Alternative Chronic Fatigue Treatment:
Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia have been reported to have a close association. However, we will not attempt to make that association here.
Chronic Fatigue is associated with a failing immune system and can be treated without drugs. Nutritional health must re-establised before one would be able to have relief, from their condition. Hormonal imbalance is also associated with Chronic Fatigue and the imbalance can be attributed to a great amount of stress.
Criteria For Chronic Fatigue Diagnosis
The Centers for Disease Control define Chronic Fatigue as a distinct disorder with specific symptoms and physical signs after eliminating other identifiable causes of these symptoms and signs.
1. Four or more of the following symptoms must have been present for longer than six months:
- Short-term memory loss or a severe inability to concentrate that affects work, school, or other normal activities.
- Sore throat.
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck or armpits.
- Muscle pain.
- Pain without redness or swelling in a number of joints.
- Intense or changing patterns of headaches.
- Unrefreshing sleep.
- After any exertion, weariness that lasts for more than a day.
2. The fatigue must be severe as indicated by the following:
- Sleep or rest does not relieve it.
- The fatigue is not the result of excessive work or exercise.
- The fatigue substantially impairs a person's ability to function normally at home, at work, and in social occasions.
- Even mild exercise often makes the symptoms, especially fatigue, much worse.
3. The fatigue must be a new, not lifelong, condition with a definite time of onset. Often, the condition first appears as a viral upper respiratory tract infection marked by some combination of fever, headache, muscle aches, sore throat, earache, congestion, runny nose, cough, diarrhea, and fatigue. Typically, the initial illness is no more severe than any cold or flu.
4. The symptoms must persist. In ordinary infections, symptoms go away after a few days, but in Chronic Fatigue, fatigue and other symptoms recur or continue for months to years. Many patients experience symptoms as recurring bouts of flu-like illness, with each attack lasting from hours to weeks.
Note: Other symptoms reported with Chronic Fatigue but not part of the criteria include intolerance to alcohol, irritable bowel syndrome, dry eyes and mouth, impaired circulation in the hands and feet, visual disturbances, and painful periods in women.
Natural Therapies For Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Immune support (antiviral): ginseng, echinacea, essential fatty acids
- Supplements involved in energy metabolism: CoQ10, NADH, L-carnitine, and magnesium
- Adrenal support: DHEA, licorice, and sodium
- Stress: Glutamine and Adapton
- Brain hormones and neurotransmitters: tyrosine
- Homocysteine metabolism: B6, B12, folic acid, and SAMe
- Antioxidants: glutathione, N-acetyl-cysteine, and alpha-lipoic acid
- Fatigue: ginseng and Mate
- Digestive support: digestive enzymes
- Whey Protein
Chronic Fatigue Information: Natural News 11/12/2008 - The Root Causes Of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Explained
Chronic Fatigue Information: Natural News 8/21/2009 - If You Have Chronic Fatigue, You Might Just Need L-Carnitine
Chronic Fatigue Information: Dr. Mercola 1999 - Mycoplasma Bacteria
Chronic Fatigue Information: Dr. Mercola 7/4/2004 - Progesterone Cream
Chronic Fatigue Information: Dr. Mercola 11/21/2006 - Stress And Childhood Trauma
Chronic Fatigue Information: Dr. Mercola 10/2/2007 - Now Linked To A Common Stomach Virus
Chronic Fatigue Information: Dr. Mercola 11/12/2009 - Gammaretrovirus Thought To Be Important Cause Of Chronic Fatigue
