hi there. i've been a lurker here for some time (and several other forums), as i'm one to soak up as much information as i can before commenting. i've joined with the intent to ask specifically about making a drinkable brew from cebil seeds and ayahuasca vine, but i'll make a thread about that when i can.

some stuff about me:
- i do some animation/web design as a hobby. i intended to study this at uni (and did so for one year), but some things happened; i lost interest in financial success, i developed a chronic illness (fibromyalgia) which limits how long i can sit inactive at a computer, and i also realized that everything i was being taught in the course, i could easily teach myself using the internet as a resource.
- i am now studying traditional chinese medicine, to learn about the energetic effects of different herbs, and in the hopes of being able to devise some manner of cure for my illness.
- having had significant experience with psychedelics (it used to be something we'd do "recreationally" every second day, but as always that ended up with being taught a lesson or to and learning to respect them more than that), and having gained an interest in healing with herbal medicine, i have naturally started soaking up as much information regarding entheogens as possible.
- through the above two points, and combined with my own interest in psychoactive substances as a means for expanding consciousness, i have also developed an interest in gardening. i am now working to cultivate my own herbs, for both traditional chinese medicine and entheogenic use.
- also related to the above; i've recently developed an interest in shamanism, although i do not subscribe to any belief system without experiencing reason to myself. having said that, i have become convinced that plants do indeed have spirits or consciousness of some sort, and that we can very likely learn from them using certain concoctions. reading about the "call of a shamanic illness" after moving towards this path also seems a little too coincidental to me, but i reserve judgement.
- i am totally disillusioned regarding our society's structure (ie, a prison) and can get pretty riled up about this issue. but generally, i just choose not to, because this tends to leave me in a terrible mood.
- other than that, i'm eager to learn and keen to try new things.
- having spent years on various forums i have long since abandoned the shift key, reserving it only for when i intend to be as serious and clear as possible. lack of capitalization seems to suit my default tone of voice better.

anyway yeah i am happy to be here and i hope this introduction is adequate

Welcome to the Nexus, Scarecrow_.

I'm sorry to hear about your fibromyalgia, it's a terrible condition and I know several people battling it. Western medicine is finally starting to accept and treat fibromyalgia effectively with drugs such as lyrica and cymbalta, though those often have side effects and aren't effective for everyone. Still, they seem to do better then the previous methods of assuming it is psychiatric only, or using narcotics, which don't work at all for some, and others find limited relief only to battle tolerance and dependence. I hope you find effective treatment, Western, Eastern, or other!

Being a migraine and cluster sufferer, I understand how one is willing to do anything to treat chronic pain. There seems to be possible links between chronic head and body pain, but so little is actually known.

Psychedelics do seem to help with many people, some for long periods of time. Some have luck with the guaifenesin treatment. If you wish to share anything you find that helps, I'd be glad to spread the advice to those I know who have the condition.

Thanks for your reply. Indeed, western medicine is quite lacking for this kind of problem. I am biased by my studies, but I have a suspicion that it's a purely energetic illness, rather than one with a direct physical cause. This would explain why western medicine has no understanding of what the problem is.

To clarify, I'm studying TCM for my illness. But I'm treating psychedelics as a different kind of medicine; one for the spirit/soul/however you want to call it, rather than for the body. I'm pursuing that interest on the side of my real studies, and I'm yet to come across any reason to believe they might hold some cure for fibromyalgia.

Having said that, I have found them helpful to become more open to and aware of the concept and sensation of qi energy, and I think this awareness is helping me improve my condition significantly. In that state of mind I find it is very easy to feel out where blockages, deficiencies, and stagnations are, and then take steps to remove them usually by stretching, self-massage and exercises. I'd use herbs too, but I haven't got enough experience with them yet, and I know that using the wrong ones can just exacerbate the problem. Work in progress.

I've noticed in particular that different parts of the body exhibiting different kinds of symptoms respond better to some kinds of massage than others. For example, something that feels blocked up needs to be gently eased into motion, while something that feels deficient needs an invigorating massage.

It's kind of like taking command of your own blood flow, but you need to be careful and responsible about it.

But I'm rambling.

I've never heard of guaifenesin before. Thank you for mentioning this, I'll be sure to look in to it.

For your migraines, I suggest you try experimenting with self massage/palpation in a chilled state of your choosing. Try following the pain along your veins and/or muscles to find the source of it. I've noticed if I get a headache it usually comes from somewhere really tense in my shoulders or neck. Just try to find knots anywhere between your pain and your heart and try to disperse them. Works wonders, and it's a great skill to have.

I've heard of a study which suggested 5-htp could be helpful & I've seen some posts from people on various forums saying that kratom was a help to them in dealing with fibromyalgia.

Good luck with it and I hope you find something that helps you manage it better, I have a relative with the condition and they plan to give the 5-htp a try to see how it goes.

Sorry for the late reply/thread bump, I kind of forgot about this. I just wanted to say thanks for your suggestions!

I've been thinking to add kratom to my garden, so I'll definitely look in to that one.

5-HTP though, I'm inclined to steer clear of, to avoid any risk of seretonin syndrome.