Internal Energy Can Beat Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

To many conventional doctors, the initials CFS might as well stand for "certified fake sickness" instead of "chronic fatigue syndrome."

That's because many conventional doctors either don't believe that CFS exists as a disease, or they don't understand it well enough to conduct the full range of medical tests that can detect it. This is unfortunate, because CFS can plague people with daily fatigue so profound that they can't find the energy to get out of bed.

Even when people are correctly diagnosed with CFS, the medical treatments they're likely to receive won't cure it, says Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D., a physician in Annapolis, Maryland. "Typically, a conventional doctor will tell a patient to take an antidepressant for sleep and to exercise for energy and that's it," Dr. Teitelbaum says. Not only is this treatment ineffective, he says, it can actually cause harm, since exercise may make chronic fatigue worse if the patient tries to push to exhaustion. Dr. Teitelbaum and other alternative practitioners who have studied CFS for decades think that they know what causes the problem and the effective ways to treat it. "We suspect that the 'core defect' that underlies the disease is a defect in the energy furnaces found in each and every cell: the mitochondria," says Dr. Teitelbaum.

The mitochondria (plural for "mitochondrion") are microscopic, capsule-like structures inside the cells. They produce the energy-in the form of a chemical called adenosine triphosphate, or ATP-that powers all the functions of the body. If the mitochondria are functioning inefficiently, they may generate only one-ninth of the optimal amount of ATP, Dr. Teitelbaum says.

One secret of overcoming CFS, then, is to help the mitochondria produce more of this energy-giving substance. Here are some safe, natural, and effective ways to get your energy back again.

MAGNESIUM AND MALIC ACID: Chemical Necessities
The mitochondria in cells don't produce energy all on their own. They require the presence of many nutrients, including magnesium and a chemical called malic acid, to assist them in turning glucose (sugar) molecules into energy-giving ATP. "These nutrients can make all the difference for people with CFS," says Dr. Teitelbaum.

He recommends a magnesium/ malic acid supplement called FibroCare, which includes the nutrients magnesium glycinate, vitamin B6, thiamin, vitamin C, and manganese, all of which are necessary for energy production. Magnesium is particularly crucial because people with CFS are typically deficient in the mineral, Dr. Teitelbaum says.

Dr. Teitelbaum's recommended dose is six tablets of Fibro-Care a day for a total of 450 milligrams of magnesium and 1,800 milligrams of malic acid. Because of the magnesium, some people may get diarrhea at this dose, Dr. Teitelbaum cautions. If that happens, reduce the amount to one or two tablets a day. Then increase the dose by an additional tablet or two every 7 days until you're up to the full dose of six tablets. This will give your bowels time to adjust to the supplement.
After 8 months at the full dose, most people will feel better; at that point, they can cut back to two tablets a day and continue taking this dose every day, he says.

MULTMTAMIN/MINERAL SUPPLEMENT: Energy Fuel
"If I could take only the two most important nutritional supplements for CFS, they would be a magnesium and malic acid supplement and a multivitamin/mineral supplement," Dr. Teitelbaum says. Taken every day, a multivitamin/mineral supplement will provide many of the nutrients that the mitochondria need to work effectively and produce optimal amounts of energy.
Dr. Teitelbaum recommends My Favorite Multiple or My Favorite Multiple-Take One by Natrol, because he says they are the most complete. Take the supplements according to the package directions. You can take them on a long-term basis, even when you're feeling better, Dr. Teitelbaum says.

POTASSIUM - MAGNESIUM -ASPARTATE: Three- Way Protection
The mitochondria require the nutrient aspartate in order to produce energy, says Dr. Teitelbaum. In order for it to work, however, it must be chemically combined with the minerals magnesium and potassium. In three studies, 75 to 91 percent of a total of 3,000 patients with CFS experienced some relief after taking a potassium-magnesium-aspartate supplement. You should this supplement only under the supervision of a knowledgeable medical doctor, however.

NADH: The Next Step in the Energy Process
To help your body produce and use the highest possible level of energy-giving ATp, it's helpful to take a supplement containing NADH (a form of the chemical nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide that includes hydrogen), Dr. Teitelbaum says. This compound helps the body utilize the ATP it produces, he says. In research on the supplement, 80 percent of CFS patients who took it for 2 months had a significant reduction in fatigue.

Dr. Teitelbaum recommends taking 10 milligrams a day of NADH for at least 2 months. Because NADH is destroyed by stomach acid, you must take it in a certain way. Keep the supplement by your bedside, along with a glass of water. Take it first thing in the morning, when stomach acid levels are naturally low. Then wait 30 minutes before taking other supplements or medications (except for thyroid hormones) or eating breakfast, Dr. Teitelbaum advises.

ACETYL-CARNITINE: Reverse the Weight Gain of CFS
People with CFS usually have low levels of the nutrient carnitine. This deficiency contributes to the 30- to 60-pound weight gain that's often seen in the first 6 months of the disease, says Dr. Teitelbaum. Taking carnitine supplements helps the body burn fat and make energy more efficiently, which can help to stabilize or reverse this weight gain. Dr. Teitelbaum recommends using the acetyl-carnitine form of the supplement. Take one l000-milligram dose twice a day for 3 months. After that, reduce the dose to 500 milligrams a day and continue taking this amount for up to 3 months or as needed. Acetyl-carnitine is expensive, usually about $1.50 per 1,000 milligrams. To make a supply last longer, you can take a smaller amount, such as 500 milligrams daily. You will still get some benefit from taking less, and it's certainly better than not using it at all, he says.

Another option is to take the amino acid lysine in addition to the acetyl-carnitine, since the body uses lysine to produce carnitine, Dr. Teitelbaum explains. He recommends combining the two by taking 500 milligrams a day of carnitine along with 2,000 to 3,000 milligrams of lysine for 3 months, then reducing the lysine to 1,000 milligrams. Take the reduced dosage for 3 months or as needed. Lysine is particularly good for people with CFS who also have oral or genital herpes, since it may help keep the virus in check, but don't take lysine unless under the supervision of a knowledgeable medical doctor.

COENZVME Ql0: For Extra Energy
Another supplement that can help the mitochondria produce more energy is coenzyme Qw says Dr. Teitelbaum. He recommends 100 milligrams a day. Taking coenzyme QI0 with a small amount of fat, such as 1 teaspoon of flaxseed oil, makes it easier to absorb, he adds.