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Alternative Medicine for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Do you or someone you know suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? There are many names used to describe this syndrome including immune dysfunction syndrome, CFIDS, CFS, and Myalgic encephalomyelitis. What makes this syndrome difficult to treat is that it involves the brain and also multiple body systems and is an incapacitating fatigue that lasts for six months or longer. This is why many turn to alternative medicine when conventional medicine fails to relieve all the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Typical symptoms that may be relieved by alternative medicine are allergies or sensitivities to food, bloating, brain fogginess, dizziness, chronic cough, headaches, irregular heartbeat or heart palpitations, jaw pain, muscle pain, tender lymph nodes of the underarms or neck, sore throat, and a severe fatigue that is chronic.

Despite the fact that the exact cause of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is not known it is suspected that viral infections, immune dysfunction, or hormone imbalances may be involved and not knowing the exact cause does not stop alternative medicine from being able to relieve the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome. Another reason individuals seek alternative medicine when diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome is that there are no conventional treatments for this syndrome that have been effective.

Alternative treatments include Panax ginseng, which is an herb, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), which is a molecule, formed from vitamin B3 (niacin). Eight out of ten participants in a double-blind trial responded favorably to NADH. L-Carnitine, a naturally occurring substance in all body cells are found to be decreased in those who have chronic fatigue syndrome and lower levels of L-Carnitine are associated with symptoms of muscle fatigue and pain. In studies using L-Carnitine and patients with chronic fatigue syndrome significant improvements were seen after 4 weeks of treatment with L-Carnitine. Coenzyme Q10, which is a naturally occurring compound, found in the mitochondria of cells has also been found helpful when given to those suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome.

Essential fatty acids have also been used to treat chronic fatigue syndrome successfully by correcting the damage that viruses do to cells by supplementing essential fatty acids.

Traditional Chinese medicine another type of alternative medicine, has also been used to treat chronic fatigue syndrome as well as Ayurveda, the traditional medicine of India especially the vata dosha which is particularly susceptible to chronic fatigue syndrome.

Other treatments that are natural and therefore a part of alternative medicine include digestive enzymes, Glutamine, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Probiotics (microbial organisms naturally present in the digestive tract and also the vagina) also known as "friendly bacteria", Licorice, Melatonin, Tyrosine and Whey Protein.

Other alternative medicine practices used to treat chronic fatigue syndrome include homeopathy, mega-vitamins, biofeedback, meditation, relaxation therapy, massage therapy, energy healing, and guided imagery.