Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS ) is the current name for a disorder
characterised by debilitating fatigue and a variety of associated physical,
constitutional, and neurophysiological complaints including:
- extreme fatigue
- difficulty concentrating
- headache
- sore throat
- tender lymph nodes
- muscle aches
- joint aches
- feverishness
- sleeping difficulties
- emotional distress
- psychiatric problems
- allergies
- abdominal cramps
- weight loss or gain
- rash
- rapid pulse
- chest pain
- night sweats
Even though newly defined, it is not a new disease at all. References to
similar conditions in the medical literature go back as far as the 1860's,
and has been known by a variety of names including:
- Chronic mononucleosis-like syndrome
- Chronic Epstein Barr Virus syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Yuppie flu
- Post viral fatigue syndrome
- Postinfectious neuromyasthenia
- Chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome ( CFIDS )
- Iceland disease
- Royal Free Hospital Disease
- Lyme disease
Treating CFS with the Buteyko Technique
A recent study conducted on the effects of the Buteyko Technique on the
symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome has shown the following
improvements with:
- Fatigue - 87%
- Depression - 70%
- Anxiety - 66%
- Joint pain - 66%
- Difficulty sleeping - 54%
- Swollen lymph glands - 50%
- Recurrent fevers - 50%
- Night sweats - 75%
- Allergies - 66%
- Visual blurring - 66%
- Muscle aches - 60%
- Headaches - 50%
- Swelling of fingers - 50%
Those who continued their breathing exercise regimes for the
recommended 10 - 12 weeks reported a 100% reduction in fatigue.
Reported improvements commenced as early as the first day of attending
the workshop and most by at least the fifth day.
This study was conducted by Shellie Gaskin as a partial fulfilment for a
Diploma of Naturopathy at the Perth Academy of Natural Therapies.