Chronic fatigue syndrome or CFS is one of the health conditions that persists for quite a while, even if a patient rests or stay in bed for days. The symptoms may recur from time to time but no signs of recovery are apparent unless proper medication is prescribed to the patient. Though no conventional medication is is yet to offer long-lasting relief to CFS, more patients are resorting to acupuncture and other traditional Oriental medications for faster and more effective relief.
Signs and Symptoms of CFS
Patients with CFS display most or all of the following symptoms:
Sudden, extreme exhaustion due fever and flu
Low-grade fever (100.4 F) and chills
Sore throat
Swollen lymph glands in the neck or armpits
Muscle and joint pains without swelling
Headaches
Difficulty to sleep
Poor memory as shown by the inability to concentrate and remember
Mood swings
Causes of CFS
Immune system reaction to a virus is the most common reason for the occurrence of CFS. A person with CFS is also at risk of suffering from flu-like illness that does not easily go away or recurs from time to time. It also impairs the appetite, leaving the patient with poor eating habits. Likewise, depression has a huge impact on the length and strength of CFS.
Benefits of Acupuncture for CFS
Various researches conducted in China claim that acupuncture fights the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome. Western studies support this claim and even said that acupuncture also treats CFS-related illnesses like as fibromyalgia, depression, headache, and irritable bowel syndrome. One of the benefits that CFS patients feel after undergoing an acupuncture treatment is an enhanced immune system that allows them to enjoy a good night's sleep. Getting the right amount of sleep every night is a key factor for faster recovery from CFS.
Among the most noticeable benefits of acupuncture for CFS include:
Less pain
Better sleep
Relaxation
Enhanced immune system
Better overall health
According to a 2008 study, CFS patients who underwent 20 acupuncture treatments showed signs of major improvements that lasted three months. However, after two years without acupuncture, those patients displayed signs of susceptibility to CFS, which necessitated the need for another acupuncture treatment.
