Chronic Fatigue Remedies

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a disorder in which a person finds normal physical and mental activities tiring. People with CFS will still feel exhausted after rest. With many theories of its origins, doctors do not know what causes CFS. However, various treatments are effective for treating people with CFS.

Self-Care

• One of the most important remedies for CFS is slowing down the pace of your life and removing yourself from both physical and emotional stress. But a sedentary lifestyle is also harmful as it can make you weaker. Under the care of a physical therapist, you can design an exercise program that begins easy and then becomes more difficult as your stamina increases. According to the Mayo Clinic, cognitive-behavior therapy aids those with CFS by replacing negative, self-defeating thoughts with positive ones that can aid your recovery.

Medication

• If you have CFS, you will find that your doctor may prescribe numerous medications to help relieve symptoms. One of the most common symptoms of CFS is depression, so one of a whole-range of antidepressants may be prescribed based on your symptoms. Antidepressants also aid with sleep and reducing pain. If your pain associated with CFS is severe, your doctor may have you take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or acetaminophen. People with CFS also regularly suffer from low blood pressure, so drugs such as fludrocortisone and atenolol also are often prescribed.

Experimental Remedies

• According to the Mayo Clinic, many experimental therapies are being tested to help people with CFS. Doctors are using drugs normally prescribed for people with ADHD because they balance levels of neurotransmitters, lowering levels of fatigue and sharpening concentration. Other experimental remedies include medicines that boost the immune system and drugs used for people with Alzheimer's Disease. Researchers are also investigating a possible connection between CFS and the Epstein-Barr virus.