Category: Alternative Treatments

Efficacy of neurotropin in chronic fatigue syndrome: a case report

Abstract:

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a disorder that causes general fatigue and chronic widespread pain. A 28-year-old male visited an outpatient department due to general fatigue and pain involving the entire body. He did not suffer from fibromyalgia, but he was diagnosed with CFS. At the initial visit, he complained of lack of concentration, memory decline, frequent urination, insomnia and occasional difficulty of emotional control, as well as general fatigue and pain involving the entire body. Four tablets of Neurotropin per day alone were administered.

General fatigue and pain were gradually alleviated one week later. His sleep condition, concentration power, and memory also improved two weeks later. Medication was discontinued from 11 weeks based on the patient’s judgment as he felt little general fatigue and pain involving the entire body. Treatment was completed 3 months later. The symptoms disappeared and did not recur five months after the discontinuation of Neurotropin. He was looking for a job without fatigue and pain 8 months later (5 months after the cessation of treatment). The functional mechanisms of Neurotropin in CFS are unknown.

 

Source: Toda K, Kimura H. Efficacy of neurotropin in chronic fatigue syndrome: a case report. Hiroshima J Med Sci. 2006 Mar;55(1):35-7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16594551

 

Beneficial effect of brewers’ yeast extract on daily activity in a murine model of chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of Brewers’ yeast extract (BYE) on daily activity in a mouse model of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). CFS was induced by repeated injection of Brucella abortus (BA) antigen every 2 weeks. BYE was orally administered to mice in a dose of 2 g per kg per day for 2 weeks before injecting BA and for 4 weeks thereafter. We evaluated daily running activity in mice receiving BYE as compared with that in untreated mice.

Weekly variation of body weight (BW) and survival in both groups was monitored during the observation period. Spleen weight (SW), SW/BW ratio, percent splenic follicular area and expression levels of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) mRNA in spleen were determined in both groups at the time of sacrifice. The daily activity during 2 weeks after the second BA injection was significantly higher in the treated group than in the control. There was no difference in BW between both groups through the experimental course. Two mice in the control died 2 and 7 days after the second injection, whereas no mice in the treated group died. Significantly decreased SW and SW/BW ratio were observed in the treated mice together with elevation of splenic follicular area.

There were suppressed IFN-gamma and IL-10 mRNA levels in spleens from the treated mice. Our results suggest that BYE might have a protective effect on the marked reduction in activity following repeated BA injection via normalization of host immune responses.

 

Source: Takahashi T, Yu F, Zhu SJ, Moriya J, Sumino H, Morimoto S, Yamaguchi N, Kanda T. Beneficial effect of brewers’ yeast extract on daily activity in a murine model of chronic fatigue syndrome. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2006 Mar;3(1):109-15. Epub 2006 Jan 23. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1375235/ (Full article)

 

On the important role of Siguan points in treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To probe into the role of Siguan points in treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome.

METHODS: Based on diagnosis, pathogenesis and etiology of chronic fatigue syndrome in TCM, the role of Siguan points in treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome were induced by means of relative literatures of Siguan points in recent 10 years from 3 aspects.

CONCLUSION: Acupuncture at Siguan as main points has a better therapeutic effect on chronic fatigue syndrome.

 

Source: Wang JJ, Meng H, Cui CB, Song YJ, Wang XH, Wu ZC. On the important role of Siguan points in treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2006 Feb;26(2):116-9. [Article in Chinese] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16541862

 

Influence of melatonin on fatigue severity in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and late melatonin secretion

Abstract:

The effect of melatonin, a chronobiotic drug, was explored in 29 patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and Dim Light Melatonin onset (DLMO) later than 21.30 hours, reflective of delayed circadian rhythmicity. The patients took 5 mg of melatonin orally, 5 h before DLMO during 3 months.

Their responses to the checklist individual strength (CIS), a reliable questionnaire measuring the severity of personally experienced fatigue, were assessed twice with a 6-week interval immediately before the treatment and once after 3 months treatment.

In the pre-treatment period the fatigue sub-score improved significantly. After treatment, the total CIS score and the sub-scores for fatigue, concentration, motivation and activity improved significantly. The sub-score fatigue normalized in two of the 29 patients in the pre-treatment period and in eight of 27 patients during treatment. This change was significant.

In the patients with DLMO later than 22.00 hours (n=21) the total CIS score and the sub-scores for fatigue, concentration and activity improved significantly more than in the patients (n=8) with DLMO earlier than 22.00 hours. Melatonin may be an effective treatment for patients with CFS and late DLMO, especially in those with DLMO later than 22.00 hours.

 

Source: van Heukelom RO, Prins JB, Smits MG, Bleijenberg G. Influence of melatonin on fatigue severity in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and late melatonin secretion. Eur J Neurol. 2006 Jan;13(1):55-60. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16420393

 

Clinical observation on electroacupuncture for treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To observe clinical therapeutic effect of acupuncture at Back-shu acupoints of five zang-organs on chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

METHODS: Forty cases of CFS were treated with electroacupuncture at main acupoints Back-shu, and Fatigue Assessment Instrument (FAI) and Mental State Self-rating Scale (SCL-90) were used for assessment of therapeutic effect.

RESULTS: After electroacupuncture treatment, clinical symptoms improved. The cumulative scores of FAI decreased from 148.36 +/- 26.53 before treatment to 98.63 +/- 28.36 after treatment (P < 0.01). And the scores of somatization, depression, anxiety and interpersonal relationship in SCL-90 reduced significantly (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture has a definite therapeutic effect on chronic fatigue syndrome.

 

Source: Wang Q, Xiong JX. Clinical observation on electroacupuncture for treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2005 Oct;25(10):691-2. [Article in Chinese] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16318125

 

Acupuncture in the treatment of post viral fatigue syndrome–a case report

Abstract:

This case report concerns the treatment of post viral fatigue (chronic fatigue syndrome) with electroacupuncture. This condition is particularly difficult to treat whether using conventional or complementary therapy. Whilst the treatment did not cure the patient, it appears to have facilitated her return to work and markedly improved her symptoms. There are few publications on acupuncture treatment of this condition and the approach used here has not been reported previously.

 

Source: Mears T. Acupuncture in the treatment of post viral fatigue syndrome–a case report. Acupunct Med. 2005 Sep;23(3):141-5. http://aim.bmj.com/content/23/3/141.long (Full article)

 

Clinical observation on effect of electro-acupuncture on back-shu points in treating chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical efficacy of electro-acupuncture (EA) on 5-visceral Back-shu points in treating chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

METHODS: Fourty patients with CFS were treated by EA on Back-shu points, the changes of scoring by Fatigue Assessment Instrument (FAI) and Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90) were observed before and after treatment.

RESULTS: The scale of FAI and SCL-90 significantly decreased after EA (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: EA on Back-shu points is one of the effective approaches for treatment of CFS.

 

Source: Wang Q, Xiong JX. Clinical observation on effect of electro-acupuncture on back-shu points in treating chronic fatigue syndrome. Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2005 Sep;25(9):834-6. [Article in Chinese] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16248250

 

A preliminary epidemiological study and discussion on traditional Chinese medicine pathogenesis of chronic fatigue syndrome in Hong Kong

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose is to conduct an epidemiological study of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and its syndrome types and symptoms of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) among adults (20-50 years old) in Hong Kong, and to discuss the TCM pathogenesis.

METHODS: DESIGN: Cross-sectional questionnaire survey.

MEASURES: Demographic data, CDC (1994) CFS diagnostic criteria, Trudie Chalder fatigue scale, and China national standard for TCM syndrome types criteria.

SUBJECTS: Twenty to fifty years old adults by convenient sampling.

RESULTS: One thousand and thirteen subjects were successfully interviewed. Five hundred and eighty-five subjects (57.8%) had different levels of fatigue. Sixty-five subjects (6.4%) met CFS diagnostic criteria. In terms of TCM syndrome types, blood stasis due to qi deficiency had the highest prevalence (35.7%) among CFS. In the 54 symptoms investigated in total, the first eight symptoms in order of appearing rates were soreness of loins and weakness in knees, poor spirit, lassitude, pain, insomnia, forgetting, vessels blood stasis, vertigo and dazzle. The mostly appeared tongue figures were pale and corpulent or pale dim tongue proper, white and white greasy tongue coating, and the mostly appeared pulse figure was sunken-thin.

CONCLUSION: The point prevalence of CFS among adults of 20 to 50 years old was found to be 6.4%. The most prevalent TCM syndrome type was blood stasis due to qi deficiency. The TCM pathogenesis of CFS was deficiency of origin, mainly deficiency of qi and kidney, with excess of superficiality.

 

Source: Yiu YM, Qiu MY. A preliminary epidemiological study and discussion on traditional Chinese medicine pathogenesis of chronic fatigue syndrome in Hong Kong. Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Xue Bao. 2005 Sep;3(5):359-62. [Article in Chinese] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16159567 View full article in Chinese here: http://www.jcimjournal.com/articles/publishArticles/pdf/200632947810378.pdf

 

Acupuncture and Chinese patent drugs for treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome

We have, in recent years, treated 84 cases of chronic fatigue syndrome with acupuncture therapy and Chinese patent drugs and obtained quite good clinical therapeutic effects. A report follows.

You can read the rest of this article here: http://www.journaltcm.com/modules/Journal/contents/stories/052/6.pdf

 

Source: Lijue Z. Acupuncture and Chinese patent drugs for treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome. J Tradit Chin Med. 2005 Jun;25(2):99-101. http://www.journaltcm.com/modules/Journal/contents/stories/052/6.pdf (Full article)

 

Prospective observational study of treatments for unexplained chronic fatigue

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Unexplained chronic fatigue is a frequent complaint in primary care. A prospective observational study design was used to evaluate whether certain commonly used therapies for unexplained chronic fatigue may be effective.

METHOD: Subjects with unexplained chronic fatigue of unknown etiology for at least 6 months were recruited from the Wisconsin Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Association, primary care clinics, and community chronic fatigue syndrome presentations. The primary outcome measure was change in a 5-question fatigue score from 6 months to 2 years. Self-reported interventions tested included prescribed medications, non-prescribed supplements and herbs, lifestyle changes, alternative therapies, and psychological support. Linear regression analysis was used to test the association of each therapy with the outcome measure after adjusting for statistically significant prognostic factors.

RESULTS: 155 subjects provided information on fatigue and treatments at baseline and follow-up. Of these subjects, 87% were female and 79% were middle-aged. The median duration of fatigue was 6.7 years. The percentage of users who found a treatment helpful was greatest for coenzyme Q10 (69% of 13 subjects), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) (65% of 17 subjects), and ginseng (56% of 18 subjects). Treatments at 6 months that predicted subsequent fatigue improvement were vitamins (p = .08), vigorous exercise (p = .09), and yoga (p = .002). Magnesium (p = .002) and support groups (p = .06) were strongly associated with fatigue worsening from 6 months to 2 years. Yoga appeared to be most effective for subjects who did not have unclear thinking associated with the fatigue.

CONCLUSION: Certain alternative therapies for unexplained chronic fatigue, especially yoga, deserve testing in randomized controlled trials.

 

Source: Bentler SE, Hartz AJ, Kuhn EM. Prospective observational study of treatments for unexplained chronic fatigue. J Clin Psychiatry. 2005 May;66(5):625-32. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15889950