M.E., Fibromyalgia, Eczema
The term ‘M.E’ is a very recent one used to label a syndrome; a combination of symptoms that the medical profession can identify as fitting together under one ‘umbrella’ but for which there is no known cure. It can also be called adrenal fatigue syndrome, post-viral fatigue syndrome, epstein-barr syndrome, and 'yuppy flu'. If ever there was a ‘holistic’ illness, this is it and that is why it’s so difficult to get a handle on it.
My M.E. began in childhood. Of course, I didn’t realise it at the time. I see now that I was actually tired and lacked the fight that children naturally have. I recognise this symptom as soon as parents tell me they have an 'exceptionally good child' who is quiet, sleeps very well and just wants to please. In fact, if the child is reprimanded, tears quickly ensue. They are 'happy with their own company', often very creative and imaginative, sensitive and deep thinking, and nearly always misunderstood.
I use the present tense when I talk about having M.E. because the glandular typing that we are born with means a tendency will always be there. Despite this (often quite debilitating) condition I have been motivated to discover the underlying causes in order to survive and thrive, and as a result of all the years of self-experimentation, research, testing, advising others and re-testing; I understand what it is, how it works and how to treat it.
M.E. at its worst impairs your ability to cope with life due to a severe lack of energy that isn't even a consideration for most people. It tends to affect those who appear to push themselves to extremes in life and then suddenly wake up realising that they need more sleep, and yet the sleep never refreshes. The fatigue causes frustration and as a result, irritability and heightened emotions, especially tearfulness. Even a casual conversation with a neighbour or a shop assistant becomes an unbearable chore! This weakened state allows for more and more symptoms to appear, depending on the genetic predispositions and environment, including responsibilities and stress factors.
Many of the sufferers of M.E. are high achievers, or strive to be so, and so the notion of M.E. being strictly an emotional weakness or a psychological illness of some kind does not bear out in truth. Similarly with allergies and other auto-immune imbalances (including eczema), it is not caused by stress and nor does it only affect 'neurotic' personalities. There is a link with inflammatory tendencies, gut health, glandular function, acid-alkaline balance and other aspects thus the need for a comprehensive approach. It took me many years of trial and error to really get it
In the meantime, as a result of a variety of factors including chronic stress I was rushed into Charling Cross hospital in London with severe ECZEMA that was just short of turning into septicemia, then after a back injury, I developed FIBROMYALGIA (which is M.E. but with all-over, constant neuralgia pain)!
I am happy to talk about my own health because I'm a different person now without having had to stop working or enjoying my life. My skin is perfectly healthy and has been since 1984. I now know that I do not have to give up the things I want to do, such as teaching others how to manage their symptoms, increase their energy levels and balance their immune systems. I am naturally sympathetic to those who have the symptoms of M.E., Fibromyalgia, and Eczema (especially children) but more than that I can help. There is no magic bullet. It takes a systematic approach, and a spiritual (whole) approach, and patience.
There is no medical cure. Anti-inflammatories, painkillers and sometimes antidepressants are prescribed to surpress symptoms. The irony is that M.E. patients are more often than not made worse by drugs due to having constitutions sensitive to many substances, including and especially chemical medication. However, because I understand the cause, I am able to offer a holistic approach to the solution based in Naturopathy .
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