Celiac disease is a malabsorption syndrome and chronic digestive disorder. The intestine is not able to absorb vital dietary nutrients from foods containing gliadin, an alcohol-soluble portion of gluten. This condition which is often hereditary means the sufferer has a serious intolerance to wheat (including durum, semolina and spelt), rye, oats, barley, and related grain hybrids such as tritaclae and kamut.
Arthritis refers to inflammation of the joint. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis which is characterised by joint degeneration and loss of cartilage. Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of inflammatory arthritis which is also an autoimmune disorder. In this case the body's immune system attacks its own cartilage and tissue surrounding the joints.
Some detoxification experts advocate fasting, while others do not. It is known that the components of any well-designed detox program will stimulate the body to cleanse itself, but people who are underweight, are undernourished, have weak hearts, have blood sugar issues or are ill should avoid fasting. Some studies have shown that restricting food intake can actually lead to bingeing.
Hemorrhoids are extremely common in industrialised countries and it is estimated that fifty percent of persons over fifty years of age have symptoms of hemorrhoidal disease. Although most people may begin to develop hemorrhoids in the twenties, the symptoms do not become evident normally until in ones thirties!
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - natural treatments and remedies
- What is chronic fatigue?
- How do I treat chronic fatigue naturally?
- Chronic fatigue syndrome - natural treatments and remedies
- Diet for chronic fatigue
- Herbs for chronic fatigue
- Supplements for chronic fatigue
Chronic fatigue is among the most misdiagnosed conditions. Officially, it did not even exist until 1988 when it was both named and defined by the United States Centre for Diseases Control. This does not mean, however it is a relatively new ailment. It simply means that it presented earlier under a whole host of different names including Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome, Yuppie Flu, or Post-Infectious Neuromyasthenia.
Chronic Fatigue causes such controversy because scientists cannot agree on a single cause. Worse, if you are a sufferer, many doctors will still try and persuade you that it does not even exist and that your symptoms are all in the mind. These symptoms usually follow a viral attack of some sort and can include a recurrent sore throat and headache, swollen lymph nodes, weak muscles, depression, insomnia, and joint pain.
All this can be a sign that your adrenal glands are compromised and although the orthodox treatment is sleeping pills or anti-depressants, this clearly does not tackle the root cause. The true culprit is almost always prolonged stress (which may be emotional, physical or environmental). Prolonged stress lowers your resistance to a viral attack and then leaves you with an unshakable fatigue. The body is in a constant and heightened 'flight or flight' state and this will eventually compromise your adrenal function which delivers the hormones responsible for stress including cortisol and DHEA. The adrenals are the glands that sit near the top of each kidney and their health are integral to our bodies homoeostasis ...that is our ability to fight off disease and depression.
Keeping the body under stress lowers immunity so when a virus does come along, you are less able to resist it. Impaired immunity also adversely affects the digestive system. A viral attack can alter the balance of the microflora in the gut - setting up a condition called dysbiosis, which prevents food from being properly digested. This allows fermentation and eventually irritates the lining of the gut.
Once this starts, increased food sensitivities and even food allergies are almost inevitable. Food molecules which would not normally pass through an undamaged gut lining trigger an allergic reaction when they do penetrate. You are then ripe for a candida infection and not just the bacteria of the yeast but the spores, which burrow deep into the digestive tract and cause even more damage. One of the most common findings is individuals with impaired immune function is gastrointestinal overgrowth of Candida albicans.
Successful treatment of CFS requires a comprehensive approach. You must analyse where the stress came from in the first place so that you can eliminate the cause of the CFS at its core.
How do I treat chronic fatigue naturally?
A trained naturopath or herbalist will best be able to determine a sufferer's situation and formulate a treatment plan on a individual basis. However there are some protocols that you can put in place to optimise the diet and lifestyle to support your own healing.
Chronic fatigue - natural treatments and remedies
Potential dietary causes (or contributions) to fatigue are as numerous as they are common! They are generally due to consuming too much of something, consuming too little of something, or imbalances in nutrition. Dietary causes of fatigue can also include consuming foods or drinks that zap your energy, eating particular foods at the wrong time, or eating in a way that contributes to poor digestion.
- Avoid stimulants such as chocolate, soft drinks, coffee etc as these will make the situation worse.
- Decrease sugar, shellfish, white flour and processed foods. Preferably follow a low G.I diet (see our G.I document on this website)
- Imbalance in the consumption of carbohydrate-containing foods is a common culprit in fatigue, and learning about the effects of different types of carbohydrates can make a major contribution towards resolving fatigue. Eat low G.I foods as a foods as rule. Low-glycemic index food, which releases food energy more slowly, result in smaller changes in an individual’s blood sugar levels, with a steadier feeling of energy. Chief among these foods are legumes, nuts, and seeds, but also included are root vegetables like celery root and rutabagas; leafy green vegetables; asparagus; artichokes; gourd family vegetables like pumpkin and cucumber; mustard family vegetables like broccoli and cabbage; and onion family vegetables like leeks and scallions. Eat very little high G.I foods. Generally speaking, these include soft drinks, candy, pasta and pastries made from refined white flour, fruit juices, and even very sweet juicy fruits
- Keep pure water intake up to a decent level (8 glasses a day as a general rule).
- Magnesium rich foods in the form of chlorophyll will be most beneficial. These include wheatgrass, green barley grass and spirulina.Failing this a magnesium supplement will be needed (500 to 1200mg per day in divided doses)
- Work on your digestive system and heal damaged gut wall if permeability is present. Aloe vera juice is excellent for this, as is slippery elm powder (1 tsp in a little water before each meal)
- Candida is often present so follow the Candida elimination tips on our candida document on this website.
- B complex and zinc are highly beneficial to enhance the immune system's function.
- Take a mineral toxicity test and possibly a food allergy test (IgG and IgE) with a naturopath or medical herbalist.
- Avoid pesticides!
- It is important to get as much nutrients from your food as possible. Increase digestive juices and enzymes by having half a lemon juiced in water before each meal.
- A high potency multivitamin and mineral alongside extra vitamin C (2,000 mg per day in divided doses) will be needed.
- Breathing exercises are especially important. Breathing with the diaphragm and good posture are important to relieve stress (see our breathing exercises and meditation walk through on this website)
- Body work in the form of massage or spinal manipulation is highly recommended to help alleviate stress.
Herbs are highly beneficial but should be prescribed by a qualified health professional such as a naturopath or herbalist.
The naturopathic herbal treatment of Chronic fatigue could start with measures such as goldenseal and pau d’arco tea to kill of the candida infection. It could include prescribing a probiotic supplement to rebalance the gut flora and follow up with herbs such as milk thistle and dandelion to support the liver. Liquorice enhances the action of corticosteroids, the hormones produced by the adrenal glands.The stress and its impact on the adrenals will be best tackled by such adrenal restorative herbs. Siberian Ginseng and other adaptogenic herbs may also be necessary as well as nervines to balance the nervous system.
We recommend Chi Rebound by Touch Of Sun Herbs
Or try atincture TONIC from your herbalist. They may recommend Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus), schizandra berry (Schizandra chinensis), ashwaganda root (Withania somnifera), gotu kola (Centella asiatica), and astragalus root (Astragalus membranaceus). These are safe to take long-term and may need to be taken for four to six months for maximum benefit.
Herbs that support overall vitality and relieve exhaustion include licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra), lomatium root (Lomatium dissectum), skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora), passionflower (Passiflora incarnata), lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), and rosemary leaf (Rosmarinus officinalis). Do not take licorice if you have high blood pressure.
Essential oils of jasmine, peppermint, and rosemary are calming and restorative and may be used in aromatherapy. Place several drops in a warm bath or atomizer, or on a cotton ball.
Supplements for chronic fatigue
5HTP. We recommend the ground seed form of Griffonia simplicifolia as your 5HTP supplement. In New Zealand, Clinicians manufacturel this product.
- Beta-carotene (50,000 IU per day) to strengthen immune function.
- Vitamin C (250 to 500 mg two times per day) to increase endurance.
- B-complex (50 to 100 mg per day) with additional B6 (100 mg per day) and B5 (100 to 250 mg per day) to reduce the effects of stress.
- Pantothenic acid (4 to 7 mg per day).
- Magnesium aspartate (400 to 1,000 mg per day) to support energy production.
- L-carnitine (330 mg one to three times per day) to support energy production in the cells.
