Category: Alternative Treatments

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Do herbs or homeopathy help?

Abstract:

To determine the effect of certain herbal and homeopathic preparations on symptoms, lymphocyte markers, and cytotoxic function of the lymphocytes in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, we studied six outpatients diagnosed with the disease by their family physicians. Patients were given herbal and homeopathic preparations after a 3-week symptom-recording period. After treatment, symptoms were again recorded. Blood samples were taken before and after treatment. None of the values showed any significant change after treatment.

 

Source: Leyton E, Pross H. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Do herbs or homeopathy help? Can Fam Physician. 1992 Sep;38:2021-6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2145466/ (Full article)

 

Effect of high doses of essential fatty acids on the postviral fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

Sixty-three adults with the diagnosis of the postviral fatigue syndrome were enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of essential fatty acid therapy. The patients had been ill for from one to three years after an apparently viral infection, suffering from severe fatigue, myalgia and a variety of psychiatric symptoms.

The preparation given contained linoleic, gamma-linolenic, eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids and either it, or the placebo, was given as 8 x 500 mg capsules per day over a 3-month period. The trial was parallel in design and patients were evaluated at entry, one month and three months. In consultation with the patient the doctors assessed overall condition, fatigue, myalgia, dizziness, poor concentration and depression on a 3-point scale. The essential fatty acid composition of their red cell membrane phospholipids was analysed at the first and last visits.

At 1 month, 74% of patients on active treatment and 23% of those on placebo assessed themselves as improved over the baseline, with the improvement being much greater in the former. At 3 months the corresponding figures were 85% and 17% (p less than 0.0001) since the placebo group had reverted towards the baseline state while those in the active group showed continued improvement.

The essential fatty acid levels were abnormal at the baseline and corrected by active treatment. There were no adverse events. We conclude that essential fatty acids provide a rational, safe and effective treatment for patients with the post-viral fatigue syndrome.

 

Source:  Behan PO, Behan WM, Horrobin D. Effect of high doses of essential fatty acids on the postviral fatigue syndrome. Acta Neurol Scand. 1990 Sep;82(3):209-16. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2270749

 

The diagnosis of postviral syndrome

Note: This comment appeared in Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine Volume 83 June 1990. You can view the table referenced in the comment here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1292703/pdf/jrsocmed00135-0083a.pdf

 

The difficulty of making a definitive diagnosis of postviral syndrome (myalgic encephalomyelitis) is emphasized by Dr Bowman and his colleagues (December 1988 JRSM, p 712).

After a patient with this condition reported benefit from hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) (1), 36 other patients requested to be treated at Centres administered by ‘Action and Research for Multiple Sclerosis’ (ARMS). Thirty had been investigated in hospital.

They received 20 daily one hour sessions breathing 100% oxygen under pressure. Thirteen patients reported symptomatic improvement at 1.25 atmospheres absolute (ata), 10 responded at 1.5 ata, three at 1.75 ata and two at 2.0 ata.

The patients were asked to record any changes in their symptoms at the end of the course and their accumulated replies are given in Table 1.

A speculative explanation is that high concentrations of oxygen may limit the excessive intracellular lactic acid in skeletal muscle that has been demonstrated in this disease(2). The clinical pattern of myalgic encephalomyelitis has much in common with multiple sclerosis and it is possible that some of these patients had, in fact, got MS.

However, muscle pains are seldom a feature of MS, while they occurred in all but four of these patients. Seventeen out of the 33 with this symptom reported improvement, a response to HBO which might be elaborated into a therapeutic test.

ARMS treated these patients (with the consent of their doctors) on an empirical basis, and it is not implied that HBO is a definitive treatment for ME. However, these reports of subjective improvement suggest that a formal trial should be initiated.

~D J D PERRINS Adviser on Hyperbaric Medicine to ARMS, 4a Chapel Hill, Stansted, Essex CM24 8AG

 References

1 Newsletter of the M.E. Association No 21, 1986

2 Arnold DL, Bore PJ, Radda GK, et al. Excessive intracellular acidosis of skeletal muscle on exercise in a patient with a post-viral exhaustion/fatigue syndrome. Lancet 1984;i:1367-9

 

Source: D J Perrins. The diagnosis of postviral syndrome.  J R Soc Med. 1990 Jun; 83(6): 413. PMCID: PMC1292703  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1292703/

 

Liver extract-folic acid-cyanocobalamin vs placebo for chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a recently defined entity for which clinical criteria were proposed by the Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Ga. A frequently advocated treatment in Southern California is an injectable solution of bovine liver extract containing folic acid and cyanocobalamin (LEFAC).

We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial of intramuscular LEFAC in 15 patients who met the Centers for Disease Control criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome. Although patients responded to placebo and LEFAC by several criteria of functional status, no significant difference was apparent between response to placebo and that to LEFAC. The placebo response appeared to be strong.

 

Source: Kaslow JE, Rucker L, Onishi R. Liver extract-folic acid-cyanocobalamin vs placebo for chronic fatigue syndrome. Arch Intern Med. 1989 Nov;149(11):2501-3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2684076