Can Acupuncture Help With Chronic Fatigue?
Chronic fatigue is more than just general tiredness and stress. People who suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome experience feelings of intense exhaustion that persist for more than a short time span. Not only that they also have either some muscular pain, joint pain, headaches, sleep problems or concentration issues. As yet there is no real known cause for why people have chronic fatigue syndrome. The signs and symptoms and treatment options for chronic fatigue are discussed below.
Signs and Symptoms
If a person thinks s/he has chronic fatigue syndrome, they might be experiencing the following symptoms for a couple of months:
- Extreme tiredness that persists even after sleep
- Sleeping problems, disturbed or interrupted sleep
- Muscle pain and weakness
- Severe headaches, migraines
- Dizziness
- Fibromyalgia
- Poor concentration, difficulty in remembering things, disorientation
- Nausea
The condition varies from person to person. There are three forms: mild, moderate and severe.
- Mild case
When you have a mild case of chronic fatigue, you would be able to accommodate household tasks and daily life activities. Work would be difficult but manageable. - Moderate case
In case of moderate chronic fatigue, you would have greater difficulty in performing everyday tasks and would have to take a break from your office work. - Severe case
This makes a person almost incapable of functioning. Cognitive functioning is also affected and you would become either bed-ridden or be bound to a wheel chair.
If any three of the symptoms persist for more then 2-3 months then the individual should immediately consult a doctor, before the chronic fatigue turns into another serious neurological problem.
Treatment Options
There are both medical and alternative treatments available for chronic fatigue syndrome.
Medicines
Most chronic fatigue patients are prescribed anti-depressants as they reduce consistent exhaustion and lessen muscle strain. Sleep is also improved with the aid of anti-depressant medicines. The only problem is that with medicinal use, fatigue stays at bay only till you consume the medicines. Also there are many side effects like kidney damage that can be caused by prolonged use of anti-depressants.
Lifestyle Changes
Most patients with chronic fatigue syndrome are advised to change their lifestyles as that might be the reason for their problem. They are advised to change their diet and consume healthy food and multi-vitamins. Patients are also asked to exercise regularly or at least 5 times a week. Exercising makes your body fit and strengthens your stamina.
Chronic fatigue patients are recommended to start yoga or other such meditation routines to manage and reduce their stress levels.
Acupuncture
An acupuncturist would be able to help you if you suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome. Research shows that people who went to an acupuncturist saw visible signs of reduction in their fatigue and were able to sleep better.
When you seek an acupuncturist, they will make your individual personal assessments and then design a session that meets the requirements of your case. A Moxibustion treatment is also used in addition to the needle treatment.
Conclusion
The above explanations shows that acupuncture in relation with a controlled diet, changed lifestyle and only short term medicinal use would be able to decrease and might even end the chronic fatigue syndrome.
- by Lotus Wellness Center