Phytothermotherapy: a possible complementary therapy for fibromyalgia patients

Area of Science:

• Integrative Medicine
• Rheumatology
• Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Background:

• Traditional Alpine phytothermotherapy (hay baths) is used for rheumatic diseases but lacks clinical validation.
• Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) presents challenges with no standard effective therapy, leading to limited benefits from current treatments.
• Existing FMS treatments offer varied and often limited benefits, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of phytothermotherapy in patients with primary fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS).
• To conduct a single-blind, controlled, randomised trial assessing a cycle of phytothermotherapy for FMS.
• To provide clinical validation for the traditional use of hay baths in managing rheumatic conditions like FMS.

Main Methods:

• A single-blind, controlled, randomised trial involving 56 patients with primary FMS.
• Patients were allocated to either phytothermotherapy (n=30) or a control group (n=26).
• Evaluations included the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Tender Points Count, Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), and AIMS1 at baseline, post-treatment, and follow-up at 12 and 24 weeks.

Main Results:

• Phytothermotherapy group showed significant improvements in all measured parameters (FIQ, Tender Points Count, HAQ, AIMS1) post-treatment.
• These improvements were sustained throughout the 24-week follow-up period.
• No significant changes were observed in the control group, and phytothermotherapy demonstrated excellent tolerability with no reported side effects.

Conclusions:

• Phytothermotherapy is an effective treatment for primary fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS).
• The treatment is well-tolerated by patients, indicating a favorable safety profile.
• Results support the clinical efficacy of traditional phytothermotherapy for managing FMS symptoms.