CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME (CFIDS, POST-VIRAL FATIGUE SYNDROME)

Clinical Manifestations
  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a chronic disease characterized by:
    Disabling fatigue
    Exhaustion
    Muscle pain
    Headaches
    Joint pain
    Confusion
    Poor concentration
    Poor memory
    Insomnia
    Light-headedness
    Dizziness
    Blurred vision
    Eye pain
    Light sensitivity
    Gastrointestinal disturbances
    Abdominal pain
    Depression
    Fever
    Chills
    Night sweats
    A recurrent sore throat
    Lymph node tenderness
    Skin rashes
    Neurological complaints
  • It frequently follows a viral infection
  • It can occur as a sequela to:
    Otitis media
    Hepatitis
    Glandular fever
  • Acute Stage:
    Continuous or repeated flu-like symptoms
    Pharyngalgia
    Blocked or runny nose
    Chills
    Swollen glands
    Nausea
    Vomiting
    Diarrhea
    Cough
    Genera; fatigue
    Lack of energy
    Exhaustion
    Weariness
    Lack of expression
    Memory loss
    Lack of concentration
    Reduced capacity for work
    Insomnia
    dizziness
    Nervousness
    General migratory soreness and pain in the:
    Muscles
    Neck
    Head
    Body
    Stomach
    Costal and hypochondriac regions
    Abdomen
  • Chronic Stage:
    The acute symptoms may recur occasionally
    General exhaustion
    Fatigue
    Insomnia
    Drowsiness
    Forgetfulness
    Reduced or lost capacity for work
    Easily infected by pathogenic factors
    Aching or pain in the muscles (worse with Dampness)
Treatment Principle
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Mild chills and fever
  • Headache
  • Sweating
  • Nasal obstruction
  • Coughing with white or clear mucus
  • Recurrent mild sore throat
  • Swollen cervical lymph nodes
  • Fatigue
  • Lethargy
  • Weakness
  • A Low voice
  • Reluctance to speak
  • Shortness of breath
  • All symptoms worse with exertion
  • The cold tends to linger or is recurrent
  • T: Pale
  • C: White
  • P: Floating and weak
Treatment Principle
  • Clear the Exterior
  • Support Qi
Herb Formulas
  • Shen Su Yin
  • For frequent colds and flu, difficulty recovering from External invasion and Mild Exterior symptoms when fatigued: Yu Ping Feng San
  • Chinese Patent Medicines:
    Shen Su Yin
    Yu Ping Feng San
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Acute onset of a severe, swollen throat
  • Alternating chills and fever
  • Alternating sweating and anhidrosis
  • Restlessness
  • Irritability
  • Anorexia
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle aches
  • Lack of strength
  • Anorexia
  • Nausea
  • Occasional vomiting
  • Headaches (side of head)
  • Hypochondriac pain
  • Rib pain
  • Achiness
  • Ear infection
  • Hearing difficulty
  • Red eyes
  • Stiff shoulders
  • Throat pain
  • Hip pain
  • T: Normal with bumps or dots on side or Pale and fat with teethmarks
  • C: Thin white or yellow
  • P: Wiry and slightly rapid
Treatment Principle
  • Harmonize the Liver and Gall Bladder
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Cough with thick, sticky, yellow sputum
  • Sore, red, swollen throat
  • Thirst with a desire to drink cold liquids
  • Runny or blocked nose with thick, yellow discharge
  • Fever with perspiration
  • Slight chills
  • Aversion to Wind
  • Headache
  • Maybe dyspnea with flared nostrils
  • Maybe chest pain
  • T: Red tip
  • C: Thin and yellow
  • P: Superficial and rapid
Treatment Principle
  • Expel Wind
  • Clear Heat
  • Ventilate the Lungs
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Fever and chills, fever more pronounced or
  • Tidal fever
  • Abdominal distention
  • Thirst
  • Sweat
  • Stifling sensation in the chest
  • Restlessness
  • Gastric disturbances:
    Heaviness
    Nausea
    Severe diarrhea
  • Scanty urine
  • T: Red tip and edges
  • C: Greasy white or yellow
  • P: Rapid and soft
Treatment Principle
  • Disperse Wind
  • Clear Heat
  • Resolve Damp
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Severe, dry hacking cough
  • No sputum expectorated
  • Small amounts of difficult to expectorate sputum
  • Blood tinged sputum (when Yin Deficiency Fire is present)
  • Afternoon fever
  • Night sweats
  • Malar flush (especially in afternoon)
  • Five sole Heat
  • Dry mouth and throat
  • Itching in throat
  • Hoarse voice, low voice or loss of voice
  • Emaciation
  • T: Red and dry
  • C: None
  • P: Thready and rapid
Treatment Principle
  • Nourish Yin
  • Moisten the Lungs
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Distention and fullness of chest, epigastrium and abdomen
  • Nausea
  • Acid reflux
  • Vomiting
  • Anorexia
  • Loose stools
  • Diarrhea
  • Reduced sensation of taste
  • No thirst or preference for hot drinks
  • Sticky sensation in mouth
  • Borborygmus
  • Dizziness
  • Heavy, tired extremities
  • Lassitude
  • Somnolence particularly after eating
  • Maybe insomnia at night
  • Variable fatigue, may feel better for activity and exertion
  • Yin jaundice
  • Heavy head
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Maybe edema
  • Maybe copious white vaginal discharge
  • Maybe cold limbs, fear of Cold or feeling chilled
  • T: Pink and swollen
  • C: Thick, white and greasy or sticky
  • P: Deep and slow or Soft or Slippery
Treatment Principle
  • Warm Cold
  • Transform Dampness
  • Harmonize the Stomach
  • Strengthen the Spleen
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Sallow or pale complexion
  • Fatigue
  • Lack of vitality
  • Anorexia
  • Picky eating
  • Chronic sore throat which is worse in the morning and when tired
  • the throat is slightly red or pale and swollen with a possible sheen or mucus
  • Frequent or continual swollen glands in the neck
  • Frequent colds and upper respiratory tract infections
  • Runny nose
  • Puffy eyes
  • Mild edema
  • Four limbs feel tired and heavy
  • Abdominal and epigastric distention after eating
  • Maybe acid regurgitation
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Loose stools or
  • Diarrhea
  • Shortness of breath
  • T: Pale and flabby - may have teethmarks
  • C: White
  • P: Even, forceless and deficient
Treatment Principle
  • Strengthen the Spleen
  • Benefit Qi
  • Dry Dampness
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Sallow, pale complexion
  • Mental and physical fatigue
  • Daytime drowsiness and a desire for sleep worse with exertion and after meals
  • May be Blood deficient insomnia at night
  • Anorexia
  • Nausea
  • Four limbs feel tired and heavy
  • Abdominal and epigastric distention after eating
  • Maybe acid regurgitation or vomiting
  • Loose stools
  • Shortness of breath
  • T: Pale and flabby - may have teethmarks
  • C: White
  • P: Even, forceless and Deficient or Deficient and weak
Treatment Principle
  • Strengthen the Spleen
  • Benefit Qi
  • Dry Dampness if necessary
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Prolapse of one or more organs
  • Sallow complexion
  • Anorexia
  • Four limbs feel tired and heavy
  • Abdominal and epigastric distention after eating
  • Maybe acid regurgitation or vomiting
  • Loose stools
  • Shortness of breath
  • T: Pale and flabby - may have teethmarks
  • C: White
  • P: Even or Soft and thready
Treatment Principle
  • Strengthen the Spleen
  • Benefit Qi
  • Reinforce the Center
  • Invigorate Yang
Herb Formulas
Points
  • DU-20, other points are selected according to the type of prolapse
Clinical Manifestations
  • Palpitations
  • Insomnia
  • Much dreaming
  • Easily startled
  • Poor memory
  • Panic attacks
  • Anxiety
  • Nervousness
  • Fatigue
  • Low spirits
  • Four limbs tired and lethargic
  • Loss of appetite
  • Distention and fullness of the epigastrium and abdomen
  • Loose stools
  • Sallow or pale, lusterless complexion
  • Copious, pale menses
  • Uterine bleeding or
  • Light menstrual flow or
  • Amenorrhea
  • Inability to get or maintain an erection
  • Impotence, worse with fatigue
  • Clammy palms
  • T: Pale
  • C: White
  • P: Thready and weak
Treatment Principle
  • Reinforce and Benefit the Heart and Spleen
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Severe fatigue
  • Constant drowsiness and a desire to sleep
  • Sleeps curled up
  • Apathy
  • A soft voice
  • Reluctance to speak
  • Forgetfulness
  • Low back pain
  • Sore throat
  • Headache
  • Muscle aches
  • Depression
  • Lymphadenopathy
  • Sinus pain
  • Vertigo
  • Low libido
  • Impotence
  • Digestive weakness
  • Cold intolerance
  • Cold extremities
  • All symptoms are worse with stress
  • T: Pale or Bluish and swollen
  • C: White or Thin an moist
  • P: Weak and thready or Deep, thready and weak
Treatment Principle
  • Strengthen the Spleen
  • Tonify the Kidneys
  • Warm Yang
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • A long period of extreme fatigue
  • Depression
  • Impaired memory
  • Insomnia
  • Sighing
  • Shortness of breath
  • A faint, weak voice
  • Disinclination to speak
  • Palpitations
  • Anorexia
  • A lack of strength
  • Flabby muscles
  • Possible joint soreness and pain
  • T: Pale red and fat
  • C: White
  • P: Thready and wiry
Treatment Principle
  • Supplement Heart Qi and Blood
  • Strengthen the Spleen
  • Tonify Qi
  • Regulate Liver Qi
  • Resolve depression
  • Calm the Shen
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Feeling of obstruction in throat as if a slice of roast meat were stuck there which cannot be coughed up nor swallowed down. This sensation becomes more prominent during emotional upset and subsides when relaxed
  • Distention and pain in the sides or flanks
  • Suffocating sensation in the chest
  • Tendency to sigh
  • Melancholy
  • Depression
  • Irritability
  • Inappropriate anger
  • Irregular menses
  • Dysmenorrhea
  • Breast distention and pain before and during menses
  • T: Pink
  • C: Thin and white
  • P: Slippery and wiry (slippery due to Phlegm)
Treatment Principle
  • Spread Qi
  • Resolve Phlegm
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Abdominal distention and pain
  • Gas
  • Borborygmus
  • Diarrhea
  • Distention and pain in the sides or flanks
  • Suffocating sensation in the chest
  • Tendency to sigh
  • Melancholy
  • Depression
  • Irritability
  • Inappropriate anger
  • Women:
    Irregular menses
    Dysmenorrhea
    Breast distention and pain before and during menses
  • T: Pink
  • C: White and greasy
  • P: Slippery and wiry
Treatment Principle
  • Soothe the Liver
  • Invigorate the Spleen
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Epigastric pain (worse when emotionally upset)
  • Belching with acid regurgitation
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Anorexia
  • Epigastric distention
  • Distention and pain in the sides or flanks
  • Suffocating sensation in the chest
  • Tendency to sigh
  • Melancholy
  • Depression
  • Irritability
  • Inappropriate anger
  • Irregular menses
  • Dysmenorrhea
  • Breast distention and pain before and during menses
  • T: Pink
  • C: Thin and white
  • P: Wiry
Treatment Principle
  • Soothe the Liver
  • Harmonize the Stomach
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Hypochondriac pain
  • Headache
  • Vertigo
  • Bitter taste in the mouth
  • Dizziness
  • Frequent sighing
  • Epigastric pain and distention
  • Flatulence
  • Dry mouth and throat
  • Fatigue
  • Anorexia
  • Alternating chills and fever
  • Irregular menstruation
  • Breast distention
  • Lassitude
  • Insomnia
  • Shoulder and back pain
  • Rib pain
  • Anxiety
  • Tightness or fullness in the chest
  • Cold extremities
  • Pain in the arms and legs
  • Heaviness of the head
  • Night sweats
  • Bloating and pain at the umbilicus and abdomen
  • Diarrhea alternating with constipation
  • Five sole heat
  • Palpitations
  • Malar flush
  • Depression
  • Irritability
  • Increased desire to sleep
  • T: Pink
  • C: Thin white or yellow
  • P: Wiry and Deficient or Wiry, tight and Deficient
Treatment Principle
  • Soothe the Liver
  • Nourish the Blood
Herb Formulas
Points

Clinical Manifestations
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Tinnitus
  • Dry eyes
  • Photophobia
  • Blurred vision
  • Irritability
  • Numbness
  • Bad temper
  • Muscle twitches
  • Malar flush
  • T: Pale or Red and dry
  • C: Little
  • P: Thready and rapid or Thready wiry and rapid or Wiry
Treatment Principle
  • Tonify and Regulate Blood
  • Nourish Liver Yin
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Dizziness
  • Tinnitus or deafness
  • Poor memory
  • Aching, soreness or weakness of low back
  • Spermatorrhea or premature ejaculation
  • Aching in bones
  • Aching in leg and heel
  • T: Red
  • C: Little or None
  • P: Thready and rapid
Treatment Principle
  • Nourish Yin
  • Reinforce the Kidneys
Herb Formulas
  • Liu Wei Di Huang Wan modified
  • For Yin and Blood Deficiency: Si Wu Tang modified
  • For Qi and Yin Deficiency: Si Jun Zi Tang modified
  • Chinese Patent Medicines:
    Liu Wei Di Huang Wan
    Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan
    Mai Wei Di Huang Wan
    Li Fu
    Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang Jiang

    Qing Yin Wan
    Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Lumbago: low back feels cold, weak and aching
  • Feeling chilled
  • Aversion to Cold
  • Cold limbs
  • General debility
  • Pale face
  • Urinary frequency with abundant, clear urine or
  • Oliguria with edema
  • Maybe nocturia
  • Lassitude
  • Withdrawn, subdued behavior
  • Knees feel cold and aching
  • Dizziness
  • Tinnitus
  • Impotence
  • Spermatorrhea
  • Premature ejaculation
  • Low libido
  • Female infertility ("uterus cold and infertile")
  • Maybe anorexia
  • Maybe loose stools
  • Maybe chronic diarrhea or "cock crow" diarrhea
  • T: Pale and swollen
  • C: Thin and white
  • P: Deep and thready - maybe slow
Treatment Principle
  • Warm and Reinforce Kidney Yang
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Epigastric distress
  • A dry mouth
  • A dull complexion
  • Weight loss
  • Afternoon or evening tidal fever
  • Irritability
  • Insomnia
  • T: Deep red
  • C: Scanty and white
  • P: Thready
Treatment Principle
  • Tonify Yin
  • Eliminate Dampness
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Lack of energy
  • Fatigue
  • Heaviness of the whole body
  • Edema in the lower legs
  • Thin Leukorrhea
  • T: Pale and fat with teethmarks
  • C: White
  • P: Weak and thready
Treatment Principle
  • Warm Yang
  • Purge water
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • A bloated sensation with pain in the Stomach
  • Abdominal distention
  • Borborygmus
  • A poor appetite
  • Loose stools
  • Lack of energy
  • Drowsiness
  • Shortness of breath
  • Disinclination to speak
  • A pale complexion
  • A puffy face
  • T: Pale
  • C: White
  • P: Thready and slippery
Treatment Principle
  • Reinforce Qi
  • Dry or drain Dampness
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Chronic extreme fatigue especially after eating
  • Shortly spaced intermittent episodes
  • Recurrent low-grade fever
  • Abdominal bloating after eating
  • Loose stools or
  • Constipation
  • Cold extremities
  • Lack of strength in the four extremities
  • Dizziness when standing up
  • Easily bruised
  • Catches cold easily
  • Night sweats
  • Hot flashes
  • Five Sole Heat
  • Tinnitus
  • Thirst or
  • A dry mouth
  • Little or no desire to drink
  • A recurrent, dry, sore throat especially in the evening or upon waking
  • Malar or auricular flushing in the afternoon or early evening
  • Stiffness of the sinews
  • Numbness or tingling of the extremities
  • Early morning insomnia
  • Premenstrual lower abdominal distention
  • Lower abdominal cramping
  • Premenstrual breast distention and pain
  • Irritability
  • Depression
  • T: Swollen with teethmarks or Pale red or Pale with a red tip
  • C: White or Little or
  • P: Thready and soft or Thready and rapid or Floating and surging or Wiry
Treatment Principle
  • Supplement Deficiency
  • Regulate the Liver
  • Tonify Qi
Herb Formulas
Points
  • DU-14, KI-7, LI-4, PC-5, ST-36
    With severe fatigue: + UB-20, UB-21
    With marked Liver Stagnation: + LIV-3
    With marked Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency: + UB-18, UB-23
    With abdominal bloating after eating: + SP-3, SP-9
    With night sweats, hot flashes and Five Sole Heat: + HT-6
    With a recurrent, dry, sore throat in the evening: + KI-6, LU-7
    With stiffness of the sinews and tingling and numbness of the extremities: + SJ-5, UB-57
    With early morning insomnia: + DU-24, HT-7
    With premenstrual and menstrual lower abdominal distention and cramping, breast distention and pain, irritability and depression:
    - KI-7 + LIV-5, SP-6, ST-29
Clinical Manifestations
  • Anemia
  • Uterine bleeding
  • Cold extremities
  • Pale or sallow face
  • Dizziness
  • General fatigue
  • Coarse skin
  • Nocturnal emissions
  • Weak knees
  • Fatigue
  • Dyspnea
  • Night sweats
  • Irregular menstruation
  • Insomnia
  • Intolerance of Cold
  • Decreased eyesight after a prolonged illness
  • Anxiety
  • Intermittent fever
  • Jaundice
  • Deficient cough
  • Shortness of breath
  • Palpitations
  • Anorexia
  • Listlessness
  • Lassitude
  • Spontaneous sweating
  • Spermatorrhea
  • Continuous spotting
  • Leukorrhea
  • Weak legs and knees
  • T: Pale
  • C: Thin and white
  • P: Thready and weak
Treatment Principle
  • Replenish Yang
  • Warm and tonify Qi and Blood
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • A poor appetite
  • Fullness and distention in the abdomen
  • Loose stools or
  • Diarrhea or
  • Constipation
  • Nausea
  • Aching, heaviness and stiffness in the limbs and back
  • A weary feeling in the whole body
  • Lack of energy
  • Scanty urine
  • Leukorrhea
  • A dull, blank complexion
  • Dull responses
  • T: Red
  • C: Yellow and greasy
  • P: Slippery
Treatment Principle
  • Expel Heat
  • Drain Dampness
  • Clear the water passages of the San Jiao
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • High fever
  • Irritability
  • Fidgeting
  • Dry mouth
  • Dry throat
  • Incoherent speech
  • Insomnia
  • Dark urine
  • Deep-rooted boils
  • Maculae
  • Carbuncles
  • Hematemesis
  • Hemoptysis
  • Palpitations
  • Furuncles
  • Tinnitus
  • Purpura
  • Red face
  • Rashes
  • Deep-rooted boils
  • Red eyes
  • Itchy skin
  • Fidgeting
  • Dry lips
  • Delirium
  • Dysentery with fever
  • Jaundice
  • Epistaxis
  • Hematuria
  • Cloudy mind
  • Diarrhea
  • T: Red
  • C: Yellow
  • P: Rapid and forceful
Treatment Principle
  • Clear Heat
  • Drain Fire
  • Relieve toxicity from all three Jiaos
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • A dry, sore throat
  • Turbid nasal discharge
  • Tinnitus
  • Headache
  • Pain in the:
    Shoulders
    Neck
    Back
  • T: Light red
  • C: Thin, yellow and greasy
  • P: Soft
Treatment Principle
  • Clear Lung Heat
  • Resolve Exterior Dampness
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • A dry, sore throat
  • Turbid nasal discharge
  • Tinnitus
  • Headache
  • Pain in the:
    Shoulders
    Neck
    Back
  • T: Light red
  • C: Thin, yellow and greasy
  • P: Soft
Treatment Principle
  • Clear Lung Heat
  • Resolve Exterior Dampness
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Whole body soreness and stiffness
  • Vague aches and pains
  • Drowsiness
  • Insomnia
  • Poor memory
  • Blurred vision
  • Dizziness
  • Loose stools
  • Leukorrhea
  • T: Pale red
  • C: Greasy and white
  • P: Slippery
Treatment Principle
  • Drain Dampness
  • Regulate Qi
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Blurred vision
  • Dizziness
  • A feeling of distention and pain in the Stomach
  • Cold limbs
  • Loose stools or
  • Diarrhea
  • A cold sensation in the lower abdomen
  • Soreness and aching of the whole body
  • Lack of energy
  • Fatigue
  • Drowsiness
  • Insomnia
  • A poor memory
  • T: Pale
  • C: White
  • P: Slow and slippery
Treatment Principle
  • Warm Cold
  • Dispel Dampness
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Not much Dampness
  • Pain and heaviness in the head and body
  • irritability
  • Insomnia
  • Tinnitus
  • Bitter taste and smell in the mouth
  • Fullness and distention of the chest
  • Constipation
  • Hiccups
  • Frequent sighing
  • Fullness and pain in the hypochondria region, chest and back
  • A dry, gritty sensation in the eyes
  • T: Red
  • C: Yellow and greasy
  • P: Wiry and Rapid
Treatment Principle
  • Clear Heat
  • Dry Dampness
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Chronic and continuous somnolence
  • Heavy sleep
  • Difficult to rouse
  • Tendency toward obesity
  • Glossy or greasy skin
  • Foggy headedness (like the head being wrapped in a damp towel)
  • Poor concentration
  • Dizziness
  • Heavy and tired limbs
  • Fullness and distention or a feeling of blockage in the chest and epigastrium
  • T: Flabby
  • C: Thick and greasy
  • P: Slippery
Treatment Principle
  • Transform Phlegm
  • Open the channels to the head
Herb Formulas
  • Di Tan Tang modified
  • Chinese Patent Medicines:
    Er Chen Wan
    Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Wan
Points