Chronic fatigue syndrome

What you need to know

The most important thing for any condition causing severe exhaustion is to find out if there is any underlying cause. However, there are changes you can make to help while these investigations are taking place and to continue during treatment. Probably the most essential is to make sure you’re getting a good, balanced diet.

The most useful Supplements:

Even though Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME) is poorly understood, some research has been done on certain nutritional supplements. A good high potency multivitamin and mineral is always an ideal starting point as it will ensure that you are not deficient in any nutrient.

You may wish to consider the following:

L-Carnitine	1gm to 3 gm per day
Magnesium	250mg to 1,000mg per day (if using more than 500mg split the dose)
NADH	5mg to 10mg per day for at least 8 weeks
Vitamin B12	Injections - must be administered by your doctor

The most useful Herbs:

Herbal immune stimulants can help in the long term, while traditional tonics will provide an energy boost during the recovery stage, but taking them too soon can simply exhaust the system further (adrenal exhaustion).

Echinacea	500mg 3 times per day
Garlic	500mg 3 times per day
Thyme	500mg 3 times per day
Green Tea	500mg 3 times per day

Others herbs to give you a boost include:

Astragalus, Ashwagandha, Cats claw, Korean ginseng

Herbal tonics and energy boosters include:

Damiana
Dong Quai
Ginseng - American, Korean, Siberian
Gotu kola

Herbs to help your adrenal glands include:

Liquorice - 2gm to 5gm per day
Siberian Ginseng - 1gm to 3gm per day or 2ml to16ml of tincture

Homoeopathy

This is a complicated problem to treat, so a consultation with a qualified homoeopath is recommended.

The following remedies are suggestions only:

Calcerea carbonica
Carbolic acid
Picric acid

Aromatherapy

Please refer to the section in TATT to see which oils can help with mental and physical fatigue. In addition, for information of which oils to use for symptoms such as insomnia and Depression, please go to the relevant sections.

The oils below are useful to help with the muscular pain and fatigue associated with this disorder.

Lemon Grass
Marjoram
Thyme

Do get professional help from a qualified aromatherapist for more support.

Dietary changes that may be beneficial:

To keep your body functioning properly, it’s essential to have a well-balanced diet:

Drink at least two litres of fluid a day - dehydration is a major cause of lack of energy.
It is also important to keep your blood sugar levels on an even keel, so eat little and often, ideally every 3 hours.
Eat plenty of complex carbohydrates - wholemeal Cereals, pasta, wholemeal Bread, rice - at least five portions (500 g in weight) of fresh fruit and vegetables
Protein is also important for your immune system as it provides Amino Acids to make white blood cells. Good sources are: lean Meat, Poultry, Fish, Dairy foods and Eggs.
Eat plenty of oily Fish nuts and seeds for their essential fatty acids (omega 3 and 6).
Sugar makes the body less efficient at destroying bacteria, so does eating too much fat. But live bio yoghurt produces acids that destroy invading bugs, so eat one carton, preferably organic, every day.

It is tempting to use caffeine as a stimulant to boost your energy, however over a period of time this weakens your adrenal glands. It is advisable to vastly reduce your consumption of tea, coffee, chocolate and cola drinks, but do it gradually as you may get withdrawal symptoms and side effects such as headaches.

Other useful advice:

It goes without saying that smoking and drinking too much alcohol does not do your immune system any favours at all.

Getting enough sleep is important, although the amount varies from person to person - Margaret Thatcher famously ran the country on only four hours a night, but some of us feel wretched if we don’t get our regulation eight hours - and sleep needs do decline as we get older. You’ll know what’s right for you.

You should also try to get some fresh air every day and when you are able to (during the recovery stage), do at least half an hour of exercise three times a week. It doesn’t have to be particularly strenuous - any activity which you enjoy and which gets you slightly out of breath will do, even a brisk walk. DO NOT do too much too soon as your progress will be set back by weeks.

Help to keep your mind active by reading and playing card games, chess or checkers. Jigsaw puzzles are therapeutic.

Alexander Technique, Reflexology and Yoga can be useful at boosting energy levels.

Certain medicines can cause nutritional deficiencies, which can result in energy loss.

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The information provided by WIS is for guidance only. Whilst it is based upon the expert advice of leading professionals, and extensive research, it is not a substitute for diagnosis by a qualified professional. Always consult your doctor, pharmacist or qualified practitioner before making any changes or additions to prescribed medication.