5 Steps to Overcoming Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

There are over 2.5 million sufferers of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) in the world. Many are women that suffer with it daily. For most it’s a constant roller coaster of ups and downs while never being truly able to function at an optimal level.

Many of these women keep returning to their medical providers and never get the full picture of what is really going on. In fact, most doctors think it’s psychosomatic. However, most patients feel as though they have a common flu that is lasting a lifetime.

Many health professionals have dealt with patients and clients who have CFS. It is still a very puzzling condition for health professionals in conventional medicine.

In fact, scientists are still unable to uncover the true nature of the condition and how to get to the root cause of each individual with this illness.

For most, symptoms never seem to be relieved completely. Some individuals may feel like they’re jet lagging, hungover or in a perpetual brain fog. Many people experience symptoms related to CFS and may not even realize it. Chronic fatigue can affect many people's lives including their family connections, friends and other relationships due to the emotional struggle of dealing with the common symptoms related to this illness.

In some cases, medical professionals believe the cause is related to adrenal fatigue and inflammation in the body. CFS also seems to be linked to viral infections (HHV-6

, cytomegalovirus, coxsackie B, EBV), high levels of stress, and celiac disease.

Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

While symptoms of chronic fatigue vary from person-to-person, there are some common classical symptoms among most which include:

• Lack of energy

• Dizziness when sitting up or standing

• Joint and muscle pain

• Headaches

• Chills and night sweats

• Brain fog

• Lack of concentration

• Memory loss

• Lack of sleep

• Extreme tiredness

5 Steps to Overcoming Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

1.Get right with your emotions

Meditation and deep breathing exercises can really help the adrenals by lowering cortisol in the body. It also calms the muscles, releases nervous energy, and reduces pain in the muscles and joints.

Getting right with your emotions can reduce exhaustion at the end of the day. The main goal here is to get the body back into homeostasis. Giving the body the proper rest it needs helps to fight against added stress while also keeping you from extreme burnout.

2. Take care of your leaky gut

For those suffering with chronic fatigue syndrome, one of the best ways to overcome this illness is to keep your digestive tract functioning properly. Removing all grains, gluten, dairy and processed sugar from your diet is probably one of the most important actions that you can take to optimize your health and longevity.

More importantly, research has shown that CFS has been linked to specific gastrointestinal microorganisms that alter the intestinal lining, causing gut dysfunction, which leads to many different maladies.

3. Detoxification

Detoxing the body from exposure to certain heavy metals is essential for overcoming chronic fatigue syndrome. One of the main contributing factors of chronic fatigue syndrome is the storage of heavy metals within the body over a period of time. A detoxification protocol is critical to eliminating these toxins.

One of the main culprits is mercury - a contaminant in certain types of fish, especially large salt water varieties. Many of the symptoms of heavy metal exposure (including mercury exposure) include fatigue, lack of concentration, weakness and emotional imbalance. Neurological disturbances include sensory disorders, peripheral neuropathy, visual disturbances, auditory disorders and tremors.

4. Fortify your body with the proper nutrition

One of the best ways to fight this illness is through proper nutrition. According to functional medicine experts, food is the first way to reverse illness in the body.

Adding foods with Vitamin B6 such as salmon, sweet potatoes, turkey, garlic, cooked spinach, banana and organic grass-fed beef can support T-cell function which assists in fighting infections.

Most Americans are deficient in vitamin B12. This deficiency is linked to chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms. One of the best ways is to combat common symptoms of CFS is by adding foods such as tuna, lamb, raw milk, cottage cheese, wild salmon, sardines, liver and eggs.

B12 is a vitamin essential for effective recovery of CFS. One can also take a vitamin B complex to maximize their intake of vitamin B12.

5. Get your hormones optimized

Getting your hormones in balance is also an important part of sustaining good health. It is important to check levels of cortisol, thyroid, and thyroid antibodies, sex hormones (estrogen and progesterone) and hormones located in the digestive system. It has been shown that stress hormones have been linked to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Many people with chronic fatigue syndrome also suffer with IBS.

Conclusion Though there is no known cure for chronic fatigue syndrome, there are many natural treatments that can help control the symptoms. Certain techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, stress relief, better sleep, detoxification, and a well-balanced diet will allow for a healthier, happier life.

Camille McClellan, MD, DNM, MBS

Naturopathic practitioner

McClellan Natural Health, Wellness & Nutrition

Free Naturopathic/Homeopathic Consults Available

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