Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Diet and Nutrition: (references)

• Eliminate foods that cause an allergic response or to which there is a sensitivity (fast, use an elimination diet, or allergy test to isolate such foods)
• *Avoid sugar, refined foods, nuts, peanuts, caffeine, and all food additives and preservatives
• Eat lots of garlic and onions

Vitamins and Minerals: (references)

• Beta-Carotene: 15,000 I.U.
• Vitamin B5: 1 - 2 gm.
• Folate: 2 - 5 mg.
• Vitamin B12: IM 1,000 - 3,000 mcg. weekly (mix with injectable B-complex vitamins)
• Vitamin C: 3 - 6 gm.
• Vitamin E: 2,000 - 2,400 I.U.
• Selenium: 200 - 300 mcg.
• Magnesium: IM 1 gm. weekly for 6 weeks

Supplements: (references)

• Glutathione: 65 mg.
• Coenzyme Q10: 100 - 150 mg.
• DHEA: 5 - 15 mg.
• Adrenal Glandular: 1 tablet BID
• L-Carnitine: 1000 - 3000 mg. in divided doses
• NADH: 5 mg. with water only on an empty stomach TID
• Melatonin: 3-6 mg. at 9PM

Botanicals: (references)

• Rejuvenate - Centella asiatica, Ginkgo biloba, Eleutherococcus senticosus, *Urtica urens, *Rosmarius officinalis, Fucus vesiculosus, *Zanthoxyllum clava-herculus: 1/4 tsp. TID between meals

• Individual botanicals to be considered for this condtion:
  Allium sativum (Garlic)
  Centella asiatica (Gota kola)
  Eleutherococcus senticosus (Siberian ginseng)
  Fucus vesiculosus (Bladderwrack, Kelp)
  Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgo)
  Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice)
  Medicago sativa (Alfalfa)
  Rosmarius officinalis (Rosemary)
  Urtica urens (Nettles)
  Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha)
  Zanthoxylum clava-herculis (Southern prickly ash)

Homeopathic Remedies: (references)

• Chronic fatigue syndrome, general:
  
  ALUM, ambr, AM-C, apoc, ars, ars-i, aur, bar-c, bapt, CALAD, CALC, cann-s, carb-v, CARC, caust, chel, CHIN, chin-s, cocc, CON, dig, FERR, ferr-ar, ferr-p, GELS, GRAPH, helon, hyos, kali-c, kali-n, kali-p, LACH, laur, lyc, mag-m, mang, merc, mur-ac, nat-a, nat-c, nat-m, nit-ac, nux-m, NUX-V, op, PH-AC, phos, PIC-AC, psor, puls, sel, seneg, sep, SIL, stann, staph, stram, stront-c, sulph, SUL-AC, thuj, valer, verat
• Chronic fatigue syndrome aggravated by exertion:
  
  arn, ars, calc, cann-s, chin, gel, helon, nux-v, ph-ac, SIL, thuj
• Chronic fatigue from mononucleosis:
  
  bapt, calc, CARC, gels, merc, ph-ac, sil thuj

(For an overview of Homeopathy, click here.)   

Other Therapies: (references)

• Antiviral IV therapy: 2/week
• Tonic IV therapy
• Branched amino acid IV therapy
• Constitutional hydrotherapy
• Eliminate candidal infection if necessary
• Eliminate as many responsibilities as possible and reduce stress. Use relaxation methods (yoga, massage, tapes, etc.).
• Consistent, graded, aerobic exercise - walking, swimming, cycling, etc.
• Avoid exposure to toxic chemicals or substances to which there is a chemical sensitivity.
• *Consider treating for leaky gut syndrome

Labs:

• Thyroid panel
• Glucose - for hypoglycemia
• Adrenal function
• Food allergies

Recommended Labs:

• Check for chronic fatigue syndrome: ESR, Adrenal Function, Liver Function, Coxsackie Virus B Titer, HHV6 Titer, C. pneumoniae Titer
• Rule out allergies: IgG Food Allergy Antibody, IgG and IgE Inhalent Allergy Antibody
• Rule out anemia: CBC with Diff
• Rule out autoimmune disorders: ANA with Reflex
• Rule out Cushing's Disease: Dexamethasone Suppression
• Rule out diabetes: Fasting Glucose, Fructosamine, Hemoglobin A1c
• Rule out Epstein Barr infection: EBV Capsid IgG and IgM
• Rule out heavy metal poisoning: Hair Analysis
• Rule out hepatitis B and C: Hepatitis Panel
• Rule out HIV: ELISA, Western Blot
• Rule out Lyme Disease: Western Blot
• Rule out thyroid disorder: Thyroid Panel with TSH
• Rule out tuberculosis: PPD Skin, QuantiFERON-TB

*  The recommended use of this supplement or therapy is based on a physiological mechanism or empirical data and is not necessarily supported by peer-reviewed research studies.

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).