Chronic fatigue syndrome is a group of syndromes whose etiology is unknown, without any organic change checked by various modern technique means and lasting for more than half a year. It is characterized by chronic and recurrent episodes of extremely tired sensation. It usually manifests as "headache" (头痛) "insomnia" (失眠) "palpitation" (心悸) "melancholy" (郁证) "vertigo" (眩晕) and "fatigue" (疲劳) in Chinese Medicine, and related to pathological changes of the liver, spleen and kidney.
Clinical Presentations
Patient's clinical manifestations are fatigues of nervous system, cardiovascular system, skeletal muscular system (exclusion of tumor, autoimmune disease, local infection, chronic mental disorder, neuromuscular disorder and endocrine disease) for more than half a year. It may be marked by slight fever, dizziness and vertigo, muscular debility or pain, pharyngalgia, aching of lymph glands of neck or isthmus of fauces, insomnia, amnesia, mental depress, anxiety, emotional instability, impaired concentration. Bed rest cannot relieve the symptoms, which may affect normal life and work.
Therapeutic Methods
1. Body acupuncture
Recipe:
Baihui (GV 20) 百会, Yintang (EX-HN 3) 印堂, Shenmen (HT 7) 神门, Taixi (KI 3) 太溪, Taichong (LR 3) 太冲, Sanyinjiao (SP 6) 三阴交 and Zusanli (ST 36) 足三里. {See Fig.2-1, Fig.2-2, Fig.2-3, Fig.2-4, Fig.2-5 and Fig.2-6}
Subsidiary acupoints according to the syndrome:
For insomnia, dreamful and disturbed sleep, add Anmian (EX. ) 安眠, Neiguan (PC 6) 内关;
For palpitation and anxiety, add Neiguan (PC 6) 内关, Xinshu (BL 15) 心俞;
For dizziness and impaired concentration, add Sishencong (EX-HN 1) 四神聪 and Xuanzhong (GB 39) 悬钟.
Manipulations:
Routine method is conducted for each points, 2-3 times a week, ten times make up one course of treatment.
2. Ear acupuncture
Recipe:
Xin (CO 15) 心, Shen (CO 10) 肾, Gan (CO 12) 肝, Pi (CO 13) 脾, Naogan (AT 3) 脑干, Pizhixia (AT 4) 皮质下, Shenmen (TF 4) 神门 and Jiaogan (AH 6a) 交感. {See Fig.2-7}
Manipulations:
Select 3-5 acupoints for Wangbuliuxingzi 王不留行籽 (Semen Vaccariae) plaster-therapy. The two ears are treated in alternation. Advice patients to press by themselves 3-4 times a day, each point for 2-3 minutes. Change once every 2-3 days.
3. Skin needling therapy
Tapping Du meridian 督脉, Jiaji (EX-B 2) 夹脊穴 and Back Shu points 背俞穴, 15-20 minutes each time, once a day.
[Notes Appended]
1. The acupuncture and moxibustion may relieve subjective symptom of physical fatigue for this disease, adjust patient's emotion and fatigue, and improve the patients' constitutional weakness.
2. Dietary therapy, vitamin and minerals supplements should be taken as an adjuvant.
3. Maintain emotional optimism, avoid spiritual stimulation; keep regular daily life, avoid excessive exertion; appropriate physical exercise and recreational activities contribute to the rehabilitation of the disease.
