. More importantly, it also keeps the immune system in check — the same immune system that often goes haywire in fibromyalgia patients.

And not so coincidentally, fibro patients usually have very low levels of cortisol.

Since the study was small, it’ll take more research before anyone can say for sure whether yoga can boost cortisol levels in the long run — but other studies have been encouraging, at least when it comes to pain relief.

In one I told you about last year, yoga actually brought as much relief as drugs, with none of the risks. (Read about it here.)

Now, if you’re suffering from fibro, I know you might think the pretzel-like contortions of yoga are the last things your body could handle.

In reality, the hatha form of yoga used in the new study is one of the most basic — and the most gentle.

And in addition to helping to beat pain and regulate your cortisol levels, yoga has been shown to boost physical strength and energy levels, lower blood pressure, and even improve mental health.

You can often find inexpensive or even free lessons through your local library, park, or senior center — or even try it on your own with a book or video.

Happy stretching.

It’s not exactly a state secret: The best way to win the battle against fibromyalgia is to win the battle against your own waistline.

Obesity has been linked to the chronic pain condition before, and a new study finds even more evidence that extra pounds can bring extra hurt.

Researchers ran 215 fibromyalgia patients through a battery of tests, from physical exams to endurance tests to sleep assessments. And the half of the patients in the study who were obese did worse in nearly every category.

They were more likely to feel pain in the “tender points” on the lower half of the body, and more likely to suffer from reduced strength and flexibility.

And, of course, they were lousy sleepers–but since obesity on its own has been linked to restlessness, snoring, and even deadly sleep apnea, it’s hard to say if the fibromyalgia had anything to do with that one.

The researchers wrote in the journal Pain that the body’s joints and bones appear to have a hard time coping with the extra pounds, and that can cause the fibromyalgia pain to shoot up.

Since obesity has been linked to other forms of joint pain–especially arthritis– that’s not exactly a stretch.

That extra weight won’t just put you at risk for more pain if you already have fibromyalgia–it can put you at a much higher risk of getting the condition in the first place.

A study last year found that overweight and obese women were up to 70 percent more likely to suffer from fibromyalgia, while women who exercised at least four times a week were 29 percent less likely to get it than women who didn’t exercise at all.

And that means the first and best coping strategy for fibromyalgia is simple weight loss.

For a little more relief, turn to yoga. In one recent study, 77 percent of fibromyalgia patients who tried yoga felt at least a little better, with 50 percent of them reporting at least a 30 percent reduction in pain. (Read more about it here.)

That may not sound like a lot–but that actually makes yoga about as effective as the drugs commonly used to treat the condition… with none of the side effects.

A little stretching can go a long way.

While Big Pharma offers powerful, dangerous and largely ineffective drugs for the pain condition fibromyalgia, a new study finds the only prescription you might really need is a little yoga.

Pick your mantra, kill the pain.

OK, it’s not quite that simple–but researchers have found that yoga can offer a 30 percent reduction in fibromyalgia pain. That’s roughly in line with the “relief” offered by many drugs, and even better than some of them–with none of the risk.

In the new study, 53 women with an average age of 54 who had been battling the condition for at least a decade were assigned to either a yoga program, or put on a waiting list for a yoga program.

The course consisted of a weekly two-hour lesson, with participants given DVDs so they could practice at home. They were asked to do at least 20 minutes of yoga a day, five days a week, on their own.

And it really helped.

The researchers say 77.3 percent of the women were “at least a little better,” versus 19.2 percent of the patients on the waiting list.

Even more significant, however, is that half the yoga students reported a 30 percent reduction in pain, and none of them worsened.

The only potential pitfall here is that some fibromyalgia sufferers experience so much pain they can barely move, much less perform pretzel-like yoga positions.

But if you want to give this a shot, don’t get frustrated and don’t give up–start with the simplest positions and stick to the ones you can handle. You may find that over time, as your pain improves, your body will be able to do more.

And if you can’t afford yoga lessons in a studio, try your local senior center–many offer free or heavily discounted classes. You could even buy or rent a yoga DVD, or borrow one from the local library.

While there’s no single answer to fibromyalgia yet, it’s becoming clear that steady movement such as yoga can play a huge role in improving the condition.

Other studies have found that everything from the gentle stretching exercises of tai chi to common activities like gardening can offer real and significant relief from the pain and improve mobility.

But some people need more than light exercise.

Many fibromyalgia patients have found relief with the hormone relaxin… while others have been successfully treated with the famous Myers Cocktail, a potent nutritional blend delivered intravenously.

The mainstream hasn’t recognized it yet, but nutritional and hormonal deficiencies often play a major role in fibromyalgia, and a good naturopathic physician can find them–and fix them for good.

We all know how extra weight can lead to a world of disease. And now, a new study shows how it can put you in a world of pain, too.

The latest research finds that overweight and obese women have a much higher risk of the debilitating pain condition, fibromyalgia.

Those forced to cope with this awful syndrome, which tends to affect women, say it’s like the volume’s been turned up on their pain, everywhere. Believe me, this is something you want to avoid–and if dropping a few pounds can do the trick, do it.

In the new study, researchers found that overweight and obese women had a 60-70 percent increased risk of developing fibromyalgia. And women who exercised four or more times each week were 29 percent less likely to come down with the condition than sedentary women.

Overall, the researchers found that overweight and obese women who were either completely inactive or exercised for less than an hour a week had a two-fold increase in fibromyalgia risk, according to the study in Arthritis Care and Research.

The researchers behind this new study said exercise in normal-weight women didn’t seem to prevent fibromyalgia– but that doesn’t mean you should get cozy on the sofa, especially if you’re already suffering from this condition.

In fact, one recent study found that 30 minutes of light activity a day, even simple movements such as walking or gardening, can send the pain packing.

That’s a lot better than anything most doctors will give you. In fact, many of them wouldn’t even say the word “fibromyalgia” out loud until recently, and not just because it’s a lot of syllables.

Many mainstream doctors claimed it was all in their patients’ heads.

Now, most doctors are only too happy to hand you a fibromyalgia diagnosis–and not because they suddenly became better doctors. It’s because now, they have drugs they can give you.

Don’t be fooled.

In addition to side effects such as anxiety, depression, swelling, stomach problems and even more pain, these meds are barely effective. One review of the research found that, as a group, they’re only about 35 percent effective.

I think most people would call that “ineffective.”

The real answer–and the reason so many people have trouble finding it–is in the fact that fibromyalgia can be caused by any one of a number of conditions. In some cases, it may be caused by nutritional or hormonal deficiencies. Many women have had success with the hormone relaxin.

And still others have found common–but often undiagnosed –-food allergies are behind the pain.

Most ordinary doctors don’t have the time or skills to correctly diagnose and treat fibromyalgia. If you want to win the battle against pain, visit an experienced holistic doctor who can not only get to the cause of your condition, but find a safe way to treat it.