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what is it?
We all feel tired from time to time. However people with chronic fatigue syndrome experience overwhelming feelings of fatigue together with other symptoms such as pain in the joints and muscles, swollen lymph nodes, headaches, sleep disturbance, poor concentration, problems with short term memory, a tendency to contract minor infections and depression. Symptoms tend to come on suddenly, often after a viral infection.
what causes it?
Fatigue can be a result of numerous diseases including anaemia, depression, chronic infection, cancer related problems, autoimmune and thyroid problems to name but a few. However chronic fatigue syndrome is defined as fatigue that persists longer than six months, with no apparent physical cause.
The causes of chronic fatigue syndrome are still not fully understood and as a result has attracted a number of non-conventional explanations. These include several unproven suggestions: for example that the condition may be a result of an infection, nutritional deficiency, hormonal imbalance, an overgrowth of yeast, such as candida. Some claim that it is a sign of food intolerance or allergy. Others believe it is primarily psychological in origin.
One thing is certain: people who feel fatigued, tend to avoid exercise and fear that they will never recover. Unfortunately the loss of fitness brought about by this lack of activity can make tiredness even worse. Meanwhile the feelings of helplessness and depression that so often accompany chronic fatigue can impede recovery and psychological help is often needed to help put sufferers back on the road to fitness and health.
As with so many conditions, stress can worsen symptoms and for this reason any of the complementary therapies designed to alleviate stress may be helpful.
how complementary therapies may help
Each therapy has been coded from 1 to 5 depending on the amount of scientific evidence there is for its effectiveness. The higher the number the stronger the evidence, so 5 = definitely, 4 = probably, 3 = possibly, 2 = opinion, and 1 = rumour. (There is more detail about these in the 'does it work?' section of 'before you start'.)
Having said this, the codes aren't meant to be cast in stone or to put you off trying a particular therapy or therapies if you feel they might be helpful to you.
Go to therapies for a full description of each individual treatment, plus information on how to find practitioners.
herbal medicine
(code 3)
The herbalist will take a full history and may prescribe one or more of a wide number of different herbs, depending on your precise symptoms. These may include relaxing herbs and herbs that aim to enhance immunity. If depression is part of the condition, St John's Wort may be an effective treatment. However if you think that depression may be a factor in chronic fatigue see your doctor as antidepressant medications have been shown to help as many as 75% of sufferers.
homeopathy
(code 3)
Case reports — that is descriptions of individual cases — suggest that homeopathy can bring considerable relief although there are no convincing clinical research studies. A homeopath will take a detailed personal history and will prescribe a remedy or remedies that most closely match your precise symptom picture.
acupuncture
(code 2)
Acupuncture is said to work by balancing the body's flow of energy or chi so it seems to be an obvious therapy to try. The practitioner will question you to see where any imbalances or blockages in energy may lie before stimulating or calming the relevant acupuncture points. Acupuncture might also help boost the body's immune system.
aromatherapy
(code 2)
Stimulating oils such as rose, orange, neroli and lavender may be used in massages together with oils such as tea tree to enhance the immune system.
massage
(code 2)
Many different kinds of massage may be helpful in helping ease sore muscles, increase circulation and relaxing tension which can exacerbate the aches and pains people with chronic fatigue syndrome often complain of.
nutritional therapies
(code 2)
Practitioners may investigate food intolerances by putting you on an exclusion diet and encouraging you to leave out any foods that appear to cause symptoms.
Some people with chronic fatigue seem to be especially sensitive to highs and lows of blood sugar, and the practitioner may encourage you to consume a high protein, low sugar diet and to eat little and often to avoid dips in blood sugar that can cause tiredness.
Supplements are sometimes advised to help boost energy and immunity. Some nutritional practitioners allege that chronic yeast infection, is responsible for chronic fatigue. Treatment will be by putting you on a strict wholefood diet free of additives, yeasted foods and sugar that encourages yeast to grow. This seems to help some people. However more research is needed into its potential benefits.
yoga and t'ai chi
(code 2)
It can be hard to exercise if you are feeling tired all the time. However research shows that regular exercise can be an important factor both in helping to stop chronic fatigue developing following an infection and in treating it. Yoga and t'ai chi are both gentle exercise systems that most people can tolerate even when they are feeling tired. Overbreathing (hyperventilation) may be a factor in some cases of chronic fatigue. The breathing exercises involved in both yoga and t'ai chi can also help restore energy levels by correcting this habit.
» help and info
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(July 2002)
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