Causes of Fibromyalgia Based on Chinese medicine
Fibromyalgia is defined as a condition which is characterized by pain in the muscles and soft tissue fibers of the body. It is the third most common rheumatologic disorder after osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. FMS mostly affects women between the ages of 20 and 55 years of age. Approximately 90% are cases are women with an average age of 49, although men are afflicted as well. Its most common symptoms are chronic, widespread, severe muscular pain, aching and stiffness, often accompanied by depression, Insomnia, morning stiffness, anxiety and fatigue.

According to the principles of Chinese medicine, an imbalance in the flow of Qi and blood can create the symptoms that we call FMS. The causes of this imbalance are often physical trauma or emotional stress, a loss of blood or energy flow to several different areas of the body, nutritional deficiencies from an inappropriate or unbalanced diet, or toxic exposure. When Qi and blood are abundant and flowing freely, there is no pain. However, when Qi is deficient and/ or blocked in one or more areas, pain, stiffness, fatigue, insomnia and many other symptoms can result.

Another cause of blood deficiency is the decline in blood production as women age and their child-bearing years end. As natural as this process may be, some people experience moderate to severe problems, while others sail right through it. A weak spleen is going to produce a lot of dampness. Think of it as a sponge soaking up nutrients and squeezing them out into the body. If the spleen is weak, the sponge doesn’t have the energy to "squeeze" and it becomes waterlogged. This dampness can cause a feeling of heaviness, aches and pains, headaches, poor appetite, disrupted bowel function, fatigue, poor memory, fuzzy thinking, and depression.  

Causes of Fibromyalgia in western medicine
The cause of fibromyalgia is not yet known in western medicine. However, we do know that symptoms can be made worse by emotional stress, muscle strains, or overuse of muscles. Although a wide variety of factors, including physical trauma, infections such as Lyme disease, and exposure to toxins, have been blamed for causing fibromyalgia syndrome, there is no evidence to support any of these explanations. Some studies suggest that people with fibromyalgia also frequently experience changes in mood such as depression or anxiety, but it is not known whether that is a result of the fibromyalgia or whether it's related to its cause.

One area researchers are looking into is whether people have fibromyalgia because their bodies have an abnormal way of processing pain. However, this is still being studied as an actual cause. Genetics may also play a role and may increase the risk of fibromyalgia. Research shows that fibromyalgia is diagnosed in 28% of children of women with fibromyalgia.