Chronic fatigue syndrome is affecting more and more people, and yet is becoming very hard to treat. The main symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) range from extreme tiredness or exhaustion that goes beyond 6 months, and unfortunately, you do not get much respite with rest. The fatigue sometimes is so severe that it affects your daily activities. So, what is the ideal CFS Treatment that can provide you ample relief from this condition?
Where conventional methods have failed, a good deal of research, which started in the early 2000s has come up with a treatment procedure to treat this condition, which is none other than Acupuncture. Acupuncture is a treatment that has time and again proved its worthiness in treating common conditions, unconventionally and with great results. Perhaps it cannot eliminate all the signs and symptoms of the disease all at once, but when used in tandem with other treatment procedures, has significantly improved the quality of life and helped regain normal function.
What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a complicated disorder; complicated because it is a difficult condition to diagnose. It is mostly characterized by bouts of inexplicable extreme fatigue that can’t be explained by any so-called medical condition. The fatigue in some cases worsens with more physical or mental activity, and the hardest part is that you do not get relief even with adequate rest.
What causes CFS? Well, there is no singular cause which leads to this condition. There are many theories though, which range from psychological stress to viral infections. Some experts also believe that chronic fatigue syndrome may result from of a combination of factors.
You may need a battery of medical tests to diagnose CFS, this is mainly by process of elimination. The treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome is largely symptomatic.
Signs of CFS
Signs and symptoms of the condition include the following,
- A sore throat
- Loss of memory or concentration
- Enlarged lymph nodes in your neck or armpits
- Unexplained muscle or joint pain
- Splitting headaches
- Poor quality of sleep
- Extreme exhaustion lasting more than 24 hours after physical and mental exertion
Acupuncture for Chronic Fatigue – How the Treatment Works
Acupuncture is not a recent treatment protocol but a tried and tested system of traditional medicine, which has been practiced inChina and other eastern cultures for over thousands of years. It has been used to rejuvenate health in a number of ways. The benefits of acupuncture have caused it to be hailed as a holistic therapy, and it has been used in mainstream healthcare too.
Needling is one of the popular techniques of healing, and there are some other techniques of acupuncture that are as effective; techniques such as cupping, moxibustion, massage or electro-acupuncture. Acupuncturists strongly recommend making dietary or lifestyle changes while continuing with the treatment.
Traditional acupuncture’s take on health is rather simple. They regard illness as a sign that causes an imbalance in the body, albeit the extent of imbalance varies from person to person. The traditional acupuncturist identifies the underlying disharmony and selects the most effective treatment. The choice of acupuncture points caters to individual needs. Traditional acupuncture is used as a preventive measure, which strengthens the constitution and promotes general wellbeing.
Western scientific research has started believing in the effectiveness of acupuncture for treating a host of conditions. How does acupuncture work? Acupuncture is believed to stimulate the nervous system, inciting the hormones and neurotransmitters in the body, which are regarded as the body’s communication substances. The resulting biochemical changes then increase the body’s self-regulating homeostatic systems, activating the innate healing abilities of the body, ensuring both physical and emotional wellbeing.
Benefits of Acupuncture – Relieving Signs of Chronic Fatigue
Acupuncture may improve the condition of chronic fatigue, including both physical and mental fatigue. It helps in the following ways,
- Improves quality of life
- Improves general mental health
- Improves the physiological function
That’s not all, some patients have shown great improvements in the following aspects of life as well,
- Social function
- Pain sensation
A Chinese study has also listed the following improvements in dealing with the following,
- Lack of energy
- General pain
Treatment durations vary from patient to patient. Some patients can show great improvements in a shorter duration of time, while some others may need more treatments. Generally, acupuncture shows remarkable improvements in staying active without showing any signs and symptoms of fatigue and improving the overall mental state of the patient after 10 consecutive treatments, lasting for a session of 30 minutes each.
After just 10 treatments, the fatigue and heaviness in the limbs, a constant accompaniment of the CFS, had declined. The patient approximately should undergo 50 treatments to see any real results and the effects are expected to last even at a three-month follow-up.
The Treatment Procedure – Acupuncture Points for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
The Chinese acupuncturists follow a holistic approach to treat the signs of chronic fatigue. Know more about the treatment procedure here.
Balancing the Qi in organs
Chinese acupuncturists have discovered that CFS may result in patients either from of over-abundance or a deficiency of qi in their organs such as kidneys, spleen, and lungs. An imbalanced qi can result in CFS, in addition to some of the other illnesses as well. Qi is the vital energy that flows through the body, and acupuncture governs this flow of Qi. By balancing the qi, acupuncturists were able to reduce the symptoms of CFS in patients, significantly.
Moxibustion’s ability to target fatigue
Moxibustion is a type of acupuncture that involves the process of burning the powerful herb, mugwort, which activates certain pressure points on the body. The dry herb is rolled into a cigar-shaped stick and then used for each session. The lit mugwort stick is then moved to the predetermined areas of the body, and the heat then penetrates the skin.
Moxibustion can reduce the symptoms of the fatigue aspect of CFS, which affects most sufferers, and is its most devastating and debilitating symptom. Many patients have noted a marked improvement with this therapy as they felt a sharp rise in their energy levels, especially once they had the opportunity to experience a large number of sessions.
Correcting the Yin & Yang deficiencies
Acupuncturists believe that individuals suffering from CFS have deficiencies in their yin or yang. The yin and yang are necessary forms of energy and need a perfect balance in order to function harmonically. In order to fix the imbalance or deficiency in yin and yang, practitioners will boost the CFS patient’s immune systems. Endorphins or happy hormones are released during acupuncture sessions, which encourage the body to produce natural antibodies.Therefore, it fights fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, sleep dysfunction, aches and pains and some other symptoms of this complex illness.
For patients who have been suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome, acupuncture has certainly been shown to be effective at improving a number of symptoms. While a single type of acupuncture may not prove to be an answer to CFS, different types of acupuncture can be tried till you zero in on one effective form, which can provide ample relief.
Though acupuncture may not provide a cure for chronic fatigue syndrome, it can promote the body’s natural healing, which can dramatically improve a person’s life. Besides trying to incorporate acupuncture for chronic fatigue, there are certain lifestyle changes to make, to treat chronic fatigue syndrome.
Exercise- Some studies do show that engaging in regular exercise, particularly aerobic exercise, can reduce fatigue and improve normal functioning. Make sure you add at least 20-30 minutes of aerobic activity five days a week. Overexercising can also lead to extreme fatigue, so aim for moderation.
Stress-reduction Exercises- Stress reduction is the first step to eliminate any disease, and in case of CFS too, you need to ensure that you include breathing exercises every single day. Practice relaxation techniques such as yoga or meditation on a daily basis.
Be selective about choosing support groups for people with chronic fatigue syndrome. Avoid negative people in your life and those who surround you with negative vibes. Instead, try and include more positive minded people who will encourage you to maintain a positive bent of life.
Try (CBT) or cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). This helps you to sense a personal control, improve the physical functioning, and also reduce fatigue.
Chronic fatigue syndrome is not a lifelong problem. So, do not despair. Try to sleep right; move more and consume energy providing fresh and healthy foods, such as whole-grain, fruits, vegetables and good fats. Stay active; once you remain active, you will feel more energized and would have more strength to deal with the condition.