Living with M.E.

(CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME,
POST VIRAL FATIGUE SYNDROME)

If you are reading this article as a sufferer of ME then you have probably done the rounds of medical tests, x-rays, blood counts, thyroid tests etc.etc.etc. And dare I say everything came back "NORMAL" (whatever that is!). You have been offered or cajoled into taking Prozac or some other antidepressant as a last resort, but you know that this isn't the answer! Your energy is just as low as ever and you want to take back your life!

As a fellow sufferer of ME I have compiled the following information which I found greatly assisted my handling of the debilitating illness. Apart from anything else I claimed back the responsibility for my own healing and found out a lot about myself in the process!!

The illness has to be addressed on all levels: physical, mental, emotional & spiritual (yes spiritual!). ME is generally a sign that our lives are out of balance on all or some of these levels. So an holistic approach is needed. If one area of our life is out of balance then it tends to throw the rest out of kilter, so we need to address the whole.

PHYSICAL

Water is about the most important part of an ME diet. Please ensure that you aim for 2 litres (8 glasses) of tepid water per day. This will keep the body sufficiently hydrated and also flush any toxins which the body may be holding.

Linseeds and linseed (flax) oil are important for the cleansing of the colon and for the nutritional value. Seeds (1 tablespoon) should be soaked in water overnight in the fridge and consumed on rising. Also 1 tablespoon of oil should be "chewed" daily.

A good multi vitamin & mineral plus vitamin B complex, vitamin C, Magnesium & Zinc are usually called for. St.John's Wort is also beneficial for any depression experienced.

Many of us have been exposed to antibiotics prior to the illness. This may be that our immune systems were so low that it wouldn't take much for us to become ill, or that the over use of antibiotics actually decreased the efficiency of our immune systems therefore leaving us open to illness. Whichever may be the case, the digestive system can be aided by a course of Acidophillus which will put back the friendly bacteria which antibiotics tend to wipe out. This is especially true if Candida is present in the system (fungal infection in the gut). If you suspect Candida then clear all sugar, yeast, alcohol, vinegar, foods containing fungus (cheese etc), from your diet. These foods just feed the fungus and ferment in the gut causing fungal infections, thrush, bloating, tiredness, joint pain, lethargy etc.. Also worth noting is that garlic and pau d'arco are natural antibiotics.

Alcohol is best avoided. Many people with ME cannot tolerate alcohol anyway.

Wheat is another antagonist. The signs of wheat intolerance are very similar to Candida symptoms, ie bloating, wind, discomfort after eating, indigestion, tiredness, lethargy. Replace with short grain brown rice for bulk.

Exercise - It seems ludicrous when someone is so low in energy to talk about exercise but any gentle exercise if only a 5 minute walk a day will be beneficial. It is important to be in natural light as often as possible and also to get fresh air. Rebounder - Using a rebounder for 15 minutes per day also helps with lymph drainage. Chi Machine - 15 minutes on a Chi Machine a day is the equivalent of walking for one and a half hours without the exertion!

Rest - Rest as much as possible. That means early nights and late mornings.
Pace yourself through the day and see your energy as money in the bank - if you don't pay any in then you won't have any to take out. ME people live on the "breadline" so take heed! Whatever task you set yourself spend more time resting than you do on the task and spread it out over a longer period than you used to.

Chemicals / Poisons - Keep your diet and environment as chemical and free from poisons as you possibly can. This means junk food as well as chemical cleaners and other pollutants.

Castor Oil - Massage the liver & aching areas with castor oil, then have a warm bath, pat dry the area with kitchen towel or tissue and go straight to bed 3 times weekly.

Skin Brushing - brush skin from outer extremities toward the heart before taking shower/bath to help lymph glands excrete toxins.

MENTAL / EMOTIONAL / SPIRITUAL

These levels are difficult to separate and often run one into the other.

Learn to meditate or find some form of deep relaxation. Find music which you like which will also help you to relax.

Find a good therapist &/or friend and explore your life to date. What is out of kilter? What negative thoughts, behavior, relationships, addictions, conditioning has brought you to where you are today?
What is holding you back? What can you release that no longer serves your highest good?
Changes need to be made but unless you know how you got to this place then it will be impossible to know what changes to make!

Reiki greatly helps with discovering what the roots of the problems are and also aids in increasing energy, easing depression, deepens sleep, lowers stress levels, boosts the immune system, eases aches and pains and generally makes you feel good!

Thought Field Therapy quickly (literally in minutes) removes the emotional charge of withheld anger, depression, frustration, anxiety, panic, guilt, obsession, pain, past trauma etc., clearing the way for the body's own healing system to take over.
Both therapies have their place but used together are very powerful & life enhancing.

Psychotherapy, hypnotherapy & counseling are all tools which may be used to deal with issues which may surface.

IN SUMMARY

The above are just suggestions from one ME sufferer to another, in no way do they represent the whole picture and are not meant to substitute the advice from a Naturopath or good dietician. They are more a list of suggestions which you may want to explore. Each of us is different with different needs and priorities. The above may be used as a starting point for your own healing. As I stated at the start you, and you alone, should be responsible for your own healing. Taking this step in itself can make all the difference to your future.

ME can be considered a negative, unwanted catastrophe or it can become a chance to explore and gain insights about your own capabilities and become an unexpected GIFT! It is up to you!

HAPPY JOURNEY

Lorraine Rees (D.Psy.L.M.T.C.)

Registered Practitioner, Reiki Master Teacher

South Wales Evening Post:
Handing on ME solution
"A former ME sufferer is so convinced an ancient treatment cured her condition she has become a Reiki practitioner herself."
Click Here to Read More

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E-mail me for details.