When does fatigue become Chronic?
According to Johns Hopkins University, the clinical diagnostic criteria for someone in Chronic Fatigue is a “severe and chronic tiredness that lasts for more than 6 months” when other medical conditions have been ruled out.
It’s that last sentence that is the tricky bit here of course, and there are myriad causes of fatigue in the human body, so the process of elimination of a differential diagnosis to land with “Chronic Fatigue”(CFS) can be a lengthy one. Waiting six months for a diagnosis when you struggle to get out of bed in the morning, after sleeping almost double the time you usually would, then feeling exhausted throughout the day is a long time to feel this way.
The American CDC recommends these treatments for CFS:
Professional counseling
Balanced diet
Nutritional supplements
Complementary therapies
This really indicates that there are few medical options for treating CFS.
Prescriptions for steroid, anti-depressants and anti-inflammatories may provide some relief, but they do not address the cause, which is the reason why I prefer to get stuck into providing the body with the nutrients it needs to make energy (via the well-studied Kreb’s cycle) immediately, and supporting the immune system with some herbs and plants that have not only shown good results in clinic, but have some pretty chunky evidence behind them.
Stress is a significant predisposing factor in CFS, often along with a history of nutrient deficiency, both of which may lead to a weakened immune system, then an abnormal response to a viral infection, which leads to the symptoms of CFS.
Revitalising energy levels with herbal medicine (such as Ashwaganda, Astragalus, Siberian Ginseng and more) is the first step, which often provides an immediate improvement, then working to support the immune system (I often use Echinacea (in the right form) and Hemidesmus here), and addressing any viral infections (often using St John’s wort (safely) and Elderberry). Other considerations for the individual are chronic sinusitis (which is quite common in CFS patients); low mood, poor circulation and poor sleep, which are all treatable naturally.
Whether your fatigue is diagnosed as chronic, or generalised, or just daily exhaustion due to stress and lifestyle factors, there is always a reason for it, and that/those reasons can be addressed. We work with this frequently and would love to help you.
Take a moment to fill in our “fatigue assessment” one minute questionnaire and we’ll get back to you.
[Note: The above does not constitute a prescription, and it is my recommendation that herbal medicine is always taken under the supervision of a suitably qualified herbalist or naturopath, for safety and accuracy of prescribing.]
