According to Chinese medical theory, most patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) have a liver-spleen disharmony sitting at the center of their disease mechanisms. This means their liver is depressed, their qi is stagnant, and their spleen is vacuous and weak. 

 

Based on these core disease mechanisms, individual FMS sufferers may also have malnourishment of their sinews and vessels, damp heat impediment, blood stasis, kidney yin and/or kidney yang vacuity.  Becasue every patient with FMS has a slightly different Chinese medical pattern discrimination, each patient receives their own individualized treatment.  This treatment mainly consists of the oral administration of Chinese herbal formulas which may either be given as powered, desiccated extracts or a bulk herbs brewed and drunk as a "tea" several times per day. 

 

Depending on the practitioner and the patient's individual pattern, acupuncture, moxibustion ( a type of heat therapy), and/or Chinese massage may also be performed.  In additon, practitioners will pay close attention to each patient's diet and lifestyle in order to treat the whole person and eliminate the root of the condition.  Typically, the Chinese medical treatment of fibromyalgia lasts several months in its active phase, and this may be followed up by several months of taking Chinese herbs in pill or power form preventively.