| Symptoms: | | | | interspersed with careful, moderate excercise, the |
| The most dominant symptoms are persistent | | | | major solution to overcoming M.E. symptoms is to |
| exhaustion, muscle weakness and impaired mental | | | | identify the food and chemical allergies resulting |
| function. In some cases the disease can progress | | | | from the illness. Until identified, these substances |
| to a point where bed rest for a prolonged period | | | | will continue to aggravate the condition and cause |
| is required. Because this is a polysymptomatic | | | | the repeated flare-up of symptoms. Once the |
| illness, the sufferer is rarely free of symptoms. It | | | | allergens have been removed, the individual |
| seems that all parts of the body are affected at | | | | always improves and, in many cases, a slow |
| various times with a constantly changing | | | | recovery to good health has been achieved. |
| symptomatology. Often three or four symptoms | | | | Without the removal of allergens an M.E. sufferer |
| are raging at the same time. Some sufferers will | | | | cannot recover. Therefore, the most vital first |
| experience headaches, blurred vision, hearing loss, | | | | step to recovery is the identification and removal |
| stiff and aching muscles, facial and neck stiffness, | | | | of all food and chemical allergens from the diet |
| overheating, white pallor, inflamed red pallor, | | | | and environment. |
| extreme fatigue, extreme nervous tension, | | | | M.E. sufferers are particularly sensitive to |
| sleeplessness, constant colds, urinary infections, | | | | chemicals. Even such seemingly innocuous things |
| constipation, digestive problems, bloatedness and | | | | as perfumes, after shaves and scented soaps can |
| aching back. Others may suffer from memory | | | | bring on fatigue, aching, headaches, catarrh and |
| loss, poor concentration, cold hands and feet, | | | | dizziness within a few seconds of exposure. |
| irritable outbursts, moodiness, depression, heavy | | | | Hydrocarbon fumes such as petrol fumes, |
| sweating, proneness to drop things, difficulty in | | | | exhaust fumes and pressure pack sprays are |
| finding the right words, tinnitus and apathy. These | | | | particularly dangerous. Chemicals and |
| symptoms are all continuously aggravated by the | | | | preservatives in food and drink are another |
| individual's ignorance of the fact that he will have | | | | constant aggravator and must be removed from |
| developed masked allergies to some, or even | | | | the diet. Avoidance of chemicals in food, drink and |
| many foods and other substances. | | | | in the air, is the key to allowing an overloaded |
| Inability to recall events, to think clearly and to | | | | immune system to commence a long and slow |
| comprehend, are common and devastating | | | | recovery. This may take one or two years but |
| effects of this illness. They are also among the | | | | improvement will invariably result if these rules are |
| most tragic, as they affect the very core of | | | | firmly followed. It is important to seek help for |
| one's existence. This problem is further | | | | this problem from a medical practitioner or |
| exacerbated by stress. Memory blackouts and | | | | naturopath, who understands the illness and is |
| confusion can occur at the most inappropriate | | | | prepared to spend the time necessary to help |
| moment, often causing further problems. Anger, | | | | you get well. When seeking to eliminate foods |
| frustration, extreme irritability, and depression are | | | | that have become toxic because of M.E., there is |
| often associated with these events. | | | | a widespread tendency to regard 'natural foods' |
| M.E. has many symptoms. If you have | | | | as healthier than those with artificial additives. This |
| experienced recurring symptoms in only one or | | | | is not necessarily the case. Many additives, |
| two of the described categories, you do not have | | | | particularly preservatives, are chemically identical |
| this condition. However, you may well have one | | | | to those found naturally in food. However, |
| or more, masked food allergies. These should be | | | | concentrations in food containing artificial additives |
| tracked down before the continuing overload of | | | | can be much higher than those found naturally. |
| toxins further impairs immune efficiency and | | | | When these are ingested regularly from a variety |
| damages bodily functions, perhaps permanently. | | | | of processed foods, they can overload the |
| Treatment: | | | | system and cause allergy illness. |
| Apart from getting as much rest as possible, | | | | |