Abstract

A method of treating fibromyalgia-like complaints (i.e., fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome) in a patient, the method comprising: administering to the patient an 1H-indole-3-methanol compound (e.g., 1H-indole-3-methanol, ascorbigen, bis(3-indolyl) methane, indolo›3,2-b(carbazole)!, 2-(indol-3-ylmethyl)-3,3'-diindolylmethane, 5,6,11,12,17,18-hexahydrocyclonona›, 1,2-b;4,5-b';7,8-b"!triindole, 1H-indol-3-yl methoxy methane, ethoxy 1H-indol-3-yl ethoxy methane, other ethers of 1H-indole-3-methanol) in a medically acceptable manner in a pharmaceutically effective amount on a regular basis. It has been found that the administration of such indoles, particularly, 1H-indole-3-methanol, greatly mitigates the most severe symptoms of fibromyalgia. Patients with fibromyalgia have reported a decrease in pain, less fatigue, improved sleep patterns, and an improved sense of well being resulting from the oral administration of pharmaceutically effective amounts of an 1H-indole-3-methanol compound each day.

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