Chronic Fatigue
What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
Chronic fatigue syndrome is a condition of prolonged and severe tiredness or weariness (fatigue) that has been lasting for more than six months, restricts activity, is not relieved by rest and is not directly caused by other conditions. Additional symptoms include:
- Fatigue lasting more than a day after a normally easily-tolerated amount of exercise
- Feeling un-refreshed after sleeping an adequate amount of time
- Forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating, confusion or irritability
- Headaches that are different from previous headaches in quality, severity or pattern
- Joint pain, often moving from joint to joint, without joint swelling or redness
- Lymph node tenderness in the neck or armpit
- Mild fever (101 degrees F or less)
- Muscle aches
- Muscle weakness not linked to any known disorder
- Sore throat
The exact cause of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) varies from patient to patient, but research suggests it may be caused by a virus or by inflammation along the nervous system. Other factors such as age, prior illness, stress, environment (chemical overload or heavy metal toxicity), hormonal imbalances or thyroid and adrenal insufficiency, overgrowth of candida or other molds and fungus, and genetics may also play a role.
Who is Affected?
At least one million people in the United States suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. It is most common among women ages 30 to 50.
What are Options for Treatment?
At the Magaziner Center for Wellness, we have successfully treated patients who did not respond well to – or opted to avoid – the medications often prescribed to treat the symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, some of which can cause adverse reactions or side effects that are far worse than the original symptoms! We focus on natural therapies, including relaxation and stress-reduction techniques that can be helpful in managing chronic pain and fatigue. These include biofeedback and nutritional supplementation. Our therapies are geared to do more than just treat symptoms, they are designed to discover and correct the underlying problems that are causing a person to be so fatigued.
Other key factors in treatment include evaluation for environmental toxins and heavy metals, reduction of fungus and yeast, and a rebalancing of a “leaky gut”.
Prior to embarking on a treatment protocol, each patient undergoes a thorough evaluation that takes a deep look at his or her unique biochemistry and includes testing for common – and sometimes unexpected – allergens that trigger many conditions, including fatigue, depression and irritable bowel syndrome. These allergens include foods and food substances, chemicals (including solvents and pesticides), heavy metals, even smoke and unpleasant odors.
If detected, we work with each patient to make the dietary and lifestyle adjustments necessary to assimilate to the allergy, naturally train the immune system to respond appropriately to it, or help eliminate his or her exposure to it, altogether.
We look for any nutrient imbalances, insufficiencies or excesses, and modify a patient’s diet to help harmonize the intake/production of essential nutrients. We utilize nutritional supplements and “super nutrients” to rectify any imbalances or dysfunction and enhance the patient’s overall health and sense of well- being. These substances are generally not considered vitamins or minerals but are classified as “food components.” Those most helpful to patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome include ginseng, L-Carnitine, Coenzyme Q10 (Co Q10), Ribose, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and essential fatty acids. We also use natural supplements to help even out hormonal imbalances, or to naturally replace those hormones essential to proper functioning of the body.
We have found that intravenous nutrients such as the “Myers’ Cocktail” or high-dose intravenous Vitamin C often help to greatly improve energy since the technique allows these nutrients to bypass the gastrointestinal tract and go directly into the blood stream. Many people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome have been found to have food and inhalant allergies, adrenal stress and mitochondrial dysfunction that are also contributing to their symptoms. At the Magaziner Center, these issues are also addressed.
We also use biofeedback to treat chronic fatigue patients. At the Center, we use ONDAMED®, an advanced technology from Germany that utilizes a non-invasive, painless biofeedback technique to detect and repair areas of cellular imbalance and tissue inflammation. ONDAMED® uses pulsed electromagnetic frequency to treat electromagnetic dysfunction in the body and rebalance its energy to help it return to a state of wellness. This procedure has been successful in eliminating the forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating, confusion and irritability associated with the disorder.