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Chronic Fatigue

Glandular Fever and Other Post Viral Syndromes .

In my twenty-two years of practice, there is one problem that seems to become more and more serious and more and more common all the time. It's Mononucleosis.

You probably know this disease by its ‘pet name': Glandular Fever. The reason why it is called Glandular fever is because it affects the glands that are located in the neck, armpits and groin.

The main virus that causes this problem is the Epstein-Barr virus.

Why Is It So Common?

It is common because it is easy to transmit (coughing, sharing utensils – including phone handsets, sneezing, kissing). But also because our benighted immune systems are so challenged these days [by too many antibiotics, too much junk, not enough nourishing food, too much stress], we just don't have enough resistance for the body to cope with those pesky viruses without bringing us down like a house of cards.

What Happened?

When you first got sick, you may or may not have gone to the doctor and you may or may not have taken medication and/or taken time off. You thought it was like a flu and you'd be back to normal in days. But you still feel lousy after a month. In fact you still feel lousy after six months! Everything makes you unwell, you have no energy, you don't feel like doing anything, you don't want sex, you don't want to have fun, you don't want to work, you don't want to play, you're always tired but you don't sleep well. You ‘catch' anything that goes around. You might as well be dead and pretty soon you become very depressed.

Now you have CFIDS (chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome) and you long for the wonderful person you used to be. Is this a sentence? Will you be sickly and unhappy for evermore? Should you join a support group?
 
 

Have No Fear, Granny Is Here!

So much pain and trouble could be avoided if a few principles could be followed:

1)    When you first get sick: do not ‘soldier on' . I have no doubt that most people get really bad because they apply the belief that if they ignore it, ‘it' will go away. WRONG! If you ignore it, It will make you take notice and you will get sicker.

2)    Nurse your disease . When you are in the acute stage of the problem and you are suffering from the swollen glands, fever, pain, etc… you should stay in bed, taking plenty of fluids and allow your body to be a battleground, because this is exactly what it is.

The best herbals teas to take are: linden flowers ( Tilia ), sage and catnip (also know as catmint: Nepeta cataria ). These are excellent to reduce the fever without suppressing it.

If you have swollen glands, get Poke Root ( Phytolacca) ointment or cream to apply on the swelling.

The best thing to eat is to make (or preferably have someone make for you) this wonderful healing broth:

In a big pot of water, boil a chicken (preferably organic) or some beef spare ribs with a couple of bay leaves. After this has cooked for one hour add:

One or two onions, several cloves of garlic, two teaspoons of thyme, a few bits of ginger and any vegetables you may have: potato, carrot, celery. Cook this for another twenty minutes.

If you are too sick to eat it, just drink the broth.

In a day or two you can start mashing the veges. Don't worry about eating meat yet.

Have stewed fruit with a little honey. Not fresh, anything is too hard to digest at this stage.

3)    Replenish . After the first acute stage has passed, the body's energy stores have been depleted. You need to replenish them with a clean, good diet, to replace and rebuild the body tissues which have been destroyed in ‘the war' and to allow the immune system to manufacture antibodies to protect you from later attacks.

Make sure you have:

Vegetables   at least twice a day. Don't just have peas, carrots and potatoes: you need green leafy vegetables such as silver beet, spinach, bok choy or endive: lightly steamed or stir fried.

Protein is also needed twice a day, in the form of: eggs, cheese, yogurt, fish, tofu, meat, ground almonds. You don't need huge amounts, but you need it regularly.

Grains such as rice, bread, pasta, oats; two or three times a day for their fibre, minerals and vitamin B content. It is preferable to have whole grains of course because the refined variety just has calories and not many nutrients.

4)    How about Supplements ? When people get desperate it is easy to think that if they take handful of vitamin pills they'll get better, because they are ‘natural'. Depending on what your problem is you are going to need specific herbs and supplements. For instance many people think that Echinacea is the answer to all problems. But in the case of an overactive immune system that is the worst herb you can take. Refer to a herbalist for a personal herbal prescription. However some herbs make excellent tonics and you can have them as herbal teas: Nettles, Rosehips, Comfrey, Borage, Chamomile, Lemon grass. Have three to four cups a day.

As far as supplements are concerned: Cod liver oil , vitamin C, Kelp and molasses are the simplest, safest and cheapest which everyone can take. For more specific nutrients you need again to consult a naturopath.

5)    Be Kind To Yourself

Cut down on any unnecessary activity. Go for a walk, not for a run. If you just joined a gym, get a certificate from your doctor so that your membership can be postponed. It is important to do some exercise but you need exercise that will restore your body, not break it down. The best are: Yoga, Tai chi and walking. Swimming is OK as long as you don't madly count laps and you are not susceptible to ear aches, conjunctivitis or skin infections.

Be Patient Having a chronic condition is comparable to having gone broke: you need to be careful with your money in order to not live hand to mouth. It is exactly the same with health and energy: you need to do everything to get well and not to spend it all at once. If you don't treat yourself well, you will remain unwell but if you apply the above principles you will soon become your good old self again!

For a personalised treatment please contact me here.

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