Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a name given to a condition that is characterized by low energy levels without any clear causes.  Constant tiredness is only considered chronic when it continues for more than 6 months and does not seem to improve even with sleep.  Chronic fatigue appears to strike more women than men and often leads to depression.  Because the underlying causes of chronic fatigue are often misunderstood or unclear to a medical practitioner, you may be told that this disease will disappear in time even without treatment.

Symptoms
You may have chronic fatigue syndrome if you experience the following signs:

1. Constant tiredness or low energy levels for more than 6 months
2. Lack of appetite
3. Constipation
4. Inability to focus your attention on anything
5. Headaches, muscle aches and sore throat
6. Depression

Causes
While science may not consider chronic fatigue as a disease, traditional Chinese medicine views chronic fatigue as a condition that is caused by viral or bacterial infection, poor liver function, poor immune system and nutritional deficiencies.

If you suffer from chronic fatigue, a natural therapist may be able to help by first checking your overall health and taking a microscopic view of your blood sample.  An analysis of the blood sample will show the current state of your bowel, especially if there is an overgrowth of bad bacteria in it.  Bad bacteria can affect your immune system and make it difficult for your body to absorb nutrients from food and supplements.  Malabsorption, or the inability to absorb nutrients found in blood, may also put a lot of stress on your liver as it works very hard to filter blood that flows all over your body.

Treatment
A program of cleansing, detoxification, and re-introduction of nutrients is necessary to restore liver function and increase your energy levels.  To experience lasting results, it is best to continue with the program as a form of health maintenance to prevent a recurrence of chronic fatigue.  A successful treatment plan must necessarily include the following:

Bowel cleansing
You need to get rid of toxins and harmful bacteria that live in your bowels before you can re-nourish your body with healthy nutrients.  Without thorough cleansing, your body may be unable to absorb any of the vitamins or supplements that you take.  Ideally, you should go on a colon-cleansing program for at least 6 weeks to eliminate parasites, bacteria and impacted feces from your bowel.  Your liver also needs to be detoxified using a good liver support program.  Ask your natural therapist for a good formula that will gently clean your bowel and herbal supplements to help restore liver function.

Vitamins and antioxidants
With a clean bowel, your body is now ready to absorb nutrients from food and supplements.  You need to build your immune system by taking zinc, Vitamin-C, Chinese herbs like five mushroom extract and astragalus for the next three weeks.  In addition, you should keep your cells protected against free radical damage by taking iron, folate, vitamin-B-12 and other antioxidants that your natural therapist may recommend.