Treatment of Chronic fatigue syndrome(CFS) with Acupuncture and Diet Theraphy

Fatigue is a feeling of tiredness, lack of energy and weakness, which is associated with a person's mental or physical state. Symptoms of mental fatigue include deterioration of awareness and memory, lack of concentration,making mistakes easily or depression; whereas physical fatigue shows predominant tiredness after physical activities.
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) was named by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States in 1988 to describe this condition. Its symptoms can last for 6 months or longer, and are similar to those of flu, insomnia, forgetfulness, lack of concentration and depression.
According to some studies, the number of CFS patients in the US had risen gradually from 1,775 to 6,321 in every 1,000 people. In Japan, more than 10,000 people die suddenly every yearbecause of exhaustion; in England, around 20% of male and 25% of female are constantly tired, and one in every four of them may be a CFS sufferer.
A research conducted in 2004 by the School of Chinese Medicine, HKU revealed that 57.7% of 1,013 people aged between 20 and 50 suffered different levels of fatigue, 6.4% were even classified as CFS sufferers. Engineers top the list of CFS sufferers. People with master degrees are prone to CFS. Hence, CFS is expected to be a major healthconcern in the 21st century.
Acupuncture can cure CFS as can some Chinese medicines such as Chinese herbs which can help prevent tiredness as well as enhance the effectiveness of acupuncture. However, professional medical advice should be sought from Chinese medicine practitioners before taking any such treatments.
Extract from the health feature by University of Hong Kong