Chronic Fatigue - Part 2

Chronic Fatigue

CFS consists of persistent fatigue unrelated to exertion, and not relieved efficiently by rest. It is also accompanied by the presence of other specific symptoms which range from neurological, immunological, and endrocrinoligical for a minimum of six months.

Issues that arise in CFS sufferers are that they can place unrealistic demands or expectations on themselves. Eg “I don’t want to be alone, or “I don’t want to be board”. Or they may have negative connotations’ around not doing anything productive.


Traditional Chinese Medicine and Nutrition

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) combined with Nutrition is one of the best treatment therapies for CFS. TCM tailors every treatment to the individual, and takes all factors such as environmental, mental and social into account. TCM not only treats the physical body, by boosting immunity and digestive capabilities in CFS, but can also treat underlying emotional upsets that may be exacerbating the condition.

Acupuncture, herbs and diet reinforce each other. Acupuncture reprograms the body and the herbs support that reprogramming.

A low stress diet is a simple diet that consists of foods that contain no artificial colours, preservatives, Salicylates , Amines or flavor enhancers, takes into consideration foods you may have a sensitivity or intolerance to, is easily digestible, nutritionally advantageous to boost immunity and generating energy, and also aids in clearing toxins from the system.

Even though many patients have been debilitated by CFS for many years, TCM looks at a recovery rate in 6 to 12 months of treatment.

Cooking

Taking a closer look at what we eat is crucial for CFS suffers, or getting back into the kitchen and taking control over what goes into our meals.

A useful tool to return to home style cooking, and cutting out the time of cooking every meal may be helpful by using a Thermomix. This machine chops and cooks meals in minutes. Preparation is cut from minutes to seconds and cooking is gentle ensuring the flavours, vitamins and minerals are locked into the food as the Thermomix cooks foods at such a low temperature that it does not denature your food. Through this process natural flavours are also enhanced.

Best of all, you'll have the peace of mind of knowing exactly what is going into everything you eat. If this machine is not for you, then try to put away more time in your life to dedicate to cooking.

The Six Step Chinese Medical Weight Loss Guide

1. Eat when hungry

Hunger is a sign of health digestion, listen to your body. If you eat when you are not hungry then you are eating for an emotional filler. Try drinking some water, stretching or going for a brisk walk instead of ‘emotional’ or ‘boredom’ eating habits.

If you do not eat when you are hungry, eg. skipping meals to lose weight, then your metabolism will start to slow and no longer burn calories efficiently. The chances of permanent weight loss with this method are next to zero.

So, eat meals on a regular basis! Five smaller meals are better than 2 or 3 larger meals as it will keep your blood sugar constant and help to prevent cravings by preventing spikes in your appetite.

When you are hungry your body has built up digestive enzymes readying your body for digestion. This means your body is more capable of digesting food when you are hungry. If you tend to eat without listening to whether your body actually is hungry and asking for food, you are more likely to gain weight and suffer from indigestion, bloating and gas.

The Indian yogis say that indigestion is the cause of 90% of diseases. When food is not properly digested nutrients are not fully absorbed from food, leaving the body malnourished, fatigued, and causing poor memory and concentration. Indigestion also leads to weight gain, as poorly digested food will sit in your stomach and intestines and cause bloating. When food is poorly digested in the stomach it is sent, undigested to the intestines, the intestines then attempt to break down the food by secreting intestinal digestive enzymes, these enzymes when released cause gas, this in turn leads to further bloating and pain.

2. Chew properly.
There is an enzyme contained in saliva that aids in protein digestion. If you chew on your food properly, your mouth will secrete more saliva, and the food will start to break down before it hits the stomach and duodenum. It is said by many traditional cultures and modern day nutritionists that 30 chews a mouthful is adequate. Take a short brisk walk after dinner to aid digestion.

Eat pickles, radish or ginger with meals to increase digestive enzymes.

Swedish bitters, lemon juice or apple cider vinegar with hot water 30 minutes before meals, also increases your digestive capabilities, and is good for people who suffer from indigestion and bloating.

Try not to drink liquid with meals as fluids wash away digestive enzymes, cold drinks especially, as they cool down the ‘digestive fire’ in the gut.

3. Avoid foods that are difficult to digest
.... such as dairy, soy milk, sugar and refined wheat products. Ice cream, cheese and cream are extremely taxing on the digestive system. You can supplement your calcium intake with salmon, sardines, collard greens, spinach, okra, rhubarb, white beans, broccoli, peas, brussel sprouts, sesame seeds, bok choy, almonds and by adding lightly fried sesame seeds with salt on your meals, or sesame paste – tahini, which is great used as a dressing.

4. Avoid cold foods and drinks
Try not to eat or drink foods and liquid that are cold in temperature, again, as they cool down the ‘digestive fire’.

Eg.ice (except small amounts in summer)
cold drinks from the fridge.
Ice cream or icy poles
Food from the fridge that hasn’t been left to sit to warm up to room temperature or heated before consuming.
When the digestive fire has been dampened by these types of foods these types of symptoms will occur:
Weight gain
Bloating
Abdominal Pain
Lethargy
Mucous build up
Phlegm
Asthma
And immune problems

5. Don't Eat Too Late
Make a habit of not eating after 8pm, or 3 hours before retiring. The digestive system is at its peak from 7am until 11am, then starts to decrease to its weakest from 7pm until 11pm in the evening. To take advantage of the peak digestive strength the largest meal of the day should be breakfast, finishing with a light snack at dinner. Eating late at night means that food will sit in your digestive system for longer, undigested, and much of the energy for night time restoration of hormone production, balancing your brain chemistry, building blood, along side a great many other processes, goes to digesting your dinner.


6. Avoid eating when angry, upset, tired, walking, driving, reading or concentrating.
If you eat at these times you will likely suffer from weight gain and bloating due to poor digestive capabilities at these times. You may also suffer from poor concentration and poor memory, as the nutrients from your food will most likely not be readily absorbed. The digestive system slows when the heart rate increases, however when the heart rate slows and the body switches from the sympathetic to the parasympathetic nervous system, the mind and body are calm and the digestive system becomes strong, and more digestive enzymes are secreted. Calming the mind and body before eating is essential for good digestion.

Lose weight naturally and keep it off with Traditional Chinese Medicine

Australia is now one of the top countries in the world that suffers from obesity. Recent studies estimate that more than half of all Australian women (52%) and two-thirds of men (67%) are overweight or obese. That is almost 60% of the adult population in Australia. Rates of childhood obesity in Australia are also at one of the highest amongst developed nations. ‘15.2% of Australian preschoolers are estimated to be overweight and 5.5% obese’

With these alarming statistics, Australians are beginning to look into ways of lowering their weight permanently and taking their health, and their children’s health seriously.

How does being overweight affect your health?

There are over thirty serious medical concerns related to obesity. Obesity takes its toll on the entire body. Some of these issues include:
Depression
Sleep Apnea
Fatty Liver Disease
Asthma
Chronic headaches
High Blood pressure, hypertension
High blood cholesterol
Diabetes Type 2
Congestive heart failure
Heart disease
Stroke
Gallstones and gallbladder disorders
Gout
Osteoarthritis
Some types of cancer -such as endometrial, breast, prostate, and colon
Complications of pregnancy
Poly cystic Ovarian Syndrome
Infertility
Bladder control problems
Varicose veins
Hernias
Metabolic Syndrome

What is Metabolic syndrome?

Many people find they carry excess weight only around their belly. Belly fat, or visceral fat, is dangerous as it lies deep in your abdomen, surrounds your organs and secretes toxic hormones. 

The liver, your body's detox center, also seriously suffers if you have too much abdominal fat. "When the liver gets infiltrated with this fat, it can have a harder time filtering out harmful substances” (3). This can lead to toxic build up in the body, mood disorders, fatigue and many other health concerns.

Do I have Metabolic Syndrome?

If you have a waist circumference greater than 102 cm (men) or 88cm (women), you may be suffering from metabolic syndrome.

               

                            Ways losing weight will benefit your health:

               Increased energy level

                            Lower your cholesterol levels

               Reduce your blood pressure

               Reduced aches and pains

               Improved mobility

               Improve your breathing

               Help you sleep better and wake more rested

               Prevention of angina, chest pain caused by decreased oxygen to the heart

               Decreases your risk of sudden death from heart disease or stroke

               Prevention of Type 2 diabetes

  Improved blood sugar levels

Improve self esteem and quality of life

Losing weight with Traditional Chinese medicine

With all the associated health risks with being overweight why not begin on your path towards a longer, more energetic and healthier life, by going on a natural weight loss program today?

Learn how to regain insulin sensitivity through dietary changes and other natural methods, and how to resolve sugar cravings by utilising natural therapies.

Chinese medicine tailors a program to suit every body type, whilst treating underlying health concerns, aiding your body’s natural ability to loose weight with dietary planning, acupuncture and herbal supplementation.

REFERENCES
(1) A. Dowling, 2009, ‘Obesity’, The Australian and New Zealand Obesity Society.

http://www.asso.org.au/profiles/general/faq/prevalence

              

(2) M Wake, 2009, ‘Obesity and girth of Australian preschoolers: prevalence’, International Journal of Obesity, Nature Publishing group

             

(3) M.Kelly, ‘Weight gain around the waistline poses health risks’ Fitness Magazine, The Arizona Republic Newspaper.

Chronic Fatigue Part 1

There are no bio-medically defined known causes for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome  (CFS), however there is much than can be looked at and many ways it can be treated, and all cases are different and must be treat that way.

Chronic Fatigue is more than just “burnout”. Factors which can effect CFS are environmental stress and toxicity, food additives, adrenal fatigue,  long term emotional or financial stress, and as the syndrome is also commonly  known as ‘post-viral fatigue syndrome’, it is also caused by a compromised immune system, which may be due to the above.

Food sensitivities or intolerances.

Additives that may be creating Chronic fatigue In your body could be: Artificial colours, natural colour, preservatives, synthetic antioxidants, Flavour enhancers, Natural food Chemicals

Not only are the fast, ready-made foods that feature in today’s diet making us sick, but additives are now used in healthy foods such as bread, butter, yoghurt, juice or muesli bars as well as in junk food. It is hard to tell what is really good for us!

Reactions to food additives are related to dose, so the more you eat, the more likely you are to be affected. A British survey in 2007 found that:

·         most consumers underestimate how many additives they eat

·         the average consumer eats 20 additives per day (19 if foods are home-cooked)

·         most consumers don't know which foods contain additives.

For more information: www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info.

Nutritional Supplements during Pregnancy

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Multivitamins

Many women choose to take one of the well branded multi-vitamins when they are pregnant or breastfeeding. These supplements can be ok provided that:

-         no deficiency existed prior

-         all food is organic and actually contains the nutrients that it ought to (most Australian soils are depleted of zinc and other vital nutrients)

-         your digestion is working at 100% efficiency

-         your life has zero stress and you don’t live in a city with pollution

Clinically we see that most women have each of these 4 factors working against them in their pregnancy, and they can very quickly show the signs of vitamin/mineral deficiency. Waiting until the signs of deficiency have appeared mean that we have already lost the opportunity for optimal nutrition for your unborn child throughout pregnancy – therefore we act preventatively when recommending nutritional supplements to ensure you are making the most STUNNING baby possible, not just any old baby made from what is leftover after a busy, stressful life.

To achieve optimal pregnancy and breastfeeding nutrition, additional nutrients need to be supplemented. Below is a table that shows the nutritional levels of Elevit, and the supplements you should take to meet the recommended levels described earlier.

After Birth Care with Traditional Medicine

After Birth Care

Asian Cultures always avoid allowing their bodies to be exposed to cold. Perhaps our Grandmothers told us not to wear midriff tops as it injures the kidneys, and maybe being modern women, we have considered this type of advice to be old wives tales and thought nothing of it. However in China today, expectant mothers, pregnant mothers and especially new mums are kept well away from the cold, and are advised to do so not just by their culture but in the hospitals as well.  

The most important organ and meridian for conception according to Chinese medicine are the Kidneys. In relation to the other organ networks, the kidney is situated in the lowest position. Therefore has a large role to play in the function of the sexual organs, and sex drive. The kidney is the source of the human body, and the initial sprout of physical life in conception. Thus it is paramount that the mother and father to be have strong Kidneys.

The kidneys are thought of as the ocean of the human body.  As oceans are situated on a lower level than the earth's streams and rivers, they draw every one of them to form one large body of water. So the kidneys rely on the strength of all other organs to support them, so they can then in turn nourish all other organs and the brain. Oceans may appear vast and inexhaustible, yet they still drain off some of their seemingly unlimited supply. The Kidneys can become drained from stress, cold invasion, birthing many children and sadly to say too much sex!

How much sex is too much sex? It depends on your age. As a guide line, under 25 years of age: 4/5 x a week should not damage the Kidneys, as the Kidneys are robust when we are young. However as we age our Kidneys vitality also ages and we must reduce our sexual activities, especially men upon ejaculation.  From ages 25 – 30: 4  x a week, 30 – 35: 3 x a week, ect. This is a round about number, and is to be used as a guide line, just so people understand that as good as sex is, it is also draining when practiced too much.

Those who are knowledgeable in the art of nourishing life take care to shut off the lower exit, in the case of men, reducing the amount they ejaculate. However to generally protect the Kidneys we can protect the end point of the kidney channel at the foot, by doing this we mean; keep your feet warm! When cold enters the Kidneys it depletes the Kidneys Yang qi, or the fire of the Kidneys.

When we protect and shut off the lower exit there will be a nourishing cycle that is free of leaks. This will mean that the Kidneys can become robust and strong. When this happens there will be physical and mental clarity, constitution and fertility will be strong, and your body’s temperature will regulate. The art of longevity is all about the strength of the Kidneys.

As said above, for the kidneys to function properly they need to stay warm. When cold invades into the channel or the organ, the Kidney strength becomes depleted. This creates problems like; feeling chronically cold, low libido, chronic fatigue and also infertility issues with either conceiving or miscarrying, a  damaged digestion and therefore metabolism problems (weight gain), lowered immunity, slowed blood circulation, and can prevent the body from holding organs in their right place (prolapse), that includes babies (miscarriage), increases the effects of aging, and can cause either constipation or serious urinary and fecal incontinence after birth, uterine over bleeding after birth and consequently if the yang is not treated, then over bleeding in later menstrual periods and subsequent deliveries.

Cold stops the movement of qi and blood, which then creates stagnation and eventually pain. Cold can easily get trapped in the womb, causing painful periods in the future and cause numbness during sex, loss of the ability to orgasm and stunt libido completely.

Preventing cold from entering the body would mean that NO cold packs should be used during labor, either to numb pain or to placed on the perineum right after birth to reduce swelling and pain in that area right after delivery.

Keeping your feet warm means if your toes feel cool, then they are cold and you need to put another layer of sox on, or some boots. In winter always wear sox and shoes, no open toed shoes, slip on’s and especially no thongs. If your feet are still cold with boots on then order some magnetic inner soles.  At home always keep your feet warm, no bare feet in winter, always wear slippers or ugg boots, especially on cold tiles.

We must also keep the area of the uterus warm, especially after birth. During a womans birthing experience, either vaginal or Caesar, the woman’s internal body opens itself up to the external world, making the body vulnerable to external cold invasion. To prevent more cold from entering the body after your fatigued from birth (and generally, always and forever more) wear tops that you can tuck in, so you can keep your abdomen and lower back warm.

Do not eat or drink beverages that are cold in temperature, especially in winter. That means drinks straight from the fridge and any drinks with ice. Always heat up your meals. No raw foods in winter, and minimise raw foods throughout the entire year so that you always are eating at least 85% cooked foods. If you are going to eat raw foods always eat it at an end of a meal.

Panadol and antibiotics are both cold medicines and can damage yang. Where possible try to avoid these medications. If it is necessary to take these medications, try and keep yourself extra warm, and drink lots of hot tea.

You can also deplete your Yang qi by over working yourself, exhaustion and insufficient rest.  It is important as a mother to a young baby that you don’t over exert your energy, as you will be doing enough by recovering from labor, making breast milk and having many sleepless nights.

Try and organise a family member or some friends to come and bring you some cooked meals for the first dew weeks after birth so you can just concentrate on breast feeding. Try and organize before the birth as much support for yourself as possible. You may even want to hire a house cleaner to come in for a few hours every week or fortnight for the first three months.

CHINESE MEDICINE FOR NEWBORNS AND NEW MUMS

Chinese medicine is perfect not only for the mother to be, but can help tremendously for the issues that may arise in the first few months after birth. Chinese medicine can treat:

For the Mum: Insufficient milk, Mastitis, Depression, Constipation, Headache and Fatigue

For your Baby: Constipation, Diarrhea, Colic, Restlessness, Sleeplessness, Not feeding properly, Rash.

We can also work with your new born through the immunization process if you choose to immunize, by helping their small bodies clear out the heavy metals that are used as preservative in immunization injections.