Natural Solutions for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (EBV)

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Natural Solutions for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (EBV)

 

Researchers are only beginning to target possible causes of CFS.

Many suspect that it is caused by thyroid, adrenal, liver, or immune

system dysfunction. It is a poorly understood disease involving many

body systems. No single cause for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) has

been identified. Therefore, it is defined by symptoms and by ruling

out other known causes of fatigue.

 

Suggested causes include chronic viral infections, food allergy,

adrenal gland dysfunction, and many others.

Another theory is that CFS is caused by a virus

similar to the herpes virus, i.e. Epstein-Barr virus.

 

The current definition is disabling fatigue lasting more than six

months that reduces activity by more than half. When there is

extreme muscle soreness, fibromyalgia may be the actual problem.

 

Although CFS is considered a modern diagnosis, it may have existed

for centuries under other names, such as " the vapors, " neurasthenia,

" effort syndrome " (diagnosed in World War I veterans),

hypoglycemia, and 'chronic 'mononucleosis.

 

What are the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome?

 

In addition to fatigue, there may also be muscle pain, joint pain

not associated with redness or swelling, short-term memory loss, and

an inability to concentrate. Some people with chronic fatigue

syndrome also experience

difficulty sleeping, swollen lymph nodes, and/or mild fever.

 

 

How is it treated?

Since there is no definitive conventional therapy for CFS, doctors

use a combination of lifestyle changes, including aerobic exercise,

healthful diet and stress reduction.

 

Dietary changes that may be helpful:

 

Some believe that people with CFS who have low blood pressure should

not restrict their salt intake.

Among CFS sufferers who have a form of low blood pressure triggered

by changes in position (orthostatic hypotension),

some have been reported

in a preliminary study to be helped by dietary intervention and the

addition of *sea* salt to their regimen. People with CFS considering

increasing salt intake should

have their blood pressure monitored before making such a change.

 

Lifestyle changes that may be helpful: Many people report feeling

better after undertaking a moderate exercise plan. However, most

people with CFS are sensitive to overexertion.

 

Exercise should be attempted gradually, starting with very small

efforts. One small study found that intermittent exercise, in which

patients walked for three minutes followed by three minutes of rest for a

total of 30 minutes, did not exacerbate their CFS symptoms.

 

Nutritional supplements that may be helpful:

 

The combination of potassium aspartate

and magnesium aspartate has shown benefits for

chronically fatigued people in double-blind trials.

 

Usually 1 gram of aspartates is taken twice per day, and

results have been reported within one to two weeks.

 

Vitamin B12 deficiency may cause fatigue. Some reports even

double-blind ones, have shown that people who are not deficient in

B12 have 'increased energy' following a series of vitamin B12

injections. Some sources in conventional medicine have discouraged such people

from taking B12 shots despite this evidence. Nonetheless, some

doctors have continued to take the limited scientific support for

B12 seriously.

 

In one preliminary trial, 2,500 to 5,000 mcg of vitamin B12 given by

injection every two to three days led to improvement in 50 to 80% of

a group of people with CFS; most improvement appeared after

several weeks of B12 shots.

 

While the research in this area remains preliminary, people with CFS

considering a trial of vitamin B12 injections should consult their

health professional. Oral or sublingual B12 supplements are unlikely

to obtain the same results as injectable B12, because the body's

ability to absorb large amounts is relatively poor.

 

A preliminary trial has shown that people with CFS have reduced

*functional* B-vitamin status when compared to people without the

condition. The functional vitamin deficiency seen in this study was

most pronounced for vitamin B6.

 

L-carnitine is required for energy production in the powerhouses of

cells (the mitochondria). There may be a problem in

the " mitochondria " in people with CFS. Deficiency of L-carnitine has been seen

in some CFS sufferers. One gram of carnitine taken three times daily for eight

weeks led to improvement in CFS symptoms in one preliminary trial.

 

NADH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) helps make ATP, the energy

source the body runs on. In a double-blind trial, people with CFS

received 10 mg of NADH or a placebo each day for four weeks.

Of those receiving NADH, 31% reported improvements in fatigue,

decreases in other symptoms, and improved overall quality of life,

compared with only 8% of those in the placebo group.

 

 

 

Magnesium

levels have been reported to be low in CFS sufferers. In a

double-blind trial, injections with magnesium improved symptoms for

most people. Oral magnesium supplementation has improved symptoms in

those people with CFS who previously had low magnesium levels,

according to a preliminary report, although magnesium injections

were

sometimes necessary.

These researchers report that *magnesium* deficiency appears to be

very common in people with CFS.

 

 

Herbs that may be helpful: Some research suggests that CFS may be

partially due to low *adrenal* function resulting from different

" stressors "

(e.g., mental stress, physical stress, and even viral

illness) and impacting the normal " communication " between the

hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and the adrenal glands.

 

 

Licorice root is known to " stimulate " the adrenal glands and to

block the

breakdown of active cortisol in the body.

 

One case report described a man with CFS

whose symptoms improved after taking 2.5 grams of licorice root

daily. While there have been no controlled trials to test licorice

in

patients with CFS, it may be worth a trial of six to eight weeks

using

2 to 3 grams of licorice root daily.

 

Other integrative approaches that may be helpful:

 

Diet can play an important role in CFS treatment.

 

Patients often discover that simply by modifying their diet, they

can greatly improve their CFS symptoms. By choosing organically

grown nutrient-rich foods which are easily digested, CFS patients

can begin to take control.

 

Good dietary choices include:

Organic vegetables, fruits, Legumes, lentils, dried beans, whole

organic grains, seeds, Raw Nuts and cold-water Fish such as Alaskan

Salmon and Sardine (water-packed).

 

CFS patients may also find that certain other foods *intensify*

their

symptoms. *Processed* foods, refined oils and foods that require

more 'energy' to digest may 'increase' fatigue " symptoms " in CFS

patients.

 

Some foods that CFS patients may want to avoid include:

 

Dairy products, Red meats and poultry, Alcohol, Refined Sugar,

refined oils, fried food, and processed foods containing

Hydrogenated fats and oils.

Caffeinated beverages, regular and diet sodas, coffee (both

caffeinated and decaf), and chocolate may be problematic as well.

 

The most debilitating symptom of CFS is a complete lack of energy.

Some herbs used for energy enhancement include:

 

Fresh Ginger root

 

Fresh garlic

 

Pineapple

 

Coconut Milk

 

Licorice Root

 

Dandelion Root & Leaf

 

Alfalfa

 

Organic Blackstrap Molasses

 

Stinging Nettle tea (for iron)

 

Garlic Chives

 

 

In a study at the University of California Department of Medicine,

Echinacea, Olive leaf and Astragalus extracts enhanced cellular

immune function in both healthy individuals and patients with

depressed immune

systems.

 

Herbs that are recognized for immune system enhancement include:

 

Shitake Mushrooms

 

Fresh Garlic

 

Leeks, Onions, &

Scallions

 

Reishi Mushroom

 

Olive leaf extract

 

COq10

 

IMPORTANT SUPPLEMENTS:

 

Dietary supplements can provide great relief to individuals

suffering

from CFS. In a study of fibromyalgia and CFS, patients reported a

" significant improvement " in symptoms after taking nutritional

supplements.

 

Experts recommend the following nutritional supplements for CFS

patients.

 

Magnesium aspartate-

is important for energy production, protein formation,

and cellular replication. Most Americans are deficient in this

mineral.

 

Iron deficiency can lead to chronic fatigue and anemia.

Spinach, kale, dandelion, beets, chives, dandelion greens, asparagus

and organic eggs are important food sources.

 

Vitamin B-complex consists of 11 B vitamins, including folic acid,

vitamin B6, and vitamin B12.

Vitamin B6 deficiency has been implicated in Epstein Barr, resulting

in fatigue and anemia.

 

Vitamin B12 deficiency is implicated in elevated *homocysteine*

levels.

High levels of homocysteine are believed to contribute to heart

disease, the number one killer in the U.S. elevated levels of

*homocysteine* are characteristic of CFS patients.

 

Researchers have discovered that CFS patients have lower levels of B

vitamins than healthy patients.

 

Vitamin E--an important antioxidant, protects cells against damage

from toxins. It can enhance imune function and has antihistamine

properties.

 

Potassium-- deficiency has been linked to fatigue and muscle

weakness.

Potassium may help restore energy levels in CFS patients.

 

*Pantothenic Acid*

helps your body 'make' its own *thyroid glandular*.

Blackstrap molasses, Brewers Yeast, Coconut milk and fresh Pineapple

are rich in Pantothenic Acid.

 

Vitamin C

is an important antioxidant known to support immune

function. Under stressful conditions, the body needs additional

vitamin C to help the immune system function normally.

 

Vitamin C promotes healthy *adrenal* function, which is especially

helpful for women who suffer from CFS and stress. In one study of

411 married

couples, researchers found a clear correlation between chronic

fatigue and low levels of vitamin C.

 

 

Stress Reduction:

 

Most experts agree that *stress* plays a part in CFS.

Meditation induces relaxation.

Try thinking affirmative thoughts.

Visualization may be combined with calming music to reduce stress

Focus on positive imagery.

Yoga can improve circulation and may increase energy

Massage can also improve circulation and reduce stress as well.

 

 

How CFS Begins and Its Symptoms

 

For many people, CFS begins after a bout with a cold, bronchitis,

hepatitis, or an intestinal bug. For some, it follows a bout of

infectious mononucleosis, or mono, which temporarily saps the energy

of many teenagers and young adults.

Often, people say that their illnesses started during a period of

high

stress. In others, CFS develops more gradually, with no clear

illness or other event starting it. Unlike flu symptoms, which

usually go away in a few days or weeks, CFS symptoms either hang on

or come and go frequently for more than six months.

 

CFS symptoms include:

 

Intense Headache

Tender lymph nodes

Fatigue and weakness

Muscle and joint aches

Inability to concentrate

 

 

What Causes CFS?

 

While no one knows what causes CFS, for more than a century, doctors

have reported seeing illnesses similar to it. In the l860s, Dr.

George Beard named the syndrome neurasthenia because he thought it

was a nervous disorder with weakness and fatigue.

 

Since then, health experts have suggested other explanations for

this baffling illness.

 

Iron-poor blood (anemia)

Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)

Environmental allergy

A body wide yeast infection (candidiasis)

 

In the mid-1980s, the illness became labeled " chronic EBV " when

laboratory clues led scientists to wonder whether the Epstein-Barr

virus (EBV) might be causing this group of symptoms.

 

New evidence soon cast doubt on the theory that EBV could be the

only

thing causing CFS.

High levels of EBV antibodies (disease-fighting proteins) have now

been found in some healthy people as well as in some people with

CFS.

Likewise, some people who don't have EBV antibodies, and who thus

have

never been infected with the virus, can show CFS symptoms.

 

 

How is CFS Diagnosed?

 

Doctors find it difficult to diagnose CFS because it has the same

symptoms as many other diseases. When talking with and examining

you,

your doctor must first rule out diseases that look similar, such as

multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus in which

symptoms

can take years to develop.

 

In follow-up visits, you and your doctor need to be alert to any new

cues or symptoms that might show that the problem is something other

than CFS.

 

When other diseases are ruled out and if your illness meets other

criteria as well, your doctor can diagnose you with CFS

(see The CFS Case Definition).

 

The CFS Case Definition

 

The EBV work sparked new interest in the syndrome among a small

group of medical researchers. They realized they needed a standard

way to describe CFS so that they could more easily compare research

results.

In the late 1980s, CDC brought together a group of CFS experts to

tackle this problem.

Based on the best information available at the

time, this group published in the March 1988 issue of the scientific

journal, Annals of Internal Medicine, strict symptom and physical

criteria -- the first case definition -- by which scientists could

evaluate CFS study patients.

 

Not knowing the cause or a specific sign for the disease, the group

agreed to call the illness " chronic fatigue syndrome " after its

primary

symptom.

 

" Syndrome " means a group of symptoms that occur together but can

result from different causes.

 

(Today, CFS also is known as

myalgic encephalomyelitis,

postviral fatigue syndrome,

and chronic fatigue

and immune dysfunction syndrome.)

 

Prescription drugs, such as anti-hypertensives (blood-pressure

meds),

birth control pills, or sedatives may 'trigger' chronic fatigue.

 

How Can I Cope With and Manage the Illness?

 

There is no effective allopathic treatment for CFS.

 

Even though there is no specific treatment for CFS itself, you may

find it

quite helpful to treat your own symptoms. Learning how to manage

your fatigue may help you improve the level at

which you can function and your quality of life despite your

symptoms.

A qualified naturopath can evaluate and teach you how to plan

activities to take advantage of times when you usually feel better.

 

 

Conclusion

 

CFS seems to involve interactions between the immune and central

nervous systems, interactions about which scientists know relatively

little. Scientists' concerted efforts to penetrate the complex

nervous

system and immune system events in CFS have created a challenging

new concept of the pathology of this and other illnesses.

 

 

________________

 

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This information is for informational purposes

only. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all

individuals.Consult your practitioner for any health problem and

before using any supplements.

_________________

 

JoAnn Guest

mrsjoguest

DietaryTipsForHBP

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest