As of this writing Chronic fatigue Syndrome does not have one single know cause. In fact there are numerous proposed causes from chronic viral infections, overburdened cellular toxins, and under performing energy producing centers within the cells. In our experience all of the above, and many others, can and have been helpful for many chronic fatigue patients. The approach of acupuncture for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is yet another way to look at the problem of fatigue. The advantage of this approach is that it is a whole system or whole body treatment that can improve many things all at the same time. 

Acupuncture for Chronic Fatigue

First off we know acupuncture is an effective treatment for chronic fatigue as evidenced by several research studies siting improvement in mental clarity and energy.  We have also seen improvement in our patients first hand. So how does it actually work?

Acupuncture can improve many of the commonly sited western medicine causes for chronic fatigue, but also balance the internal energy referenced by eastern medicine, all at the same time. How does it do this? Acupuncture works on the underlying energy throughout the body. The energy that helps us digest food, the energy that turns calories to energy, the energy that detoxifies the body, the energy that allows for thinking, creativity, and insight. All of these processes require energy and Chinese Medicine is a system of medicine that categorizes these energies and restores balance (excess or deficiency). When these energies are balanced the entire system works better.

You can think of the process of balancing like a team with one team member not able to perform its function. Normally each team member has a responsibility to get to their job done for the whole. If one person is not performing well, the others will have to pick up their slack and do their job. When this happens they can't do their job that well either since they are doing two jobs. In terms of Chinese Medicine, energy is diverted from their primary function to help support the under functioning energy. When this happens more and more energies or functions breakdown. Let's look more specifically at how acupuncture works for chronic fatigue syndrome. 

Chronic Fatigue and the underlying Problem in Chinese Medicine

Most of the time chronic fatigue is a deficiency syndrome in Chinese medicine, meaning one of the energies or functions are lacking. The most common are: 

• Yin deficiency- these patients will often have night sweat, dry skin, dry stools, very little drive, and dry mouth and throat. The treatment is focused on Yin tonification and may focus on a specific organ (or function) depending on present taking, like the lungs, stomach, or kidney. 

Kidney 6 is a common point used for this because it is tonifies both the Kidney Yin and Yin in general. 

• Qi deficiency- with this patients will be worse in the morning, will have sore muscles, spontaneous sweating, and loose stools. 

Stomach 36 is the main point used here as it is the access point to support the spleen and stomach to build Qi and blood. 

• Yang deficiency- these patients will have cold limbs, weakness especially in the lower body, low libido, and extreme fatigue. Since the Kidneys are the main store house for the Yang energy, the Kidney Yang energy is the main focus of treatment. 

Kidney 7 is the main point used here as it is the access point to yang energy in the Kidney. This point builds the Kidney yang which can then be distributed throughout the body. 

As you can see each one of these types of fatigue have a different pattern. As such, the treatment will also be different. However, the underlying theme is the same, re-establish balance. Using acupuncture and in some cases Chinese herbal medicine we can support the deficient Qi through tonification techniques. This tonification builds only the areas that are lacking allowing the body to re-establish balance. 

The above information is provided to help the reader understand a different perspective of acupuncture and the use of Chinese Medicine. The information is from our clinical experience of Chinese Medicine in conjunction with Yin Yang House. For more useful information on Acupuncture, check out our Ebook, Understading Acupuncture Through its Roots and Cultural Context, written by our phoenix acupuncturists.  

Integrative Medicine Treatment Options

Because the doctors at Southwest Integrative Medicine are trained in both acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, we often use more than one approach to treating Chronic Fatigue. For instance, we noted above that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome can be secondary to viral infection and sluggish mitochondrial function. IV therapy can treat both of these. Low grade viral infections can be treated with IV therapy using high dose of Vitamin C. Outside treating chronic viral infections, like Epsein Barr, high dose vitamin C has been shown improve energy. The IV therapy also has magnesium and B vitamins to help improve the energy production in the mitochondria. 

If you are interested in treating your Chronic Fatigue Syndrome using Integrative Medicine, check out our phoenix acupunctureservice or IV therapy.

If you are interested in treating your Chronic Fatigue Syndrome using Integrative Medicine, check out our phoenix acupuncture service or IV therapy. Click in the link to see if acupuncture is right for you.