Maca is a hearty root vegetable plant which grows in the high Andean plateaus of Peru at altitudes as high as 14,500 feet above sea level. Little is known about the origins of MACA, but the plant is believed to have been cultivated in the Junin Plateau region of the Central Highlands in an area called Cerro de Pasco as far back as 2,000 years ago. The herb is becoming widely used for fibromyalgia, since it eliminates fatigue and several other associated symptoms. The Inca's of Peru were sophisticated builders and cultivators of the land and may have been responsible for the cultivation of MACA which have been found in archaeological sites. Many legends exist about the nourishing powers of MACA, such as it's ability to promote sexual desire and increased energy and stamina. The only area where this particular species of MACA is found is a region of extreme weather conditions such as freezing, high winds, and intensive sunlight. No other food plant exists in the world which will grow at so high an altitude and survive. It has shown to improve fibromyalgia conditions in numerous sufferers. 

Recent NIAMS studies show that abnormally low levels of the hormone cortisol may be associated with fibromyalgia. At Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, and at the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor, researchers are studying regulation of the function of the adrenal gland (which makes cortisol) in fibromyalgia. People whose bodies make inadequate amounts of cortisol experience many of the same symptoms as people with fibromyalgia. It is hoped that these studies will increase understanding about fibromyalgia and may suggest new ways to treat the disorder.

NIAMS research studies are looking at different aspects of the disorder. At the University of Alabama in Birmingham, researchers are concentrating on how specific brain structures are involved in the painful symptoms of fibromyalgia. At George Washington University in Washington, DC, scientists are investigating the causes of a post-Lyme disease syndrome as a model for fibromyalgia. Some patients develop a fibromyalgia-like condition following Lyme disease, an infectious disorder associated with arthritis and other symptoms.

NIAMS-supported research on fibromyalgia also includes several projects at the Institute's Multipurpose Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases Centers. Researchers at these centers are studying individuals who do not seek medical care, but who meet the criteria for fibromyalgia. (Potential subjects are located through advertisements in local newspapers asking for volunteers with widespread pain or aching.) Other studies at the Centers are attempting to uncover better ways to manage the pain associated with the disorder through behavioral interventions such as relaxation training.

In March 1998, NIAMS and several other NIH institutes and offices issued a Request for Proposals to promote research studies of fibromyalgia. As a result of this request, NIAMS and its partners recently funded 15 new fibromyalgia projects totaling more than $3.6 million.

The NIAMS supports and encourages outstanding basic and clinical research that increases the understanding of fibromyalgia. However, much more research needs to be done before fibromyalgia can be successfully treated or prevented.

The Federal Government, in collaboration with researchers, physicians, and private voluntary health organizations, is committed to research efforts that are directed at significantly improving the health of all Americans afflicted with fibromyalgia.