Category: Alternative Treatments

Amma therapy: a holistic approach to chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

A significant number of people suffering with chronic fatigue syndrome have become more and more discouraged by the traditional medical approach, which seems to lack the proper perspective on the disease. Unfortunately, very little published information is available about specific holistic health management practices used for these patients. It is the purpose of this article to examine a specific holistic practice, called Amma Therapy, as an alternative approach for the management of this syndrome.

 

Source: Young A. Amma therapy: a holistic approach to chronic fatigue syndrome. J Holist Nurs. 1993 Jun;11(2):172-82. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8277135

 

Disagreeing on how to treat CFS patients

Comment on: Chronic fatigue syndrome. A fresh look at an old problem. [Can Fam Physician. 1993]

 

There are some unfortunate inaccuracies in the article “Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.”‘ While the general information is useful in a very basic sense, two of the so-called “fresh look” items are inaccurate and misleading.

First, Dr McSherry suggests that “Oral magnesium supplements are indicated for CFS patients with subnormal red blood cell magnesium levels….” Presumably this recommendation comes from Dr McSherry’s reference to the study done by Cox et al. In this paper, red blood cell magnesium levels were found to be lower in patients diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) than in a matched normal group, and patients were found to improve with intramuscular injections of 50% magnesium sulphate (1 g in 2 mL) every week for 6 weeks. However, oral magnesium has not been tested for its effectiveness in patients with CFS. Dr McSherry’s recommendation to use oral magnesium is, therefore, inaccurate and misleading.

You can read the rest of this comment here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2379656/pdf/canfamphys00111-0026b.pdf

 

Source: Leyton E. Disagreeing on how to treat CFS patients. Can Fam Physician. 1993 May;39:1022-4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2379656/

 

Unproven diet therapies in the treatment of the chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

This report is a review of the unproven diet therapies recommended for individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Diet therapies promoted for the relief of CFS symptoms by the authors of five CSF self-help books were evaluated on the basis of nutritional adequacy and scientific rationale.

Unproven diet therapies for patients with CFS include megavitamin/mineral supplements; royal jelly and other dietary supplements; and elimination, avoidance, and rotation diets. Claims that these therapies relieve CFS symptoms and promote recovery are anecdotal and have not been substantiated by clinical research.

The yeast-avoidance and sugar-free diets, both promoted to combat Candida albicans overgrowth, are of questionable value in treating patients with CFS. The rotation diet is not balanced and does not meet the current recommended dietary intake levels. Diet strategies that call for the avoidance of food additives, preservatives, sweeteners, and other ingredients are not supported by available evidence and are not practical for patients with CFS.

A diet plan for patients with CFS should be based on sound nutritional principles and common sense. Until the results of studies demonstrating the benefits of particular diet therapies in the management of CFS are available, patients with CFS are advised to eat a varied diet selected from among and within the basic food groups to ensure an adequate nutrient intake and to reach and maintain a reasonable body weight.

 

Source: Morris DH, Stare FJ. Unproven diet therapies in the treatment of the chronic fatigue syndrome. Arch Fam Med. 1993 Feb;2(2):181-6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8275187

 

Isolated diastolic dysfunction of the myocardium and its response to CoQ10 treatment

Abstract:

Symptoms of fatigue and activity impairment, atypical precordial pain, and cardiac arrhythmia frequently precede by years the development of congestive heart failure.

Of 115 patients with these symptoms, 60 were diagnosed as having hypertensive cardiovascular disease, 27 mitral valve prolapse syndrome, and 28 chronic fatigue syndrome. These symptoms are common with diastolic dysfunction, and diastolic function is energy dependent. All patients had blood pressure, clinical status, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) blood levels and echocardiographic measurement of diastolic function, systolic function, and myocardial thickness recorded before and after CoQ10 replacement.

At control, 63 patients were functional class III and 54 class II; all showed diastolic dysfunction; the mean CoQ10 blood level was 0.855 micrograms/ml; 65%, 15%, and 7% showed significant myocardial hypertrophy, and 87%, 30%, and 11% had elevated blood pressure readings in hypertensive disease, mitral valve prolapse and chronic fatigue syndrome respectively. Except for higher blood pressure levels and more myocardial thickening in the hypertensive patients, there was little difference between the three groups.

CoQ10 administration resulted in improvement in all; reduction in high blood pressure in 80%, and improvement in diastolic function in all patients with follow-up echocardiograms to date; a reduction in myocardial thickness in 53% of hypertensives and 36% of the combined prolapse and fatigue syndrome groups; and a reduced fractional shortening in those high at control and an increase in those initially low.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

 

Source: Langsjoen PH, Langsjoen PH, Folkers K. Isolated diastolic dysfunction of the myocardium and its response to CoQ10 treatment. Clin Investig. 1993;71(8 Suppl):S140-4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8241699

 

A case of chronic fatigue syndrome who showed a beneficial effect by intravenous administration of magnesium sulphate

Abstract:

We have treated a case of chronic fatigue syndrome with atopic diathesis was had suffered general malaise, low grade fever, swelling of the lymph nodes, myalgias and arthralgias for a long time.

A 29-year-old female, who had been treated for atopic dermatitis for 5 years, complained of general malaise in May 1990. She was admitted to the nearest hospital in December 1990 because of low grade fever, swelling of the lymph nodes and an elevation of antinuclear antibody (2520x). She was transferred to our hospital in May 1991.

A diagnosis of collagen disease was not compatible with her condition. In addition to general malaise, fever and lymph node swelling, headache, myalgias, muscle weakness, arthralgias and insomnia were observed, and a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome was made based on the working case definition proposed by Holmes et al.

Although eosinophilia, a high serum level of IgE, and elevation of RAST scores, low NK and ADCC activity, and a reduced level of NK cells in the peripheral blood were detected, serum antibodies to a number of viruses were in the normal range.

Treatments with non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, minor tranquilizers and antidepressant drugs were not effective at all. An administration of magnesium sulphate was intravenously performed once a week in order to improve her condition, especially severe general malaise. After about 6-week’s administration of magnesium sulphate, she noticed reduced easy fatigability and an improvement in her impaired daily activities. Finally she was able to leave the hospital in January 1992.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

 

Source: Takahashi H, Imai K, Katanuma A, Sugaya T, Hisano K, Motoya S, Aoki S, Sugiyama T, Yachi. A case of chronic fatigue syndrome who showed a beneficial effect by intravenous administration of magnesium sulphate. Arerugi. 1992 Nov;41(11):1605-10. [Article in Japanese] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1492795

 

Chronic fatigue syndrome: studies on skeletal muscle

Abstract:

Chronic fatigue syndrome represents a poorly defined disease with protean clinical manifestations, the majority of them expressed as a muscle fatigue or as inability to maintain the expected muscle strength.

In the present work we studied muscle function and muscle histopathology in 20 patients fulfilling the proposed criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome. Special interest is directed towards the immunoreactive expression of class I MHC molecules comparing some inflammatory and virus-related myopathies with muscles from chronic fatigue syndrome.

Only minor morphological changes were detected in 9 out of 20 patients of the series. The nonspecific morphological changes in muscle tissue and the lack of class I MHC expression does not support the viral etiology of muscle fatigue in chronic fatigue syndrome. In contrast with the reported clinical improvement with high doses of essential fatty acids, our patients’ clinical condition did not improve after three months of L-carnitine therapy.

 

Source: Grau JM, Casademont J, Pedrol E, Fernández-Solà J, Cardellach F, Barros N, Urbano-Márquez A. Chronic fatigue syndrome: studies on skeletal muscle. Clin Neuropathol. 1992 Nov-Dec;11(6):329-32. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1473316

 

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