Chronic Fatigue (CFS)

and Natural Medicine

Naturopaths' Suggestions

Every CFS patient has differing symptoms.

When looking at CFS patients, I have found that there are so many different appearances of the syndrome that it is very hard to tell you one exact treatment formula. Some patients can pinpoint the exact date of when they contracted a virus and progressively got worse. Some patients have no idea what triggered the disorder.

What we can safely assume about chronic fatigue is that it is our immune system that is taking the fall and we need to support it while at the same time, addressing the symptoms.

It is important to note that there are major lifestyle changes that need to be made whilst in the acute phase of CFS. There is also a steep learning curve concerning your body.

You have to listen to your body and learn what it can cope with and what it can’t. Don’t push yourself to the limits just because somebody doesn’t understand the illness and calls you lazy, and to get ‘over it’.

Example

If you find you can walk one kilometre but the next day you can’t get out of bed , then that is your body telling you ‘PLEASE DON’T WALK THAT FAR AGAIN’.

Assuming you have been diagnosed and all other disorders have been excluded, then here are my suggestions for treatment of chronic fatigue.

Detoxification

A cure is very hard to come by if we don’t remove all the possibilities of cause. It’s when we don’t know what the causes are, that makes treatment difficult. O.K so we have to assume that there are causes everywhere in our life that we don’t realise, otherwise, we would know the cause of chronic fatigue and we wouldn’t have to postulate.

• It could be in the food we eat

• It could be in the chemicals that we are in contact with

• It could be a virus that you contracted

Please read about the elimination of environmental factors in this section. (this will open a new window)

Detoxification of our Organs

Supplements for Chronic Fatigue

These are two liver supportive amino acids that are needed by the liver for bile production and flow.

SAMe

This amazing ‘seretonin level lifter’ is vital in chronic fatigue patients. The depression and mood changes found in 78% of sufferers is greatly eased after just two weeks of supplementation.

Multi-Vitamin and Mineral

It is standard to have a good multi-vitamin and mineral to replenish your stores but also for immune enhancing qualities.

For example:

Vitamin C is known to increase T cells in our immune system to help fight infection.

Zinc stimulates the activity of natural killer cells in our immune system making it easier to fight infection and therefore less healing time.

Beta-Carotene This derivative of Vitamin A has known actions against virus’s and tumours. It is highly important to have this in your multivitamin and mineral.

At this point it is important to note that you can posess a toxic mineral ratio where one mineral is too high and the other too low. This can exacerbate symptoms and may be masking the symptoms of chronic fatigue. For more information on this and how you can be tested Please click here…

Herbal Medicine

Golden Seal (Hydrastis Canadensis)

Echinacea

Shitake Mushroom (Lentinus edodes)

The lentinun (polysaccharide) in the shitake has a strong immune stimulating effect. To help fight off any infection and to allow your body more energy, I would recommend Shitake for anyone with CFS, an excellent quality shitake can be found by clicking on the bottle to your right.

Lifestyle Changes

Exercise is very important to keep the body active which keeps the blood flowing which aides detoxification, which makes you better, which makes living life a whole lot easier. However, those with diagnosed chronic fatigue should not exercise in the early days of this disorder. The body does not respond well to strenous exercise, it will only respond well to rest. When you are feeling better only do as much exercise as your body can tolerate. If you find you react badly after doing certain activities, then either don’t do them or reduce the amount of activity. Exercise does not have to be a 3km run, on the contrary, when you have CFS, exercise can be walking to the mailbox and back.

Remember to listen to your body

Foods for Chronic Fatigue

You may have already noticed bowel changes or intolerance to some foods.

Again, listen to your body

If you have the slightest inclination that a particular food is not ‘agreeing’ with your body then please eliminate it. Your multivitamin will make up for the withdrawal of nutritional properties.

This puts less stress on your body therefore more energy for you and life doesn’t have to dramatically stop….

In Summary

Not every person suffers depression or the debilitating fatigue or the muscle pain. Some patients are severe and some are mild.

Whichever one you are or whatever phase you are in, you must remember to support your body It is crying out for support and rest just as any other disease or disorder is.

Find out what's been clinically proven to help chronic fatigue

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