Have you or someone you are acquainted with been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? This condition goes by many names, including CFIDS, immune dysfunction syndrome, CFS, and Myalgic encephalomyelitis. What makes this syndrome tricky to treat is that it involves the brain as well as multiple body systems, plus it is a debilitating fatigue which endures for six months or longer. It is no surprise that many turn to complementary alternative medicine (CAM) when traditional medicine fails to alleviate symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Typical symptoms that may be relieved by alternative medicine are muscle pain, brain fogginess, food allergies or sensitivities, bloating jaw pain,, dizziness, chronic cough, headaches, sore throat, heart palpitations, tender lymph nodes in the underarms or neck, and a severe fatigue that is chronic.

Regardless of the fact that the precise cause of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is not known, people seek alternative medicine when diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome because there are also no treatment options for this syndrome that have been effective.

Alternative treatments include the herb Panax ginseng, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), which is a molecule, formed from vitamin B3 (niacin). Eight out of ten participants in a double-blind trial responded favorably to NADH. L-Carnitine, a naturally occurring substance in all body cells are found to be decreased in those who have chronic fatigue syndrome and lower levels of L-Carnitine are associated with symptoms of muscle fatigue and pain. In studies using L-Carnitine and patients with chronic fatigue syndrome significant improvements were seen after 4 weeks of treatment with L-Carnitine. Coenzyme Q10, which is a naturally occurring compound, found in the mitochondria of cells has also been found helpful when given to those suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome.

Essential fatty acids have also been used to treat chronic fatigue syndrome successfully by correcting the damage that viruses do to cells by supplementing essential fatty acids.

Traditional Chinese medicine another type of alternative medicine, has also been used to treat chronic fatigue syndrome as well as Ayurveda, the traditional medicine of India especially the vata dosha which is particularly susceptible to chronic fatigue syndrome.

Other treatments that are natural and therefore a part of alternative medicine include digestive enzymes, Glutamine, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Probiotics (microbial organisms naturally present in the digestive tract and also the vagina) also known as "friendly bacteria", Licorice, Melatonin, Tyrosine and Whey Protein.

Other alternative medicine practices used to treat chronic fatigue syndrome include homeopathy, mega-vitamins, biofeedback, meditation, relaxation therapy, massage therapy, energy healing, and guided imagery.