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Rooted

Musculoskeletal · also Nervous / Mental, Immune / Rheum / Allergy

Fibromyalgia (adjunct)

5 plants

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Widespread pain with a clean inflammatory workup and unrefreshing sleep. This is not seronegative RA and not statin myopathy until you have thought about those. Topical capsaicin can help regional wall pain. Ashwagandha and lemon balm are sleep/stress adjuncts. High-dose curcumin is a DILI conversation without an inflammatory diagnosis. Opioids and internal comfrey are the wrong tools.

Primary plants

  1. Cayenne (Capsicum annuum)
    1
    CayenneHuman data

    Capsicum annuum

    Topical capsaicin for regional myofascial wall pain. Burning is the point.

    Typical. Topical 0.025–0.075% to intact skin. Wash hands.

    Safety. Burns. Not for broken skin. Diffuse 'all-over' pain is a poor cream target.

  2. Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)
    2
    Lemon balmHuman data

    Melissa officinalis

    Sleep-onset rumination and mild tension. Not a painkiller.

    Typical. Leaf tea or extract in the evening.

    Safety. Very clean at tea dose.

  3. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
    3
    AshwagandhaHuman data

    Withania somnifera

    Stress-sleep RCT signal over weeks. Not a rescue analgesic.

    Typical. Extract 300–600 mg.

    Safety. Pregnancy no. Thyroid. Rare DILI.

Supportive plants2
  • Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
    LavenderHuman data
    Lavandula angustifolia

    Oral Silexan-type oil has anxiety RCT data that sometimes helps the tension leftover.

    Typical. Silexan-type 80–160 mg. Not DIY essential oil by mouth.

    Safety. Taste/burp. Do not ingest craft oil.

  • St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum)
    St John's wortHuman data
    Hypericum perforatum

    Sometimes reached for the overlapping low-mood file. Induction and SSRI stacking make it a pharmacist conversation, not a default.

    Typical. If depression is the lead, that is a different page and often a drug.

    Safety. CYP3A4/P-gp induction. SSRIs. Transplant, DOAC, OCPs.

Clinical notes

  • ESR/CRP in the inflammatory range, or true weakness, is not fibromyalgia until the other workup is done.

When this is not enough

  • Inflammatory arthritis signs, myopathy/CK, SI, sleep apnea untreated, new focal neuro deficit

Rooted is a private clinical reference for licensed practitioners. It is educational, not a treatment protocol, and not a substitute for the chart, the exam, or pharmacy review. Plant medicines interact with drugs and can harm liver, kidney, heart, pregnancy, and children.

All musculoskeletal diagnoses