Abstract
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a severe, debilitating disorder, which prominently features self-reported impairments in concentration and short-term memory, and disturbances in sleep and emotions, all of which can affect any one and seriously affect quality of life. In 1987, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defined CFS as persistent or relapsing fatigue, with at least 50% reduction of baseline activity level lasting for at least 6 months, as one of the main symptoms. Since its cause is still unknown, treatment of CFS has been palliative and has included usually orally administered products, such as vitamin B12, vitamin C, folic acid, iron, magnesium, essential fatty acids, coenzyme Cho and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), among others. The latter therapeutic modalities can only relieve some symptoms to some extent, but cannot fundamentally eliminate fatigue. It is, therefore, urgent to seek safe and effective drugs for the treatment of fatigue. We propose here that regulating homeostasis and enhancing immunity are important for the treatment of fatigue. In China, many Chinese herbs with such functions have been proven effective, an observation which opens the possibility of a new therapeutic method of eliminating fatigue with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).