 Although
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia may be separate issues,
they often occur in the same patient. In the experience of this Perth clinic, they also respond to similar
strategies of homeopathic or naturopathic treatment. Irritable Bowel
Syndrome (IBS), multiple allergies and food intolerances, Restless Leg
Syndrome and Irritable Bladder Syndrome (interstitial cystitis) also
frequently coexist in the one individual. Of course, these patients are
often clinically depressed, so in the past there was a tendency for the
medical profession to label their problems as “psychosomatic” or “all
in their head”.
Because there is no easily recognisable
diagnosis or cause for their symptoms, it is no wonder orthodox
medicine has had a hard time even recognising Chronic Fatigue Syndrome,
let alone treating it. Homeopathy, however, because it treats the
patient holistically for their full spectrum of symptoms is ideally
placed to help those suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome,
fibromyalgia and interstitial cystitis, whatever the cause and whatever
the pattern.
Symptoms of CFS include all or some of the following: extreme fatigue
that is not improved by rest, muscle weakness or pain, malaise or
tiredness after exercise, impaired concentration and memory, “brain
fog”, dizziness, chronic headaches, joint pain, insomnia, sore throats
and tender lymph nodes.
Fibromyalgia Syndrome and Chronic Myofascial Pain Syndrome have similar
symptoms and often occur in the same patient. Widespread muscle pain,
tender trigger points, cramps and restless legs are common. Associated
are many of the CFS symptom picture including headaches, foggy brain,
extreme tiredness and exhaustion and insomnia. The overlap in symptoms
here tells us that there is probably not one cause for these syndromes.
 Debate
rages about which, if any, of these problems are autoimmune in origin,
but it matters little to homeopathy, which treats the patient, not the
“cause”. The real cause is always dependent on an underlying weakness,
which makes the patient susceptible to certain triggers, and homeopathy
fixes the susceptibility to those triggers. The contributing factors
are multi-factorial and may include viruses, such as glandular fever
and influenza, chemical and heavy metal toxicity, multiple food
sensitivities, systemic candida and hormonal factors in women.
Not least is the effect of stress that contributes to the final
collapse. In homeopathy we say it is not stress that is the problem;
but the real issue is the response to stress in that particular
patient. This is accurately addressed by a “constitutional”
prescription, taking into account both the emotional and physical
predispositions of the patient.
We do find that there is a tendency for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and
fibromyalgia to affect people who are very hard working, driven,
perfectionist and sometimes obsessive-compulsive. If they fit this
pattern (and not all cases do), these people like structure and order
in their life, as well as high achievement, so they find their physical
incapacity so frustrating, which further adds to their stress. They
invariably need the homeopathic metal or mineral remedies from the
Periodic Table that cover these patterns of control and rigidity,
particularly those of the fourth row: the Ferrum (iron), Kali (potassium), Niccolum (nickel), Zincum (zinc) and Arsenicum (metallic
arsenic) remedies and their salts, depending on the exact symptom
pattern. In any case, it is important to find the constitutional
medicine that covers the mental state of the patient as well as their
full range of their physical symptoms.
 In this clinic we find homeopathic Magnesium remedies
from the third row of the Table are also frequently indicated,
especially in fibromyalgia. Individuals who need homeopathic
Magnesium remedies are quite different. They are very sensitive, easily
exhausted and also respond poorly to stress; in their case the problem
is often conflict with family members or their partner. Supplemental
magnesium (as the muscle relaxor) is often prescribed by
naturopaths; however the specific homeopathic form (where it is the
indicated remedy that covers their whole case, emotionally and
physically) works far more deeply, in our experience.
There are many different magnesium salts used in homeopathy and only
the correctly indicated one will work at all. Of course, the remedy,
potency, dosage and repetition need to be determined by a qualified
homeopath.
Patients I see with fibromyalgia who need Magnesium remedies like the sulphuricum, muriaticum, carbonicum, nitricum, phosphoricum and bromatum salts, based on their full spectrum of symptoms,
are often already on very high doses of supplemental magnesium (and who
also have adequate magnesium in their diet), with limited results.
Especially in patients with digestive disturbances and Irritable Bowel
Syndrome, treatment of the gut is important. Identification of
specific food allergies is not usually important to establish when
homeopathic treatment is undertaken, when it is coupled with
naturopathic and lifestyle management principles. If these food
reactions are obvious, the patient has mostly learned to avoid those
foods anyway. From early in treatment, in a matter of days, in most
cases the individual is able to tolerate foods they may have reacted to
previously. Wheat and grain products are by far the most common
offenders, we find; and fatty foods, indicating a liver and gall
bladder problem, follow closely behind.
As well as constitutional remedies to improve their general response to
allergens, a specific protocol of homeopathic “allergy desensitisation”
may be used for stubborn cases of intolerance. Also, we find the
homeopathic medicines known as bowel nosodes,
developed by Drs Bach and Paterson in the 1920’s to be particularly
useful for gut and allergy problems, when prescribed to their
individual symptom patterns.
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