About Natural Medicine for Chronic Fatigue

Chronic fatigue, also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or CFS, is a condition in which persistent, debilitating fatigue occurs. The cause or causes of the condition are unknown, and diagnosis largely consists of eliminating other possible causes for the fatigue. Symptoms vary in both occurrence and severity from person to person, further complicating the diagnostic process. Common symptoms include fatigue (particularly following physical exertion), cognitive problems with memory and concentration, pain in the muscles and joints, and sleep that does not relieve the fatigue. Treatments for CFS range from anti-depressant drugs, exercise programs, and dietary changes to therapy and pain medication. There are also natural options that have shown some promise in alleviating the condition.

B Vitamins

• B-vitamin deficiency is common among CFS sufferers, and may contribute to the lack of energy they suffer. Supplementation with a B-vitamin complex, available in tablet form, can help restore the B-vitamin levels in the body and increase energy.

Ginkgo Biloba

• Ginkgo biloba, an herb used in traditional Chinese medicine, is reported to improve cognitive function, and may help to offset some of the cognitive problems associated with CFS. It is available in a tablet form.

Ginseng

• Ginseng, another herb common in traditional Chinese medicine, is reported to help increase energy and boost immune function, and may even have cognitive benefits. It is widely available in capsule form.

Ribose

• A current theory is that CFS is partly caused by cellular fatigue. Ribose, a type of sugar, is used to help create ATP, the primary source of cellular energy, and can help to restore normal cellular metabolism. It is available in health-food stores and on the Internet as a powder that is taken in water.

Dietary Changes

• CFS sufferers often experience gastrointestinal problems, inhibiting proper digestion, which contributes to worsening fatigue. The elimination of dairy products from the diet has shown promise in helping to restore normal gastrointestinal function to CFS sufferers.