Someone sent me this article and I thought it was incredibly interesting. The article discusses the differences in the appearances of the brains of those having Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and those without. In that sense it IS very interesting. However, what I find more interesting, as someone who has never doubted that CFS is anything but “REAL” is that different types of medicine have different types of views on the causes and condition of CFS. I am not surprised that the brain does look different but I dont think that the brain is CAUSING the CFS. In my opinion, the body and brain have highways in both directions and one effects the other. It works both ways. I think it would be very interesting to study the appearance of the brain of the person having CFS and then marking the changes that occur at intervals during alternative treatment for the CFS. In the past, it has seemed that this condition comes along with a lot of judgment from society-as if ther person having the CFS is “making it up”. Hopefully articles like this one will show that is not the case. But, it is so much more than the appearance of the brains of people having CFS. CFS is something that often goes along with other chronic unwellness such as IC, fibromyalgia, vulvadynia, etc…Chronic conditions often occur simultaneously. In Chinese medicine, a condition such as CFS considers origins such as Yang deficiency, Yin deficiency coupled with Qi deficiency and often goes hand in hand with something called Dampness. These are simplifications and in truth, CFS is quite difficult to unravel and each paradigm has its way of focusing on this. But, it is quite real and can be treated effectively. In any case, I thought this was an article very much worth sharing to underscore the fact that science is taking a closer look into a condition that has largely been misunderstood. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2813823/Is-proof-chronic-fatigue-DOES-exist-Scientists-three-differences-brain-suggest-condition-not-just-mind.html

Dr.M