In terms of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) disease theory, the signs and symptoms of FMS are primarily due to a dysfunction of the liver and spleen. The liver overacting on a weak spleen can be a major cause of many FMS symptoms, because the liver is also responsible for the smooth flow of qi around the body. The liver reacts strongly to emotions such as anger, frustration, and resentment, and this reaction impedes the flow of qi. If qi gets blocked, it can overflow into the spleen, upsetting the spleen’s function of making blood and resulting in blood deficiency. The spleen’s job of blood production can also be impaired by poor eating habits (eating on the run, eating deep fried food, eating raw vegetables and salads, or eating while angry, etc.), excessive thinking and stress, prolonged exposure to dampness, and chronic disease. This condition has a direct impact on the severity and prolonged existence of an FMS attack.

Symptoms of Fibromyalgia in western medicine
Fibromyalgia is a medically unexplained syndrome characterized by chronic widespread pain, a heightened and painful response to pressure, insomnia, fatigue, and depression. While not all affected persons experience all associated symptoms, the following symptoms commonly occur together:
Irritable bowel syndrome
Numbness or tingling in the fingers and feet
Painful menstrual cramps
Chronic pain
Debilitating fatigue
Difficulty sleeping
Anxiety and depression
Joint stiffness
Poor circulation in hands and feet
Restless legs syndrome
Chronic headaches and jaw pain
difficulty swallowing
Dryness in mouth, nose, and eyes
Hypersensitivity to odors, bright lights, and loud noises
Inability to concentrate  
Incontinence

Fibromyalgia is diagnosed when there is a history of widespread pain in all four quadrants of the body for a minimum duration of three months and pain when pressure is applied to at least 11 of 18 designated tender points on the body. This condition does not result in any physical damage to the body or its tissues and there are no laboratory tests which can confirm this diagnosis. Symptoms often begin after a physical or emotional trauma, but in many cases there appears to be no triggering event. Women are more prone to develop the disorder than are men, and the risk of fibromyalgia increases with age.