Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), the severest form of fatigue, and long-standing fatigue, aren’t diseases just of modern times. Both conditions have a long history of afflicting humans. Over the years they’ve been called by other names, yet fatigue is still fatigue.

In an effort to determine the causes of these conditions, many causal-candidates have been discussed by doctors and the public alike. In the late 1800’s the name “neurasthenia” surfaced as the primary descriptive term.

Both in Europe and America at the time of the first World War, chronic fatigue was a common complaint. Since that time, medical doctors have tried to uncover why so many people suffer from long-standing fatigue.

The broad term “neurasthenia” has evolved into an attempt to more narrowly define the condition, therefore new names have arisen: Fibromyalgia and  Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

The Medical Establishment doesn’t understand the underlying causes of fatigue. Without a knowledge of the causes, no effective therapies are provided to help people alleviate their suffering.

The symptom picture in all types of chronic fatigue is very similar and consists of a large bag of many different complaints:

* fatigue

* muscle weakness

* depression

* pain

* inability to cope with stress

* inflammation

* balance difficulties

* anxiety

* depression

* and many other debilitating symptoms

Chronic fatigue presents a complex symptom picture. Physicians are unable to make a diagnosis based only on symptoms. All of the tests that doctors use to understand why people are so tired fail to turn anything up.

The Specific Causes of All Forms of Fatigue Remain a Mystery to Modern Medicine

Medicine operates largely on the theory of “one cause/one disease.” A complex condition such as fatigue throws a monkey wrench into the process of trying to diagnose the causes of this condition. What we do know is that fatigue is the result of multiple agents acting simultaneously.

Since the medical community has no solutions for dealing with fatigue, many people are turning to alternative therapies and ideas. Medicine shouts not to do that because, they argue, these therapies are unproven. The alternative arena has treatments that work but it is also populated by marketers who don’t provide effective solutions.

In my view, the best way to deal with chronic fatigue is to use the therapies that do exist in the alternative arena as long as you can find trusted and truthful guides. Some effective treatments include:

* appropriate exercise

* the judicious use of diet

* the most appropriate diet is low-carbohydrate

* yet this diet is maligned by the medical community

* the use of selected vitamins, minerals, and herbs

* unfortunately, the public is not trained in choosing these

* of course, medicine knows nothing of this due to its reliance on drugs

By using effective alternative therapies, many people have overcome their chronic fatigue and eliminated the symptoms from which they suffered. The medical community is clear that they have been unable to define the causes of chronic fatigue and, therefore, admit to having no effective therapies.

• Chronic Fatigue: Introducing the Multiple Reasons Why People are So Tired
• Arthritis : Complementary and Alternative Medicine Options
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia
• Alternative Medicine, What Is It?
• Herbal Remedies for Fatigue, Low Energy and Weakness