A Freebie for those with Fatigue

Here’s a little something for those of you who’d love to enjoy the benefits of meditation but just feel to fatigued or brain fog addled to get it together to learn what to do.

All you need to do is turn on your PCs speakers, click the link, sit back and listen.

If you want to download this relaxation MP3 to your MP3 player here’s what to do:

click the link
click file – save as
and save it to your PC desktop or documents folder
then drag the MP3 file to your MP3 player or an iTunes playlist

Here’s wishing you a restful, comfortable and fatigue free few minutes.

with best wishes
Ananga

Free Relaxation & Meditation MP3

Technorati Tags: chronic fatigue syndrome, anxiety relief, brain fog, MP3, relaxation, fatigue, CFS, meditation, fibromyalgia

Detox & Fatigue Part 4: Internal Toxic Warfare

Many nutritionists and holistic practitioners believe there’s a link between CFS symptoms and leaky gut syndrome. I recently spoke with Dr Marilyn Glenville’s office when writing a piece for Lifescape Magazine on auto-immune illness.

here’s what she had to say:

“As a nutritionist I am going to be looking at underlying causes for the auto-immunity, and one of the tests I would perform is Intestinal Permeability (leaky gut).  Leaky gut syndrome is a condition whereby the lining of the digestive tract becomes damaged and the contents of the gut can be too easily absorbed. A compromised intestinal barrier prevents the gut functioning as a digestive/absorptive organ as well as a barrier to toxic/antigenic compounds and partially digested macromolecules. These larger particles, if absorbed, trigger immune reactions including food allergies and intolerances. Enhanced uptake of toxic compounds can overwhelm the livers detoxification systems as well as lead to an overly sensitive immune system. It is thought that increased gut permeability may trigger the start of autoimmune problems.

One of the consequences of a ‘leaky gut’ is the formation of antibodies, which can end up attacking our own tissue. People will have weaknesses in different parts of their bodies and so the problem may be centered on the thyroid, skin, joints etc. With nutritional help it is possible to heal the gut permeability and lessen the symptoms.” 

Dr Marilyn Glenville PhD, is the UK’s leading nutritionist for women’s health and believes that testing for leaky gut is a good place to start in helping identify and cleanse the body of an internal toxic overload.

Aggravating causes of leaky gut syndrome include: alcohol, chemical preservatives, anti-biotics, NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – such as ibuprofen). What happens in leaky gut syndrome is that tiny food particles that are normally contained and on their way to being safely eliminated from the body, leak through the wall of the intestines and are attacked by the body’s immune system.

People worry about many sorts of environmental toxins: vaccinations, dental amalgams, pesticides, herbicides, food additives, chlorine, etc. It is true that all of these are stressors on the body, and contribute to an overall decline in health. The worst threat, however, is an ongoing toxic intrusion from the cesspool that exists in our intestines. The body has a marvelous mechanism, a selective intestinal permeability, that allows digested nutrients in while keeping toxins meant for excretion out. Throughout history, in general, this barrier has maintained its integrity. During the last fifty years, due to the intrusive irritation of antibiotics and NSAIDs, the average person’s health has been significantly challenged and weakened.

JAKE PAUL FRATKIN, OMD, author of Chinese Herbal Patent Formulas read his leaky gut syndrome article here

Technorati Tags: CFS, chronic fatigue syndrome, detox, detox program, fibromyalgia, leaky gut sydrome , toxins

CFS Related Death Makes Headlines

From this weeks New Scientist Magazine:

Chronic fatigue syndrome has been given as an official cause of death – apparently for the first time in the world.

On Tuesday, coroner Veronica Hamilton-Deeley of Brighton and Hove Coroners Court, UK, recorded the cause of death of a 32-year-old woman as acute aneuric renal failure (failure to produce urine) due to dehydration as a result of CFS. The deceased woman, Sophia Mirza, had suffered from CFS for six years.

CFS, which is also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), has a variety of devastating symptoms ranging from extreme weakness, inability to concentrate and persistent headache. Sufferers can have the disease for years, but its cause remains controversial, with fiercely opposing views from psychiatrists on one side and biologically minded physicians on the other.

read the full story here

In my opinion, human experience should always come before intellectual wrangling. What right does any one human being have over another to declare the nature of their experience? That biology is arguing with psychology is a waste of resource, when both should be united in earnestly looking into what they can do together to listen to ME, CFS and Fibromyalgia sufferers and really look at what’s going on in their bodies.

It’s a tragedy that the disregard for real suffering is such that a mother who just lost her daughter to CFS related death is on record as saying:  “I’m extremely pleased that CFS/ME was identified on the death certificate as one of the primary causes of Sophia’s death,” she says, “because this can be used to reinforce the need for biomedical research into the disease.”
Wake up people of the medical world! This problem is real and it’s not going away.

Tomorrow I’ll be back on the detox trail… with Part 4 of our mini-series on Detox & Fatigue

Technorati Tags: CFS, chronic fatigue syndrome, fatigue, health press, ME, syndrome

Detox & Fatigue Part 3: Love your Liver

The liver is the largest internal organ in the human body and the primary place of detoxification. It filters your blood and renders toxins harmless and ready for removal via sweat, urine, exhalation, or excretion.

The liver is described as a resilient organ. And it is. But, we all have our limits, and many neglected livers are speaking up in protest of our lack of consideration. If you have itchy skin, fluctuating sugar levels, a coated tongue, sweat easily or feel generally fatigued and irritable, it might be that your liver is trying to tell you something.

Detoxing the detoxer
Your liver will feel loved if you give it gifts of appreciation such as:  green tea, brassicas – cabbage, broccoli, brussels etc and herb teas like nettle, peppermint, and fennel.

Milk Thistle is a great tonic for a lagging liver. It’s proven to speed liver cell regeneration, and helps protect the liver from the toxins it processes. Milk thistle, also known as wild artichoke, has been known to Arab physicians since the 9th century and was often used in cases of toxic poisoning due to poor sanitation.  For a daily detox try one cup of Milk Thistle tea, or take Milk Thistle tincture diluted in water.

Reduce the Radicals
Free radicals occur naturally in the body as a by-product of digestion, filtration of the blood, and breathing. These are easily dealt with when they are a contained minority presence in the body. But, when they start to increase and run wild, they are become a potential hazard to our health.

Free radicals are increased by pollution, cigarette smoke, radiation, sugar, alcohol, processed and refined foods, and messed with (i.e processed or hydrogenated  fats.

The answer to free radical overwhelm is twofold:
1. avoid introducing them to the body wherever possible
2. bring in the antioxidants.

Good natural sources of antioxidants include fresh fruits and vegetables, olive oil (make sure it’s fresh and in a dark bottle), and green tea. Red grapes and their juice are rich in resveratol – the antioxidant hero hailed by the red wine drinking French as their secret to low cholesterol and good health.

A healthy liver produces natural antioxidant enzymes and that’s another good reason to love yours!

Detox & Fatigue Series

Detox & Fatigue Part 1: Introduction
Detox & Fatigue Part 2: Toxins – Where are You Getting Yours? 
Detox & Fatigue Part 3: Love your Liver 

Technorati Tags: brain fog, CFS, detox, detox program, energy, fatigue

Detox & Fatigue Part 2: Toxins – Where are You Getting Yours?

Toxins abound. They’re in our food, our water, the air, everywhere. So, before talking about adopting a detox program to get toxins out, I’m going to say something brief about how you can stop putting them in!

This isn’t intended in any way as a scaremonger post, it’s merely a quick look at a few things we can change or avoid to give a body already struggling with fatigue less work to do. Detoxing takes a lot of energy, primarily from the liver,  here’s how to take the load off.
When living with fatigue, the least effort or change can seem like a huge endeavour, I know, I’ve been there. So I’m keeping this as easy to follow and maintain as I can. If you’re having a brain fog addled day, leave it for now and come back to it later…
Toxins we eat
In our foods are both natural and unnatural toxins. The natural ones include some moulds, green potatoes, alcohol (hence the term “intoxicated”). Unnatural sources of toxins that end up in our stomach are pesticides, fungicides, insecticides, and gases used to ripen fruit; then there are artificial ingredients such as: sweeteners, flavour enhancers etc.
Detox step 1 – eat natural healthy foods, and avoid processed foods and preservatives wherever possible. Wash all fruit and vegetables thoroughly (warm slightly salt water is good for thorough cleansing) and drain or dry them too.
When feeling fatigued the body needs to get good energy from it’s food – fresh, living foods are better fuel than anything pre-packaged.

Toxins we make
The digestive system is the host to a variety or yeasts and bacteria, some of which make toxic by-products. When the body converts and uses protein, it produces ammonia and urea.
Protein is essential in many bodily functions, including the building and repair of tissues. But, when we eat too much, and many Westerners do; we are causing the body to produce excess ammonia. When we combine that with sugary drinks and not enough fresh water, we create an unnecessarily toxic environment in the body.
Two easy lifestyle improvements to prevent acquired toxicity are:
1. Reducing intake of dense proteins (i.e. meat, which not only produces ammonia but requires energy, and increased acid to digest). Try and eat lightly, rice and vegetables, tofu and stir fries, things like that which are easier to digest,  nutritionally balanced and non-acidic.
2. Increasing water intake – easy enough, keep a bottle by you and sip throughout the day
Toxins we acquire from our environment
Pollutants. These days, they’re everywhere; traffic fumes, cleaning products, industrial and agricultural chemicals. There is only so much we can do to avoid them. But there are a few things we can do to minimise their presence in our lives. Using natural cleaning products and thoroughly washing all fruit and veg is a good start. Spider plants, ficus, and bromeliads are all good air cleansing plants that are also low maintenance.
Aside from that, we need to look at supporting our body as best we can by focusing on the areas where we can have positive influence. More on that tomorrow…

Detox & Fatigue Series

Detox & Fatigue Part 1: Introduction
Detox & Fatigue Part 2: Toxins – Where are You Getting Yours? 
Detox & Fatigue Part 3: Love your Liver 

Technorati Tags: brain fog, CFS, detox, detox program, energy, fatigue, fibro, fibromyalgia

Detox & Fatigue Part 1

I’ve just received some great questions on detoxing for relief from fatigue from a guest here. I thought they were worthy of a public response, so I’m going to write something on them over the next few days.

In the meantime, here’s a brief intro on the subject of detox programs and fatigue.

When the body is in a weakened or fatigued state, detoxing is a very sensitive issue. To go on a stringent detox program could be less than beneficial and put the body under increased strain which would result in losing, rather than gaining energy.

My preferred method of detoxing when coping with fatigue is to follow the guidelines of Ayurvedic Medicine (Ayurveda is the traditional Indian system of medicine and is becoming increasingly popular in the west).

Eat foods that are naturally detoxing to the body, but are also gentle, non-inflammatory and nutritious.

One of my favourite food tonics is to eat red grapes, or drink red grape juice. Red grapes are cleansing to the body, cooling, anti-inflammatory and packed with anti-oxidants.

Sip a glassful of red grape juice at room temperature or warmed with a little hot water (cold juice is too much of a shock to the stomach) on an empty stomach for a gently detoxing and supportive start to the day.

Eat meals that are easy to digest and packed with natural energy. When the body is fatigued, the digestive system often becomes fatigued too. It gets sluggish and has trouble handling heavy meals.

Eating can be a real problem for those with chronic fatigue. We’re often too tired to get it together to cook healthily, yet that’s exactly what we need to do. I’ll be offering some easy ways to get healthy detox meals together here in this little series of responses.

Here are the questions I’ll be addressing over the next few days:

How would I go about finding a healthy detox program?
Does detoxing have much of an impact on energy levels?
And, how long does a detox program last to acheive optimal results?

Related post: Brain Fog & Fatigue

Detox & Fatigue Series

Detox & Fatigue Part 1: Introduction
Detox & Fatigue Part 2: Toxins – Where are You Getting Yours? 
Detox & Fatigue Part 3: Love your Liver 

Technorati Tags: brain fog, CFS, detox, detox program, energy, fatigue

Working with what we have

Someone just asked me how I got through the challenges of my own illness – here’s my reply:

One of the first things I learnt when I was struggling with low energy levels, muscle pain and more, was not to struggle!

Struggling wastes energy. Getting angry wastes energy, so does getting upset or frustrated. Though my condition wasn’t diagnosed as CFS, it mirrored many of the symptoms of CFS, and on the days when fatigue wiped away any notion of going anywhere, I would not let it add to that sentence “and doing anything.”

I might physically be going nowhere, but the rest of my life was moving as best it could. I got a marker pen and wrote on the whiteboard in my little home office “do what you can, where you are, with what you have” and, to the best of my ability I did. When I was in my office and able to write or work on the recording projects I was engaged in at that time, I would read my message and try to live it. On the days when I didn’t even see my office because I was stuck in bed, I’d realise all I could do was rest, and I’d try and do that well, and that meant no seething under the sheets that I wasn’t somewhere else, doing something else. I was here and I had to do the best I could with that.

Some days I was better at it than others, but that was always my motto, and I believe it helped get me through.

Technorati Tags: fatigued, fibro, fibromyalgia, fibromyalgia syndrome, Chronic fatigue syndrome, tired, energy, fatigue, CFS

More on Meditation

People who meditate say the practice restores their energy, and some claim they need less sleep as a result. Many studies have reported that the brain works differently during meditation – brainwave patterns change and neuronal firing patterns synchronise. But whether meditation actually brings any of the restorative benefits of sleep has remained largely unexplored.

Extract from: Meditation builds up the brain  15 November 2005 NewScientist.com news service

According to Chinese medicine we are born with an allotment of vital energy (chi or qi), this energy is inherited from our parents and varies according to their strength and vitality and the health of the mother during pregnancy. Many of us don’t give it a second thought, we just live with what we have, spending our energy daily to greater or lesser degrees. By the time we reach middle age we expect to slow down a bit and maybe start getting some aches and pains. But this need not be the case. Vital energy can be acquired. We get it from the air we breathe and from our food – the fresher the better. Another excellent way to build energy reserves is meditation. We understand that meditation conserves energy by reducing stress and anxiety, but Chinese medicine teaches that it can build energy too.
> Related posts:
Easy Meditation – a brain fog friendly guide

Technorati Tags: fatigue, meditation, energy, meditate, fatigued, Chronic fatigue syndrome, stress

Easy Meditation – a brain fog friendly guide

No matter how fatigued we might feel, I believe there is always something we can do. During my days and weeks under the duvet, I would daydream or meditate, and use the time to feel as rested and comfortable as I could.

Lotus position? I don’t think so…. not with aching muscles and zero energy – here’s a very quick and simple intro to an meditation technique you can try anywhere, and if that means laying in bed – so be it.

Close your eyes if you can without nodding off, and breathe steadily in and out. Count to four as you breathe in, hold your breath for the count of four, breath out for the count of four, and hold again for four, then repeat. As you do so try and concentrate on the sound of your breath. You’ll soon notice that inhaling sounds different to exhaling. That’s it. Try it for 10 or more minutes at a time. Meditating regularly is know to help the body heal and cope with fatigue. Practising regularly is believed to be a way of preserving what energy is already present in the body and acquiring more. It also reduces stress and anxiety.

“The secret for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, nor to worry about the future, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.” the Buddha

Technorati Tags: CFS, Chronic fatigue syndrome, energy, fatigue, fatigued, fibromyalgia, fibromyalgia syndrome, meditation, stress

The Syndrome Word & a Supportive Read

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia Syndrome – why the syndrome word? What does it mean and why is it used?
Dr Don Goldenberg explains:

“Illnesses such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome have no structural basis, but physiological changes in function are present. These illnesses are appropriately cased functional syndromes.”

Some feel that the term syndrome makes light of what can be serious and life-altering symptoms. But it’s not with the voice of dismissal that Goldenberg uses and explains the term as appropriate. Dr Goldenberg lives with fibromyalgia and is well aware from personal experience of the pain and fatigue it entails. His book, Fibromyalgia: Understanding and Getting Relief from Pain That Won’t Go Away, is an excellent reference for anyone wanting a well-informed and sympathetic medical perspective with the understanding voice of someone who really does know how you feel.

“Fibromyalgia: Understanding and Getting Relief from Pain That Won’t Go Away” (Don L. Goldenberg)

> Related posts:
CFS Diagnosis Frustrations
What’s in a name? CFS vs M.E. the definition debate

Technorati Tags: fibromyalgia, CFS, Chronic fatigue syndrome, fatigue, syndrome, fatigued, fibro, pain relief, fibromyalgia syndrome