Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome
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', and
CFS 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)
Treating CFS with the Buteyko
Technique
In 1997 a study was conducted
at the Perth Academy of Natural Therapies on the effects of
the Buteyko Technique on the symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Fifteen people, all with diagnosed CFS, undertook the Buteyko breathing
training, and the percentage of people who reported improvements
in their symptoms were:
| Fatigue - 87% |
Night sweats - 75% |
| Depression - 70% |
Allergies - 66% |
| Anxiety - 66% |
Visual blurring - 66% |
| Joint pain - 66% |
Muscle aches 60% |
| Difficulty sleeping -
54% |
Swollen lymph glands
- 50% |
| Headaches - 50% |
Recurrent fevers - 50% |
| Swelling of fingers -
50% |
Difficulty concentrating
- 46% |
| Nausea - 44% |
Diarrhoea - 44% |
| Rash - 40% |
Dry eyes and mouth -
40% |
| Sore throat - 38% |
Stomach ache - 20% |
| Pre-menstrual syndrome
- 25% |
Odd skin sensations -
17% |
All of those who maintained
the Buteyko breathing exercises for the recommended 10 weeks
experienced a decrease or disappearance of their symptoms,
and many noticed an improvement within the first week.
All of the participants had
previously consulted other health practitioners and tried
other treatments in an attempt to alleviate their condition
prior to commencing the Buteyko program. These practitioners
and treatments were:
- general practitioner - 80%
- naturopaths - 73%
- homeopath - 40%
- acupuncturist - 20%
- psychologist - 20%
- allergist - 20%
- spiritual healer - 13%
- masseur - 13%
- kinesiologist - 13%
- Reiki - 13%
- hypnotherapy - 13%
- Chinese herbalist - 7%
- sports physician - 7%
- meditation - 7%
- immunologist - 7%
- physiotherapist - 7%
- social worker - 7%
- occupational therapist - 7%
The study showed that the Buteyko
breathing technique is an effective means of reducing the
symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
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