Herbal medicine is the primary modality of TCM and is used for a wider range of ailments than acupuncture. Fibromyalgia is treated primarily with herbal medicine and only secondarily with acupuncture. Herbal medicine includes over 2,000 different medicinal substances, with 80 to 100 of them commonly used for the treatment of fibromyalgia. Herbal formulas are generally given in decoction, powdered or pill form. The formulas tend to consist of different herbs with a balanced approach that include a focus on ameliorating the side effects that one has from single herbs. For example, it is very common that formulas have a small amount of ginger added to make the formulas easier on the digestion. It is commonly thought that decoction or granulated formulas are superior to pill form as they can easily be modified to address different symptom profiles. However, it is often easier to get patients to take the formulas in pill form as they have little or no taste-unlike the decoctions (and, to a lesser extent, granules) which can be very bitter or pungent.

Tai Chi and Qigong are two common movement-based therapies that are considered modalities of TCM. Tai Chi is a martial arts form that is often considered moving meditation. It has been used as an adjunctive therapy for many ailments as well as general wellbeing. Qigong is a movement and breathing system developed specifically for medical purposes. Tuina is a form of manual therapy that includes specific types of massage, acupressure, and chiropractic adjustments. Tuina is often a subspecialty of the TCM practitioner but can be used in conjunction with any of the other modalities of TCM.

Fibromyalgia & Acupuncture
As a type of Muscle Bi, fibromyalgia is treated with a combination of acupuncture and moxibustion. Three different kinds of points are used:
1) Local points in areas of tenderness and pain are needled. For example, pain in the trapezius and neck muscles might be needled with points such as Acupuncture Single Point Fengchi, Gallbladder 20, and Tianzhu (BL 10), while pain in the inner thighs might be needled with points such as Ququan (LR8), 9 (Yin Bao), and 10 (Zu Wu Li). Moxibustion and electrical stimulation, if appropriate, may be used. Diathermy (heat lamp) and Tui Na applied to specific acupuncture points or muscle groups may prove useful as well.

2) Specific acupuncture points associated with the type of Bi syndrome diagnosed are needled. Patients with a predominance of Wind Bi may have Geshu (BL17),  and Xuehai (SP 10) needled; with Cold Bi, points such as Shenshu (BL23) and Guanyuanshu (BL 26); and with Damp Bi, Zusanli (ST 36), Shangqiu (SP 5).

3) Other underlying factors contributing to the development of Bi are treated as well. Liver Qi stagnation might be treated by adding Liver 3 (Hun Men); Kidney and Spleen deficiency by adding Taixi (KI3), Gongsun (SP4); and Qi and Blood deficiency might indicate the use of Stomach 36 (Zu San Li) and Sanyinjiao (SP6). Small acupuncture needles, known as intradermal needles, may be left in painful sites for a few days.

Western treatment
Fibromyalgia is often treated in a multifaceted fashion, using both medications and non-medication methods to improve symptoms. Non-medication methods to relieve symptoms include regular sleep, regular stretching and aerobic exercises, hot compresses, and gentle massage. Counselling or other psychological therapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, can help people who feel stressed and who may need help coping with fibromyalgia.

Narcotic pain killers that are not too strong (e.g., codeine, tapentadol, tramadol) may help relieve pain and improve function.

Severe persistent pain that's focused in one point is sometimes treated with an injection of lidocaine, which may be used in combination with hydrocortisone.

Low doses of antidepressant medications (e.g., amitriptyline, citalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline) are often used to treat fibromyalgia. Antidepressants can improve sleep and may help with the pain. In higher doses, they can also be used to treat mood disorders in people who develop them along with their fibromyalgia.

Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and acetaminophen may help with the pain in some people, but not everyone responds to these medications.

Pregabalin may help treat the symptoms of fibromyalgia by reducing the efficiency with which pain messages are passed along the nerves, thereby reducing pain.

Duloxetine, which is also used as an antidepressant, can also be used to treat the pain of fibromyalgia by affecting the chemical messengers in the body that perceive pain.