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CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME
For years, most physicians dismissed chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) as
an all-in-the-head problem. And most victims of CFS suffered the indignity of being told
that they were hypochondriacs, and that they merely imagined their three main symptoms:
(1) disabling fatigue; (2) persistent muscle and joint pain; and (3) severe problems of
brain fog, irritability and depression.Many doctors poured salt on the wounds of their
patients by labeling their condition as "shirker's syndrome", "yuppie
syndrome", and a "syndrome created by the media". Fortunately that is all
changing rapidly now.
What Is CFS?
Chronic fatigue syndrome is an epidemic that affects our children,
adolescents, adults and the elderly. By some estimates, more than ten million Americans
are partially or totally disabled by CFS and its twin sister,
fibromyalgia. CFS is a
progressive immune disorder which affects all body organs and ecosystems. Thus, in
addition to the three major symptoms of fatigue, muscle pain, and brain fog, most persons
with severe CFS suffer from almost all of the following symptoms: (1) abdominal bloating,
flatulence, and cramps (caused by battered the bowel ecology); (2) digestive and
absorptive problems (caused by damaged the gastric ecology); (3) dizziness,
lightheadedness, sweating, and weakness (due to oxidative stress on the blood ecology
caused by used by
sugar-insulin-adrenaline roller coasters); (4) dry mouth, thirst and a
sense of "toxicity" (caused by excessive detox stress on the liver ecology); (5)
cold hands and feet, weight gain, and loss of hair (due to a sluggish thyroid); (6)
chronic stress, irritability, and anxiety (due to relentless stress on the adrenal gland);
(7) hypoglycemic symptoms (due to the instability of the pancreas); (8) PMS, menstrual
irregularities, lack of sex drive, and premature menopause (due to imbalance of sex
hormones); (9) heart palpitations, low blood pressure, dizziness on sudden change of
posture (due to oxidative stress on the cardiovascular system); (10) severe problems of
mood, memory, and mentation problems (due to disruptions of neurotransmitters); and (11)
air or oxygen hunger due to sluggish oxygen transport and utilization).
What Causes CFS?
In 1993, the author published an article in the Journal of Advancement
of Medicine (1993;6:83-96) in which I proposed that CFS is caused by accelerated oxidative
injury to human enzyme systems. (Oxidation is the process of decay, loss of energy
[electrons]. Enzymes are natural substances that facilitate life processes in the body.)
In 1994, the author published
The Canary and Chronic Fatigue and presented extensive
evidence to support my theory. Since then hundreds of scientific studies have validated
the author's theory. Accelerated oxidative injury causes three basic problems for victims
of CFS: (1) oxygen transport to tissues is impaired; and (2) oxygen utilization in cells
is sluggish; and (3) toxic organic acids (lactic, oxalic, tartaric, furoin and others)
accumulate in and poison cells. Research by our group and by others has established that
all three problems are caused by oxidative injury to energy and detox enzymes.
3 Rs of CFS:
(1) Chronic fatigue syndrome is
Real;
(2) chronic fatigue syndrome cannot be
Reversed
with drugs, though limited use of drugs for pain control,
sleep and other symptoms may
become necessary; and
(3) chronic fatigue Syndrome is
Reversible
in the vast majority of patients with integrated and holistic therapies that restore the
body's damaged ecosystems though the recovery in advanced cases may be painfully slow.
Excessive oxidative injury in CFS is
caused by undiagnosed mold allergy and food intolerance,
sugar overload, denatured foods,
antibiotic abuse, pesticides, environmental pollutants, abusive drug prescriptions, and
lifestyle stressors. What's the proof of all that? Direct microscopic examination of a
drop of blood of the patient performed with a special type of microscope called
high-resolution phase-contrast microscope with darkfield optics. Blood samples of persons
with CFS almost always show: (1) a large number of dead and dying red and white blood
cells; (2) pine needle-like forms of solidified blood plasma (fibrin needles); (3) minute
curdles of blood plasma (microclots); (4) irregular masses clotted plasma with entrapped
damaged blood cells (microplaques); (5) clumped platelets; (6) excessive numbers of
bacteria; and (7) overgrowth of peculiar yeast-like microbes which I call primordial life
forms.
3 Important Issues in CFS:
(1) genetic predisposition; (2) total, cumulative load of microbes and
toxins; and (3) the last trigger that brings on the full-blown fatigue, such as a sever
viral infection or a major chemical exposure. The most common mistake made here is that
clinicians and patients devote most energy to the last trigger and fail to adequately
address all the factors which cause cumulative load on the patient's oxygen
transport and utilization, antioxidant and detox enzyme systems of the body.
TWO IMPORTANT FACTS FOR
UNDERSTANDING CFS
Oxidative Coagulopathy
Oxidative coagulopathy (coag-lau-pathy) is a term for formation of
microscopic blood clots in the circlating blood. Blood clots and unclots at all times.
Just as culture addede to milk turns it into yogurt curdles, microbes in the blood plasma
also turn fluid plasma into curdles that entrap blood cells, grow, and clog blood vessels.
In health, microscopic clots formed in the blood are readily dissolved so that such clots
are seen infrequently in freshly prepared blood smears. When such clotting is speeded up
by microbes and other factors listed above, microclots are lodged in tiny blood vessels,
choke the blood supply, and cause cellular damage. Thus, coagulopathy causes fatigue,
muscle pain, brain fog and other symptoms. (Ref: Ali M, Ali O. AA Oxidopathy. The Journal
of Integrative Medicine 1997;1:6-112.)
Oxidative Lymphopathy
Lymphopathy (lymph-au-pathy) is a term for formation of microscopic
clots in lymph, the pale-white fluid that flows in lymphatic channels. Like circulating
blood, circulating lymph also clots and unclots at all times. In CFS, lymph microclots
cause blockage of lymph channels and stagnation of toxic fluid in tissues. Thus, oxidative
lymphopathy adds to fatigue, muscle pain, brain fog, and other symptoms of CFS. (Ref: Ali
M. Oxidative regression to primordial cellular ecology. The Journal of Integrative
Medicine 1998;2:4-49.)
SUGGESTED GUIDELINES FOR NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT
FOR CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME
CFS should be managed by clinicians
experienced in integrated therapies. The following Institute guidelines should not be
considered a substitute for professional care. Rather, the guidelines are furnished to
provide information about therapies that the Institute physicians have found to be both
effective and necessary. The essential elements are: (1) diagnose and treat food
intolerance and mold allergy; (2) Optimal choices in the kitchen: avoid
sugar-insulin-adrenaline roller coasters; (3) Nutrient support: antioxidant vitamins and
minerals. TPM, pantetheine, Protein and peptide formulas, Essential oils, Intramuscular
and intravenous nutrient protocols (see Institute monograph for composition of protocols);
(4) support for the bowel ecosystem: seed, feed and weed approach; herbs: echinecea,
astragalus, burdock root, goldenseal, Pea D'Arco, artemisia; antifungal drugs such as
Nystatin and Filfucan; (5) support for the blood ecosystem: Hydrogen peroxide, ozone and
EDTA chelation therapies; chromium 400-600 mcg; selenium 400-600 mcg; molybdenum 400-600
mcg; (6) support for the liver ecosystem: glutathione 600-800 mg; N-Acetylcysteine 600-800
mg; MSM 1,000 to 1,500 mg; lipoic acid 300 to 500 mg; 600-800; Milk thistle, schizandra,
liver and gall bladder flush (under professional supervision); (7) support for the
troubled thyroid: natural thyroid, kelp, hawthorne, and others used in light of the lab
test results; (8) support for the sluggish adrenal: licorice tincture, schizandria,
Rehmania, DHEA, pregnenolone, androstenedione and others used in light of the lab
evaluation; (9) support for the weakened pancreas: hypoglycemic diets and pancreatic
enzymes; (10) support for the pituitary-sex hormones-neurotransmitter trio: natural
hormone and phytohormone prescriptions based on lab test results; (11) exercise:
Prayerful, gentle, non-competitive, non-goal-oriented exercise; and (12) stress control:
Prayer, meditation, spiritual surrender.
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