Chronic fatigue syndrome

If you have chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), you feel so tired that you are unable to do even half of your normal daily activities -- and the feeling doesn't go away, even with more rest. This syndrome affects twice as many women as men. It may last a month, a couple of years, or many years.

Signs and Symptoms

• Severe fatigue that comes on suddenly, especially after you've had the flu
• Low-grade fever (100.4^oF) and chills
• Sore throat and swollen lymph glands in the neck or armpits
• Muscle and joint aches, without any swelling
• Headaches
• Sleep that doesn't feel refreshing
• Feeling like you are in a fog and are unable to concentrate or remember

What Causes It?

The cause of chronic fatigue syndrome is unknown, but a virus or an immune system reaction may be responsible. Risk factors include extreme stress or anxiety, flu-like illness that doesn't completely go away, and poor eating habits.

What to Expect at Your Provider's Office

Your health care provider will go over your symptoms, check your medical history, and do a physical examination. They may use laboratory tests, such as a blood or urine test, to rule out other problems. If you have CFS, your health care provider will prescribe drugs to treat your symptoms, or suggest herbs, vitamins, or dietary changes to help you. Usually these treatments and time will correct the problem.

If the usual treatments do not work, your doctor may check for other conditions, such as a psychiatric illness, muscle disease, or exposure to a toxic agent, that can cause symptoms similar to those of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Treatment Options

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a stressful disease. It is important to get emotional support as well as treatment for your symptoms. Although there is no cure, symptoms can be treated with medications such as antidepressants and drugs that boost your immune system. Pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs help relieve muscle and joint aches. Support groups and stress-management techniques can help you cope with the disease.

Drug Therapies

Prescription

• Antidepressants -- depending on type, in addition to relieving depression, these drugs can reduce fatigue and muscle tension, and improve sleep. Side effects vary.
• Benzodiazepines -- help reduce anxiety. Side effects vary
• Histamine blockers -- block production of stomach acid, improving energy.
• Nonsedating antihistamines -- relieve allergy symptoms. Side effects include drowsiness and headache.
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (including ibuprofen and naproxen) -- help reduce pain
• Immune system boosters -- to activate or enhance the immune system. Some of these drugs are experimental.

Over the Counter

Aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen all reduce pain. Side effects may include nausea, vomiting, gastrointestinal bleeding, and kidney damage.

Complementary and Alternative Therapies

Following nutritional guidelines and using herbs and homeopathic remedies as recommended may alleviate the debilitating symptoms of CFS, and may improve overall vitality. Counseling, support groups, meditation, yoga, and progressive muscle relaxation are stress-management techniques that may help as well.

Nutrition and Supplements

Avoid refined foods, sugar, caffeine, alcohol, saturated fats, dairy products, and gluten-containing grains. Eat more fresh vegetables, legumes, whole grains (non-gluten), protein, and essential fatty acids (found in nuts, seeds, and cold-water fish).

The following supplements may help reduce symptoms of CFS.

• Magnesium (300 - 1,000 mg per day) may help reduce fatigue, but studies show mixed results. Too much magnesium causes diarrhea. To correct this problem, gradually reduce the amount you were taking. It is sometimes combined with malic acid (600 mg twice per day) to boost energy.
• Essential fatty acids, such as those found in fish oil (1,000 mg 3 times per day with meals) and evening primrose oil (3,000 - 6,000 mg per day) may also help reduce fatigue.
• NADH, a naturally occurring chemical involved in energy production in the body (5 - 20 mg per day).
• Coenzyme Q10, which helps cells function and produce energy (60 - 100 mg per day).
• DHEA, a hormone produced by the body that may improve energy levels (50 - 200 mg per day). DHEA is a precursor to testosterone and estrogen. It is truly a hormone rather than a supplement, and should never be taken without a doctor's prescription. Do not use DHEA if you have or are at risk for breast cancer, prostate cancer, or any other hormonally influenced illness.
• Vitamin B12 (2,500 - 5,000 mcg by injection every two or three days for several weeks) has been shown to improve energy. Oral supplements, however, do not work as well because the body cannot absorb that much vitamin B12.
• Beta-carotene (50,000 IU per day) to strengthen immune function.
• Vitamin C (250- 500 mg two times per day) to increase endurance and immune function. Many alternative health care providers recommend higher doses. Talk to your health care provider to determine the proper dose for you.
• B-complex (50- 100 mg per day or 2 ml by injection one to two times per week) with additional B6 (100 mg per day) and B5 (100 - 250 mg per day) to reduce the effects of stress.
• Pantothenic acid, or vitamin B5(250 mg twice per day).
• L-carnitine (500 - 1,000mg 3 times per day for 8 weeks) to support energy production in the cells.

Herbs

Herbs are generally a safe way to strengthen and tone the body's systems. As with any therapy, you should work with your provider to get your problem diagnosed before starting any treatment. You may use herbs as dried extracts (capsules, powders, teas), glycerites (glycerine extracts), or tinctures (alcohol extracts). Unless otherwise indicated, you should make teas with 1 tsp. herb per cup of hot water. Steep covered 5 - 10 minutes for leaf or flowers, and 10 - 20 minutes for roots. Drink 2 - 4 cups per day. You may use tinctures alone or in combination as noted.

These herbs may help with symptoms of chronic fatigue.

• Ginseng (Panax ginseng), to improve energy (100 - 300 mg two times per day).
• Echinacea (Echinacea species), to stimulate the immune system (200 mg 2 times per day). alternate with astragalus.
• Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), is often recommended to stimulate the adrenal glands, though studies are lacking (20 0- 400 mg 3 times per day for 6 to 8 weeks). Do not use licorice if you have high blood pressure, edema, or heart failure.
• Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus), or huang qi, to stimulate the immune system (add 1 tsp. of the root to 1 cup boiling water, strain and cool. Drink 3 times per day). Alternate with echinacea.
• Pau d'arco (Tabebuia avellanedae), to strengthen the immune system (1 tsp. liquid extract in 1 cup water, 2 - 3 times per day). Do not take pau d'arco if you are taking blood-thinning medication, and limit intake to 1-2 weeks.

A tincture of Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus), schizandra berry (Schizandra chinensis), ashwaganda root (Withania somnifera), gotu kola (Centella asiatica), and astragalus root (Astragalus membranaceus). Take 20 to 30 drops two to three times per day. These are safe to take long-term and may need to be taken for 4 - 6 months for maximum benefit.

Essential oils of jasmine, peppermint, and rosemary are calming and restorative and may be used in aromatherapy. Place several drops in a warm bath or atomizer, or on a cotton ball.

Homeopathy

The appropriate homeopathic treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome depends on your constitutional type - or physical, emotional, and psychological makeup. An experienced homeopath assesses all of these factors when determining the most appropriate remedy for each individual. Some remedies commonly used by professional homeopaths to treat CFS include:

• Arsenicum -- for restlessness and fatigue accompanied by chills and burning pains that are worse at night
• Gelsemium -- for mental exhaustion, including drowsiness and indifference, and physical weakness, such as heaviness of the limbs and eyelids
• Pulsatilla -- for people who are moody and emotional, although usually with a calm and gentle disposition
• Sulphur -- for people who feel fatigue but are usually not as emotionally sensitive as those requiring Pulsatilla

Acupuncture

Several studies in China have indicated acupuncture may help treat chronic fatigue syndrome. Several Western studies have found that acupuncture may help conditions with similar symptoms such as fibromyalgia, depression, headache, and irritable bowel syndrome. Some evidence also suggests that acupuncture may help boost your immune system. It may also help people with CFS get a more restful night's sleep, which is often key to turning the condition around.

Acupuncturists treat people with chronic fatigue syndrome based on an individualized assessment of the excesses and deficiencies of qi located in various meridians. In the case of CFS, a qi deficiency is usually detected in the spleen or kidney meridians, but a deficiency may also be found in the lung or liver meridians.

Acupuncturists may use moxibustion (a technique in which the herb mugwort is burned over specific acupuncture points) in addition to needling therapy, as it is thought moxibustion helps to provide a deeper and stronger treatment. Practitioners with herbal training may recommend specific herbal remedies as well as dietary changes.

Chiropractic

Although no well-designed trials have evaluated chiropractic treatment for CFS, some chiropractors suggest that spinal manipulation may boost energy and decrease pain in certain individuals with the condition. In these cases, it is believed that spinal manipulation may have a stimulating effect on the nervous system.

Massage

Therapeutic massage can reduce stress-related symptoms, improve circulation, and increase your overall sense of well-being.

Following Up

Your health care provider will do routine checkups while you are taking any drugs or following their treatments for chronic fatigue syndrome. Contact your care provider if new symptoms develop.

Special Considerations

The effects of herbs in pregnancy have not been fully investigated. They should be used only under the careful supervision of your health care provider. Avoid high doses of vitamin C if you are pregnant. You should not take echinacea, licorice, and pau d'arco for long periods of time.

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