Q. What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and how can it be corrected naturally?
Here are some things you can actually DO about chronic fatigue besides just reading about how hopeless other people think it is.
A. 1) Chronic Fatigue is usually the result of a Candida Albicans overgrowth, so this imbalance must be addressed first. The first thing you need to do is start starving the candida, so avoid ALL sugar and alcohol, that means ALL, even the good sugars like fresh fruit. They must ALL be eliminated or you won't get results. (NOTE: after the candida balance is restored, you should definitely add back into your diet the good sugars like fresh fruit, raw honey, etc., but not until the problem is fixed!) Go to a diet that consists entirely of pre-soaked low heated (under 130) grains and raw vegetables.
Then take some herbs like black walnut hulls, pau d'arco, garlic, echinacea, etc. to get rid of the overgrowth. Also take probiotic supplements and fermented foods (things containing an abundance of beneficial bacteria or "friendly flora.") This helps balance out the candida. My favorites are rejuvilac, sauerkraut, and apple cider vinegar (Some books advise against using these things for candida, but they are exactly what you need, so don't be afraid of them.) I do not suggest colloidal silver as it destroys all your friendly flora along with the candida, making the problem worse in the long run. Remember that you're not trying to eliminate the candida from your body entirely, that is impossible as well as undesirable. Candida is one of your friendly flora. It just happens to be the most hardy one and can easily overgrow and crowd out the others when subjected to the high sugar high alcohol diet of the average American. Our goal is just to put it back into its natural balanced state and make it behave itself, then make sure that all the other flora are present to keep it in balance.
2) Exercise - Chronic fatigue can definitely be brought on by a lack of exercise. This is basically another application of the "use-it-or-lose-it" law of nature. The more energy you use, the more you will have. This is because when you move your body (i.e., exercise) you are speeding up your metabolic rate which causes your body to actually produce more energy. You also tone and strengthen your heart, lungs, adrenal glands, and other organs and increase your intake of oxygen! WOW! What a powerful combination!
3) Sometimes fatigue can be due to Addison's Disease, which just means weak adrenal glands. To correct it, follow as close as you can to the
mucusless diet, do some basic cleansing procedures (information available on my web site - see my About Me page by clicking on my byline), and take at least 2-3 cups per day of a decoction of licorice root and an infusion of mullein leaves. Or if you prefer, you can make up a formula like: 5 parts licorice root, 4 parts alfalfa herb, 3 parts mullein leaf, 1 part ginger root, and 1 part lobelia herb. You can use this as a powder in capsules (2 capsules 3 times a day), in a tincture
or glycerite (2 dropperfuls 3 times a day). Or you could make a tea of the above herbs by soaking them overnight in distilled water (one heaping teaspoon of herbs per cup of water) and then simmering them on low heat for 30-60 minutes. Then strain and drink. Continue until you're better.
4) You knew this was coming - Cleanse and Nourish - you can't get well if your body is not getting what it needs or if it is clogged up with toxic sludge. Click here for another Helium Article that explains 10 basic things you can do right now to START cleansing your body and getting rid of the things that are in you making you sick right now.
Nourishing is especially important for fatigue because when your body isn't getting the nutrients it needs, you don't have energy. You don't build energy from anything but food, real live food.
5) Minimize or eliminate meat and other animal products. They have no lasting health benefits whatsoever and the most they do is clog up your system, rob your energy supply (digestion takes 2/3 of all your energy and these "foods" take far longer to digest than any plant food).
6) Boost your circulation with herbs like cayenne pepper (any hot pepper), black pepper (Always use these raw! Don't cook them.), ginger, cloves, cinnamon, prickly ash, nutmeg, mustard, peppermint, spearmint, etc. You can consume all the greatest foods and get your body cleaned out, but if the nutrients don't get to the starving cells all over your body, you won't have energy. These herbs will get them there. Use them on your food, take them in extracts, make tea out of them, or whatever you want to do, and have them every day.
7) Avoid refined sugar, caffeine, and other stimulants; though they may give you a temporary boost, they will, in the long run, weaken your body and cause you to need more and more of them for that temporary fix. So stay away from them and build natural, long lasting energy that won't let you down!
Happy Energizing!