| Chronic fatigue syndrome occurs when the adrenal | | | | blood profiles, nothing usually turns up and the most |
| gland secretes too little cortisol. The anatomical | | | | often outcome is that the doctor says depression is |
| location for the adrenal gland is on top of each | | | | the cause. At this juncture, the patient may begin to |
| kidney. | | | | explore alternative therapies such as those offered |
| The adrenal gland is the final part of the body's | | | | by a wide variety of non-medical practitioners. |
| hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA). This system | | | | These actions rankle doctors. There are many |
| is the main system that monitors, regulates, and | | | | manufacturers of non-drug substances. Some of |
| responds to any stress the body is exposed to and | | | | these have been around for decades. The use of |
| it's been believed for many decades that many | | | | dried glandular substances has been a staple of |
| diseases arise because of a defect in this system. | | | | chiropractors who embrace nutritional |
| Mild low-levels of cortisol secretion seem to | | | | supplementation as part of their practice. One of the |
| characterize chronic fatigue syndrome. This is the | | | | most popular product lines is that produced by |
| primary factor of HPA dysfunction although other | | | | Standard Process who manufactures supplements |
| aspects of the HPA axis at and before the | | | | made from whole foods and gland extracts. |
| hypothalamus are important. | | | | The promoters of freeze-dried glandular extracts |
| Patients who present with disabling fatigue most | | | | argue that they provide a positive action to glands |
| often show no abnormalities on physical examination | | | | that may be under-functioning. The medical people |
| or screening laboratory tests. A history of a viral | | | | frown on these statements and argue that there is |
| infection is a good predictor of the severity of CFS. | | | | no proof of the effectiveness of using these |
| Persistent cases of Epstein-Barr virus lead to | | | | substances. Interestingly, scientific studies show that |
| problems in the mitochondria which is the energy | | | | there is no proof of effectiveness of more than |
| powerhouse of the body. | | | | 85-90% of all therapies practiced by medicine. |
| Our bodies can effectively fight against damaging | | | | Because of the lack of conventional, effective |
| agents and were designed to do so to maintain our | | | | therapies in medicine, some have adopted the idea of |
| balance and health. An inflammation response, such as | | | | encouraging patients to simply give up their search |
| a fever or swelling, are good examples. Once the | | | | for help and "accept" their condition for their lifetime. |
| healing response is complete, the system should | | | | Although this may provide some psychological relief, it |
| turn-off. It appears that this doesn't happen in those | | | | seems rather preposterous considering that there are |
| suffering from fatigue and the individual becomes | | | | so many other options outside of those currently |
| drained because of the constant stress. | | | | offered. |
| There are No Known Medical Treatments for Chronic | | | | Sufferers must be careful in choosing what they will |
| Fatigue Syndrome | | | | do because the landscape is littered with false hopes |
| Seeking treatments for chronic fatigue syndrome is | | | | and promises. It's a difficult road to travel and it |
| difficult. As a first step, an appointment is made with | | | | takes much experimentation and "tried-this," and |
| the medical doctor. After physical examination and | | | | "tried-that" to find something that may actually work. |