Stage Two: The Microbiome

Addressing the underlying causes of heavy, achy pain  stomach problems, Candida overgrowth, and malabsorption of nutrients.

By Brehan Crawford, MAcOM, LAc  ·  Crawford Wellness

Fibromyalgia Protocol Series:  Stage 0  ·  Stage 1  ·  Stage 2  ·  Stage 3  ·  Stage 4  ·  Movement

Now that the roof is patched, let's fix the plumbing.

If you've been through Stage 1 and eliminated the wandering pain we associate with reactivating viruses like Epstein-Barr, you've already laid the groundwork for success here. Congratulations. One factor behind EBV reactivation is the presence of excess biofilm and the critters it hosts  so by using Wind Tea, MicroGuard Plus, and the Tibetan Foot Soak while doing self-massage and nasal humming to break loose biofilm, you got a jump start on what we're doing now.

The focus for Stage 2 is on the gastrointestinal microbiome — because it has to be. Research has shown a clear link between disordered digestive function and chronic pain. IBS patients are 40 to 80 percent more likely to experience migraine, fibromyalgia, and depression. The heavy, achy pain we're addressing here is very similar to what patients with osteoarthritis describe — and research has also shown that osteoarthritis is more likely to develop in patients with a disordered microbiome.

If you haven't been through Stages 0 and 1, you can still start here — but I recommend going back through the foundation and the immune system work, especially if you have pain that wanders from place to place.

"Candida by itself isn't a problem — it's a fungal yeast that's a universal member of the human microbiome. Everyone has it. The problem comes when it grows out of control relative to other species, especially the flora we associate with good health and long life."

— Brehan Crawford, MAcOM, LAc

Candida, Biofilm, and Heavy Pain

Candida is opportunistic. It builds biofilms throughout your GI tract — biofilms that should be protective, guarding the gut lining against damage from acid and foreign particles. And that same biofilm provides a breeding ground for normal bacterial flora to live in. The problem is what happens when those normal bacteria are killed — whether from an immune response to an infectious illness or by using a prescription antibiotic.

When the normal flora are disrupted, Candida can and often does grow out of control to fill in the gaps. This prevents your normal flora from growing back easily, and that same mucus can become a breeding ground for bacteria you don't necessarily want hanging around. These pathogenic microbes can contribute to the development of various disease states — including the heavy, achy pain we're addressing in Stage 2.

A Moderate Diet — Not a Restrictive One

If you've looked around on the internet about nutrition and fibromyalgia, you've probably seen people recommending everything from keto diets to vegan diets to water fasts to coffee enemas. And while drastic restrictive diets that focus on eating a very specific way can help some people, they aren't sustainable for most folks long-term. The health and wellness culture around these diets often promotes behavior that can isolate people socially or push them toward disordered eating — which we'd really like to avoid.

After working with thousands of fibromyalgia patients for over a decade, what I find works best is to outline basic nutritional principles of a moderate diet. I want you to eat with your family and friends. I want you to enjoy everything delicious that life has to offer. And I want you to honor your medical history and limits when it comes to certain areas.

Start by remembering what your grandmother tried to tell you: eat slowly, chew your food, be grateful for what you're given, and try to give back when you can. Food is love and it should be shared.

Get a Tummy Rub After Every Meal

Next to eating right, taking the right medicines, and being in nature, abdominal self-massage is one of the best things you can do to promote digestive and microbial health. Every time you do it, you're encouraging peristalsis, helping your body create more enzymes and stomach acid, secreting bile, and promoting the smooth distribution of gases that significantly impact overall wellness. It's also extremely relaxing and feels really good.

It's easy to overthink self-massage. More important than doing it perfectly is to just do it. Go for a five-minute leisurely stroll around your yard, neighborhood, or living room every time you eat — while rubbing your hands around your tummy — and you'll notice better digestion pretty quickly.

For a visual demonstration of the abdominal massage technique, see the Movement Protocol.

"I want you to eat with your family and friends. I want you to enjoy everything delicious that life has to offer. And I want you to honor your medical history and limits. We're seeking balance here — usually nothing drastic is needed."

— Brehan Crawford

The Stage 2 Protocol: Three Products Working Together

Stage 2 Lifestyle Summary

Maintaining a healthy microbiome not only allows you to address the heavy, achy pains of Stage 2 — it also offers relief from a host of gastrointestinal disorders, including IBS. To achieve the optimal microbial environment, you need to consider what lifestyle factors are discouraging the growth of good bacteria and promoting the proliferation of fungus and other pathogenic organisms.

The success marker for Stage 2 is the resolution of heavy, achy pain — and noticeable improvement in digestive symptoms. Once you're there, it's time to move on to Stage 3 and address the nervous system.

Next in the Series

Stage 3: Trauma & the Nervous System

Resolve the electrical and burning pain of fibromyalgia by healing cortisol dysregulation, dysautonomia, and the lasting effects of trauma.

Full Series:  Stage 0  ·  Stage 1  ·  Stage 2  ·  Stage 3  ·  Stage 4  ·  Movement