Fibromyalgia Syndrome
Synopsis
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic neurological condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, tender points, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and cognitive difficulties often described as “fibro fog.” It affects an estimated 2–4% of the population, with women being diagnosed far more often than men.
The exact cause of fibromyalgia remains unclear, but it is considered a central nervous system disorder involving abnormal pain processing, increased pain sensitivity, and neurochemical imbalances—particularly of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. It often develops after physical trauma, infection, psychological stress, or another illness. Genetics and environmental factors also play a role.
Common symptoms include:
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Chronic, widespread body pain
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Fatigue and non-restorative sleep
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Memory issues and mental fog
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Headaches
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Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
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Depression or anxiety
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Sensitivity to noise, lights, or temperature
Fibromyalgia is a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning other conditions (such as hypothyroidism, lupus, or rheumatoid arthritis) must be ruled out first. There is no cure, but symptom management through lifestyle changes, therapy, and targeted supplementation can dramatically improve quality of life.
When to see a doctor:
Consult a healthcare provider if you experience persistent, unexplained body pain, cognitive impairment, or fatigue that interferes with daily life and has lasted more than 3 months.
Natural Remedies
Establish a Sleep Routine: Prioritize deep, consistent sleep to improve fatigue and pain sensitivity.
Gentle Exercise: Activities like walking, stretching, yoga, or water aerobics reduce stiffness and enhance mood.
Mind-Body Practices: Meditation, tai chi, and breathing techniques lower stress and pain perception.
Anti-Inflammatory Diet: Avoid processed foods, sugar, and gluten; increase intake of vegetables, healthy fats, and antioxidants.
Heat Therapy: Warm baths, heating pads, or sauna use ease muscle tension and pain.
Ingredients
These raw ingredients are often used in alternative medicine to treat this condition.
acetyl l-carnitine
ashwagandha
coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid)
l-glutamine
magnesium
omega-3 fatty acids
rhodiola
SAMe (s-adenosyl-l-methionine disulfate p-toluensulfate)
zinc
turmeric
vitamin D
vitamin B12
vitamin B6
DL-Phenyl-Alanine 4,2-Dimethylaminoethyl
SOD (Superoxide Dismutase, antioxidant activity)
3-acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid
5-HTP
5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan)
5-HTP (test)
Acetyl-L-Carnitine
Agmatine
Agmatine Silicate
Agmatine sulfate
Algae
alkaloid
alpha d-ribofuranose
Amino Acid (unspecified)
Amino Acid Blend/Complex
amino acids
7b-hydroxy, 17b-dihydro DHEA
Ginseng, Oriental
3-Ketosteroid
5-methyltetrahydrofolate glucosamine
6-Methoxybenzoazolinone
Acetyl L-Carnitine
Active Amines
Adrenals
Alkylglycerols
Alpha Glucans
Alpha-Humulene
AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)
Ant
Anthocyanin
Apigenin
Apocynin
Aresaema (unspecified)
Aromatic acid (unspecified)
Arsenic
Aster (unspecified)
Basidiomycota
BCAA
Berries (unspecified)
Beta Glucans
Beta Hydroxybutyrate
Beta-Glucans
bio ecolian (proprietary)
Biopeptide
Blend (Amino Acid/Protein)
Boswellia
Boswellia
Boswellia serrata
Boswellic Acid
Boswellic acids
Bovine (not specified)
branched chain amino acids
Branched Chain Amino Acids
Branched-Chain Amino Acids
Brassica oleracea (unspecified)
5-androstene-3alpha,17beta-dio
18-Hydroxyeicosahexaenoic Acid
Aconite
Aga
Ajuga
Algal protein
anthocyanidin
Antirrhinin
Ardisia (unspecified)
Ashwagandha
Axocopaque
Baikal Skullcap
Benfotiamine
beta caryophyllene
Blend (Fatty Acid or Fat/Oil Supplement)
Blue-Green Algae
Boron (various)
Boron picolinate
Botanical Blend
Bovine Collagen
Bruteridine
Calcium 2-aminoethylphosphate
Cannabidiol
Cannabidiolic acid
Cannabinol
cannabis sativa oil
Capsaicin
Carotene (unspecified)
carotenoids
Caryophyllene
Catkin
cayenne pepper
Cetyl Myristoleate
Cetylated Fatty Acids
Chinese peony
Citrus Bioflavonoids
Coenzyme Q10
Colostrum
commiphora
Complex
Cordyceps
Creatine
Creatine isoleucine
creatine monohydrate
Cupric ascorbate
Curcuma (unspecified)
Curcuma wenyujin
curcumin
Curcumin
Curcumin
Curcuminoid (unspecified)
Curcuminoids
Cytokines (unspecified)
D-phenylalanine
D-Ribose
Deuterium Depleted Water
DHEA
Diclofenac
DMG (Dimethylglycine)
DMSO
dodder
Duodenum
Earthworm
Empresstree
endo-peptidase
Enzyme (unspecified)
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)
EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid)
Ester derivatives (unspecified)
Eupolyphaga sinensis
European Mistletoe
Fat (unspecified)
Fatty Acid (unspecified)
Fatty acids
fibroblast growth factor
fibroblast growth factors
Fish Oil
Fish Oil
Flat-stem milk-vetch
Flavones (various)
Flavonoid
Flavonoid (mixture)
Flavonoid glycosides
Flavonones
Frankincense
Fungus (unspecified)
Genseng (not specified)
Ghee
ginseng
Ginsenosides
Gland (mixed)
Globulins
Glucan peptides
Glutamine
Glutamine alpha-ketogutarate
Glycine
Glycine-alanyl-l-histidine
Glyco-amino isolate (unspecified)
Glycoprotein (unspecified)
GMS-ribose
gotu kola
Growth factors
Hedyotis diffusa
Hellebore (unspecified)
Hemp Agrimony
hemp oil
Herb Robert
Hypothalamus protein
Ignatius Bean
Indian Frankincense
Indian Kinotree
Indian Madder
Inositol phosphate
Insulin-Like Growth Factor
Isoquinoline alkaloids
Ketone
Ketone Salts
l-5-methyltetrahydrofolate glucosamine salt (5-MTHF)
L-Acetyl n-Cysteine
l-glycine
L-Tryptophan
Linalool
Lipids
Lipids (unspecified)
luteolin
Magnesium
Magnesium Alpha-Ketoglutarate
Magnesium ascorbate
Magnesium ascorbate
Magnesium Beta-Hydroxybutyrate
Magnesium Creatine
Magnesium Malate
Maitake Mushroom
Malic Acid
malic acid
Marine colloids
marine lipid
melatonin
Melatonin
Melatonin
Methionine reductase
Methylsulfonylmethane
methylsulfonylmethane (MSM)
mineral (unspecified)
Mineral ascorbate (unspecified)
Molluscs
Morinda (unspecified)
MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane)
Mushroom (unspecified)
Mushroom (various)
Myrcene
n-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)
Neoandrographolides
Niacin ascorbate
Niacinamide ascorbate
Nicotinamide
Oligopeptide (unspecified)
Oligosaccharide
Oligosaccharide (unspecified)
Omega Blend
Omega-3
Omega-3
Oxygen
Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA)
Paracoccus denitrificans
Patrinia
Pentacyclic Oxindole Alkaloids
Pentacyclic triterpenoids (unspecified)
peony
Peony (unspecified)
Peptide
Peptides
peptides (unspecified)
Peptides (unspecified)
phenolic acids
Phodymprhenia pertusa
phospholipids
Phthalides
Pituitary
Pituitary Gland
Placenta
Placental protein
Poly-thyronine
Polyphenols
polyphenols
Polysaccharide
Pregnenolone
pregnenolone
Proanthocyanidins
Proanthocyanidins (unspecified)
Proanthocyanidins (unspecified)
Progenin III
proline rich peptides
Proprietary Blend (Fatty Acid or Fat/Oil supplement)
protein
Protein (unspecified)
Pycnogenol
pyridoxine-alpha-ketoglutarate (PAK)
Quercetin
Quercetin
quercetin
Reginin A
Reishi mushroom
reishi mushroom
Ribose
Ribose
RNA & DNA
Rosmarinic Acid
Salicylate (unspecified)
SAM-e
SAMe
Scordinin
Sea Buckthorn Oil
Sea vegetation (unspecified)
Sichuan Lovage
Sodium Ascorbate
Southern Tsangshu
specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs)
Stem Cells
Sterones (unspecified)
Stinging Nettle
Superoxide Dismutase
Suspension matrix
Terpene Lactone (unspecified)
Thiamine (Vitamin B1)
Thyroid
trace minerals
Transforming growth factor beta
triglyceride
Tripeptide
tripeptide (unspecified)
triphala
Turmeric
ubiquinol
Unsaturated Fat
Unsaturated fatty acid
Velvet
vitamin B
Vitamin B12 (Hydroxycobalamin)
Vitamin B12 (methylcobalamin)
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxal 5-phosphate)
Vitamin B6 (unspecified)
Vitamin B6 (various)
Vitamin B9 (folic acid/folate)
Vitamin D
Vitamin D (cholecalciferol)
Vitamin D (mixed)
Vitamin D (unspecified)
Vitamin D3
vitamin D3
Vitamin E
Vitamin E (alpha tocopheryl succinate)
Vitamin E (alpha tocopheryl)
Vitamin E (Alpha-Tocomonoenol)
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol acetate)
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol succinate)
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopheryl acetate)
Vitamin E (beta and delta tocopherols)
Vitamin E (delta-tocopherol)
Vitamin E (gamma unspecified)
Vitamin E (mixed alpha-tocopherol)
Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols
Vitamin E (mixed tocotrienols/tocopherols)
Vitamin E (not specified)
Vitamin E (tocopherol ascorbyl palmitate)
Vitamin E (tocopheryl succinate)
Vitamin E (unspecified)
Vitex negundo
Withanolide
Zinc magnesium aspartate