Do you wake up every morning feeling as if I didn't get any sleep from the night before? Maybe your head constantly aches and throat hurts? Or you're getting sick on a regular basis? Even experiencing brain fog that causes poor concentration and memory? Some days where you can't even get out of bed or feel like it takes EVERY ounce of energy to do so? If any of these sound like you, then you may have CFS.
"Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a complicated disorder characterized by extreme fatigue that can't be explained by any underlying medical condition. The fatigue may worsen with physical or mental activity, but doesn't improve with rest" (Mayo Clinic, 2018).
The cause of CFS is yet to be found. There are some theories that state that viral infections such as Epstein Barr virus, constant levels of high stress, nutrient deficiencies, imbalanced hormones, and traumatic events are triggers.
Because CFS is still newly discovered, there is no cure - only treatments. I recommend working with a naturopathic doctor and/or an intuitive healer to find the best methods for you. I work with both to manage my CFS symptoms and they have helped my tremendously!
Here are some things that you can do to help you manage:
AVOID CAFFEINE. You may think that caffeine would help, but it actually does the opposite. Drinking caffeinated beverages first thing in the morning spikes your cortisol levels, which messes with your adrenal glands. If you consume caffeine regularly, you will go become more and more fatigued over time. You may even reach a point where caffeine doesn't even help you. I have previously wrote an article about how to break your caffeine addiction if you need help with this. Click here for the article
ASHWAGANDHA. Ashwagandha has many uses and is great for people with CFS because it's an adaptogen that helps the body cope with stress, decreases inflammation in the body, and improves brain function. My favorite brand is from Sprouts. Click here to buy
B12. If you don't take this supplement, I would highly recommend starting. Vitamin B12 is important in keeping your body’s nerve and blood cells healthy, heart healthy, and helping convert your food into energy. A deficiency in B12 can cause low energy levels, depression, bad memory, joint pain, muscle weakness, and poor digestion. The reason that this supplement is great for people with CFS is because it helps convert your food into energy and if you're deficient in B12 then you will notice a rise in your energy levels! You can find B12 in fortified foods such as nutritional yeast, coconut milk, & sea vegetables, but they don’t absorb very well so it’s important to take a supplement to ensure your that your body is getting the amount it needs. Pure Vitamin Club is my favorite brand because there are no fillers added. Click here to buy
MAGNESIUM. Magnesium is important because it promotes restful sleep, helps with digestion, can help with cramps, and relieves muscle aches and spasms. It’s best to take your magnesium at the end of the day, a couple of hours before bedtime. Before careful not to take too much as it can have a laxative effect! When dealing with CFS it's important to take something that aids in the relaxation of your muscles and promotes sleep so this supplement is great. There are various types of magnesium that do different things for your body. My favorite brand is from Pure Vitamin Club and it combines magnesium glycinate, magnesium carbonate, magnesium taurate, and magnesium citrate. Click here to buy
CELERY JUICE. I wrote an entire article on this. Click here to read. There are so many benefits to drinking pure celery juice first thing in the morning that I cannot stop talking about this!
EXERCISE. I can write a list that goes on and on about the benefits of exercising, but I will stick to the ones that are important for those with CFS. Exercise increases energy levels, promotes better sleep, and helps improve memory.
STRESS RELIEF. Incorporating stress relief techniques into your daily routine will help support your adrenal glands so that they aren't in overdrive. For me, meditation, journaling, & yoga are huge. Find something that you enjoy that can help you manage your stress levels.
AVOID ALCOHOL and other depressant drugs. Alcohol is poison, so it's best to avoid it when attempting to improve your health.
I hope that this information will help you out. Be well & take care!
Love & wellness,
Kylie
Learn more.
Here is a more detailed article about CFS & EBV from Dr. Anthony William that I highly recommend reading. He covers everything that you need to know and has entire list of foods to eat to destroy the EBV virus (which could be the cause of CFS for some): Click Here to read.
Professional Help.
If you would like to get the contact information for my Naturopathic Doctor (his office locations are in West LA & Westlake Village, California) or Janine - my intuitive healer (located in Africa, but provides webcam sessions worldwide), then please send me an email through the contact form on my site!
Definiton Resource:
Staff, Mayo Clinic. “Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 5 Jan. 2018, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-fatigue-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20360490.