Cause: Unknown.

Useful Supplements: 5-HTP, Magnesium, Malic Acid, SAM, Vitamin B1, Vitamin E.

Useful Herbs: Asian ginseng, Cayenne, Licorice Root, Siberian Ginseng.

Further information: Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition which has as its main symptom severe muscle pain. Its other symptoms could include fatigue, chest pain, fever, swollen lymph nodes, insomnia, and depression.¹
Fibromyalgia has no cure. It most often occurs in women between the ages of 25 and 45.
Exercise may help to ease the symptoms of Fibromyalgia, as patients who regularly do low-intensity workouts often show less severe symptoms than those who do not.² Other effective non-medicinal treatments include meditation³ and acupuncture.⁴
The following supplements and herbs may be helpful in treating the effects of Fibromyalgia:
Low seratonin levels are often associated with Fibromyalgia.⁵ Supplementation with 5-HTP may increase seratonin synthesis.
A combination of Magnesium and Malic Acid has been shown to lessen muscle pain.⁶ This may be due to the fact that many patients with Fibromyalgia have low Magnesium levels.
Given intravenously, SAM appears to help reduce both pain and depression in Fibromyalgia patients.⁷ Intravenous dosages appear to be more effective than oral dosage; however, even oral dosages appear to help alleviate pain, fatigue, and stiffness related to Fibromyalgia.⁸ SAM should not be use by manic-depressive (bipolar disorder) patients, however, as often causes manic episodes.
Other patients have low levels of Vitamin B1, resulting in less activity by B1-dependent enzymes.⁹ It is unclear whether this deficiency is a cause or effect of the disease; in any case, supplementation may help alleviate the symptoms.
Vitamin E supplements have also been shown to help ease much of the pain of Fibromyalgia.¹⁰

No herbs have specifically been studied in the treatment of Fibromyalgia. However, since many of the symptoms and difficulties associated with Fibromyalgia are also seen in chronic fatigue syndrome, the same herbs may be effective in treatment. These include Licorice root (should not be used by heart patients), Asian ginseng, and Siberian Ginseng. Capsaicin, the active ingredient of cayenne, may also be effective.¹¹ A cream applied to aching joints and muscles may be effective; however, it may also cause a mild burning sensation, and can be quite painful if it touches the eyes.

References:

¹Wolfe F, Ross K, Anderson J, Russell J. Aspects of Fibromyalgia in the general population: Sex, pain threshold, and FM symptoms. J Rheumatol 1995;22(1):151–155.
²Mengshail AM, Komnaes HB, Forre O. The effects of 20 weeks of physical fitness training in female patients with Fibromyalgia. Clin Exp Rheum 1992;10:345–349.
³Kaplan KH, Goldberg DL, Galvin-Naduea M. The impact of a meditiation-based stress reduction program on Fibromyalgia. Gen Hosp Psychiatry 1993;15:284–289.
⁴Deluze C. Bosia L, Zirbs A, et al. Electroacupuncture in fibromyalgia: results of a controlled trial. BMJ 1992;305:1249–1252.
⁵Fava M, Rosenbaum JF, MacLaughlin R, et al. Neuroendocrine effects of S-adenosyl-L-methionine, a novel putative antidepressant. J Psychiatr Res 1990;24:177–84.
⁶Russell J, Michalek J, Flechas J, et al. Treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome with SuperMalic: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover pilot study. J Rheum 1995;22(5):953–957.
⁷Tavoni A, Vitali C, Bombardieri S, et al. Evaluation of S-adenosylmethionine in primary fibromyalgia: A double-blind crossover study. Am J Med 1987;83(suppl 5A):107–10.
⁸Jacobsen S, Danneskiold-Samsoe B, Andersen RB. Oral S-adenosylmethionine in primary fibromyalgia:Double-blind clinical evaluation. Scand J Rheumatol 1991;20:294–302.
⁹Eisinger J, Bagneres D, Arroyo P, et al. Effects of magnesium, high energy phosphates, piracetam, and thiamin on erythrocyte transketolase. Magnesium Res 1994;7(1):59–61.
¹⁰Steinberg CL. The tocopherols (vitamin E) in the treatment of primary fibrositis. J Bone Joint Surg 1942;24:411–23.
¹¹McCarty DJ et al. Treatment of pain due to fibromyalgia with topical capsaicin: A pilot study. Semin Arth Rhem 1986;23(suppl 3):41–47.