Yesterday a CM reader mentioned the debilitating pain and suffering of fibromyalgia. I’m aware of this disease because until recently my older sister has been under the cloud of it for four years–immersed in pain, aggravation, and worry. “If I have to live in this body for the rest of my life,” she once said at the height of the illness, “I don’t want to live very long.” After trying myriad conventional and alternative methods of healing and pain management, a few months ago she tested the water-drinking therapy of Fereydoon Batmanghelidj, M.D. and, surprisingly, found her symptoms ease slightly.

Dr. B.’s most noted book, which I’ve recommended here before, is called
“Water: For Health, for Healing, for Life: You’re Not Sick, You’re Thirsty!”. His website contains helpful information–but please read the book first. I’m not comfortable with the idea of you drinking eight to ten glasses of water a day without following his specific instructions.

Unfortunately, Dr. B. died of pneumonia in his seventies, and like many people with good ideas, he set himself up for criticism by zealously claiming that virtually every disease known to man, birds, and monkeys (almost) was affiliated with chronic dehydration. Here’s a link to his interview on how hydration can relieve chronic allergies. It of course begs the question: Why didn’t his water habit let him live longer? I guess the lesson is that nothing cures everybody all of the time (no, Abe Lincoln didn’t say exactly that).

But the water cure is certainly worth a try, especially with the support of fellow drinkers available by phone through the website. After eight steady months of drinking eight to ten glasses of water a day, and detoxing with a recommended amount of sea salt, my sister reports that she has cut her pain medication from six pills to four and sometimes goes hours without thinking about fibromyalgia. That, as sufferers know, is progress. She also says that her skin glows and she’s sleeping better; she looks forward to cutting her meds further.

Drinking ample quantities of water is good for everyone, even the healthy. But pass this humble tip along to those you feel might most benefit from it!