A Magazine of People and
Possibilities
Now Celebrating 17 Years In Print and 11 Years Online!
Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome
by Dr. Raj Rakhra
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a mysterious illness that is estimated
to afflict about a billion people worldwide. CFS has probably
been around for centuries with different names. Medical researchers
have sought in vain to find a single cause for CFS, at times attempting
to link it to the Epstein-Bar virus, herpes virus, Candidacies
and allergies. Alternative practitioners believe CFS is caused
by multiple simultaneous infections that must be treated individually,
while building up the immune system.
Chronic fatigue consists of extreme fatigue accompanied by a cluster
of symptoms, which seems to develop together suddenly, often following
an infection. No standard medical tests are available to diagnose
CFS today. A careful medical history, a physical examination and
laboratory tests can pin point specific infections. The symptoms
are varied, include deep fatigue which is not relieved by sleep,
muscle and joint pain, weakness, headache, memory loss, mental
confusion and poor concentration, digestive problems, recurring
infections, low grade fever, swollen lymph glands, food and environmental
allergies or sensitivities, severe exhaustion from minor or simple
exertion, many neurological disorders, depression, anxiety, dizziness,
night sweats, breathing irregularities, irregular heart beat,
generally the patient feels unwell and under pressure. The Centre
for Disease Control stipulates that a continuance of a number
of the above afflictions for six months is a strong indication
that CFS is present.
Many clinical researchers believe that CFS results from a combination
of infectious conditions. The CFS patients suffer several ongoing,
simultaneous infections that weaken the immune system, not just
one infection that might be diagnosed by the medical community.
There is much evidence that more than one infection can occur
in CFS. We often get hidden infections such as parasites, yeast
and viral infections, that is the result of a weak immune system.
The body is unable to rid itself of these infections, then an
additional infection may join in, leading from one infection to
another.
There are some other types of fatigue that are the result of various
conditions, other than chronic fatigue syndrome.
Adrenal insufficiency caused by the
over use of stimulants like tea, coffee, chocolate, cola, alcohol,
tobacco, drugs, and or excessive stress. Allergies, anemia, low
levels of iron or vitamin B12 in the blood results in anemia.
Candidacies: often creates many symptoms
of CFS.
Cardio vascular causes: The heart
may be involved; breathlessness, chest pain, dizziness, chronic
ill health, depression, diabetes, headaches, hypoglycemia (low
blood sugar). Infections (if fatigue is accompanied by elevated
temperature ) then an infection is likely to be the cause.
Nutritional deficiency: depletion
of vitamins and minerals is one of the major causes for many people
suffering from fatigue, nervousness, anxiety, depression, never
feeling well enough.
Premenstrual syndrome. Imbalance
in the hormones. Sleep disturbance or inadequate sleep, Stress,
acute or chronic low grade stress also causes fatigue.
Thyroid problems - over or under
active thyroid can lead to fatigue.
Toxicity: increased amounts of environmentally acquired
toxins such as lead, aluminum, and mercury can lead to chronic
states of fatigue. The degree and severity of symptoms often fluctuate,
not only over a period of weeks or months, but even from day to
day. Frequently CFS patients resume normal activity and exercise,
only to relapse into extreme fatigue. The brain circulation in
these patients gets worse after exercise, in healthy patients
it increases. The cortisone level drops in the blood of CFS patients
after exercise. The low level of this hormone, which is vital
in dealing with stress, can indicate the likelihood of CFS.
Many other Causes of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
include Nutritional deficiency
Acquired toxicity from environment, food and drugs, poor stress
coping abilities, systemic infections (Candidacies, overgrowth
of parasites), lowered immune functions, bowel toxemia, infestation
of fungi and protozoa, inadequate sleep, hormonal imbalance especially
thyroid, alcohol, drugs, lead, and mercury toxicity. There are
thousand of viruses, which can cause different types of infection.
If the body cannot cope with these virus infections they may eventually
lead to chronic infections. Chronic fatigue behaves like the flue
that never left. In some cases psychological factors may play
a part. Negative emotions, depression, stress can lower immune
function. Many people may develop depression and anxiety after
CFS and get secondary reactions to chronic fatigue syndrome. Many
disorders such as heart attacks and cancer can result in depression.
Treating the chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Mixed infections which are difficult to treat, benefit from a
multi pronged approach to healing. Although allopathic treatments
have had some success using drugs, they are prohibitively expensive
and can have very severe side effects and unknown toxic effects
on the body. In our clinic we look for infections that are the
result of toxicity and nutritional deficiency. The most common
infection that is found is yeast and parasites, hidden bacterial
infections such as lyme disease or tooth abscess.
Diet & Nutrition
Diet is very important to build the immune system. Avoid empty
foods low in nutrients and excessive fat. Use more protein, complex
carbohydrates, vegetables, grains, beans and fish. it is important
to eliminate all allergy causing foods & rotating the diet
is helpful as well as drinking plenty of pure water.
Multivitamin and mineral supplements - in the most bio-available
and easily absorbable form with adequate amounts of trace minerals
with plenty of vitamin C.
Adrenal extract, thymus extract,
thyroid extract support if needed must be provided. Magnesium
has also been found to be low in many CFS patients. Intramuscular
or intravenous magnesium may be very helpful in the majority of
patients (it helps increase energy and reduces muscular pain).
Supplemental Infusions with vitamins/minerals,
magnesium and vitamin C are effective immune system boosters that
help the CFS patient by relieving many symptoms.
Cleansing programs including Colon
Hydrotherapy, massage, liver and gallbladder flush, eliminating
toxins or ama. Working on psychosomatic elements improves sleep
patterns and reduces stress. In our clinic we use Triflax
forte, a Vedic formula for cleansing the digestive organs,
colon, liver, gall bladder, skin and the lymphatic system.
Ayurvedic Formulations of ashavgandha, boswell, shatavari,
bala, guduchi, neem and many other modalities are used successfully
along with Vitamin and Mineral Infusions
to treat Chronic fatigue and Fibromyalgia patients with very satisfying
results.
Dr. Rakhra's clinic is located
at 121 - 14 Street North West in Calgary, Alberta.
He may be reached at: 403-270-7033.
See display ad in this issue for more information.
Visit his webiste at: www.aynh.com
A Magazine of People and Possibilities
Now Celebrating 17 Years In Print and 11 Years Online!