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Neurasthenia

SYN: Chronic Fatigue, ME, Nervous Exhaustion, Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder FNsD), Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), conversion disorder

Dr Kellogg

Dr Kellogg says...

Chronic Invalids

The chronic invalid rarely has a fair chance unless he can have brought to bear upon his case simultaneously all the various physiological agents which are indicated. To undertake to cure a chronic dyspeptic by diet alone, by water alone or by electricity or exercise alone or by any other single agent is very much like raising a great building with one jack-screw.

All the lifting agencies possible must be set at work to get these chronic sufferers out of their physiological ruts.

HYD

from Hydrothermic Remedies...

Kellogg called this Neurasthenia, his treatment follows:

All neurasthenics present with different symptoms and so must be treated accordingly. No one patient will have all or only those problems listed below

Diet is usually a fruit and grain one, some cases benefit from a high milk intake.

Prayer, Faith and Hope are essential ingredients to recovery which may take quite some time.

Causes:

(Kellogg lists things that interfere with nerve nutrition or use excess "nerve force")

  • Excessive mental work especially if disliked or stressful.
  • Loss of sleep
  • Sexual Excess especially with feelings of guilt
  • Dietary errors especially excess meat and stimulating condiments
  • Use of alcohol, tobacco, coffee and strong tea
  • Habitual use of anti-depressants and sleeping pills

(of course he was guessing, today we're into the viral infection - immune depression theory)

Problems:

1. Nervous System Impairments

Kellogg felt that these were the real nature of the disease. In some patients the brain was mainly affected, in others the spinal centres, in still others both brain and cord. Graduated Tonic Cold was used in all cases.

All of these treatments also boost the immune system as well, increasing the numbers of white blood cells in circulation, increasing their efficiency and generally building up resistance to disease. Metabolism is also increased. These two factors may account for part of the success Kellogg had although he attributed it all to the nervous effects.

1.1 General Nervous System Impairment in...

Treatment:

1.2 Brain Impairments:

1.3 Spine Impairments:

General Treatments:

  • rest, and avoid exertion, with abundant, nutritious food
  • Cold Sponge (18°C)
  • Spinal Massage

1.4 Mental Problems:

2. Toxicity

(ie toxins, wastes and byproducts in the blood stream or locally in tissues) Most inflammatory conditions involve toxicity. In chronic toxicity symptoms include nausea, headache, insomnia and exhaustion as well as all those listed under Nervous System Irritability above.

3. Digestive Problems

3.1 Diarrhoea see above

3.2 Indigestion

3.3 Nausea

3.4 Constipation

3.5 Anorexia

JHK

from Dr JH Kellogg's Prescriptions...

General Method:

  • Tonics are essential but must be very skillfully handled so as not to allow the cold to worsen the symptoms
  • Special attention to digestion, circulation, and nutrition.

Etiological Problems:

  • From overwork or weight loss: - Rest
  • From mental and nervous exhaustion: - Exercise and diversion

Pathological Problems:

treat these conditions if present

Clinical Problems:

JHK

from Dr JH Kellogg's Hydriatic Techniques...

Causes:

Problems:

Treatment:

Mildest Tonic and build up to Tonic ie Graduated Tonic Cold

If sensitive:

Eliminative

Alterative especially in chronic cases

Due to excessive cerebral activity, Cerebral Congestion

GKA

from Dr GK Abbott's Prescriptions...

see also

Problems:

Causes:

  • Many causes, always more than one:
  • Worry, grief and social or financial disappointment all lead to overactivity of the brain and neurasthenia. So treatment requires Sedatives to secure rest and Tonics to restore normal nerve activity.
  • Indigestion, Dyspepsia - always present. Is it a cause or effect of nerve exhaustion?
  • Sedentary Lifestyle - lack of outdoor exercise
  • Nervous shocks

Condition is a mixture of:

  • General nerve and brain exhaustion with vasomotor derangement and unbalanced circulation. These require Sedatives.
  • Deranged digestion
  • The latest thinking (mid 2000) on chronic fatigue is that the immune system is actually over-active - so don't stimulate it any more. It is probably irritable, as in asthma, so use Pure Sedatives.
  • Patient to be trained in proper diet, rest and exercise.
  • Variable symptoms so treatment must be individualised. Trial various treatments, take note of effects and patient's reactions.
  • Psychology plays an important part so if the patient doesn't like a particular treatment then don't do it.
  • Spend time explaining to the patient.

Use: Pure Sedatives or Tonic Sedatives

First treatment:to acquaint patient and attendant

Second treatment: to warm the cold feet and relieve abdominal discomfort - continue as required

Then up the Graduated Tonic Cold ladder.

Treatment:

Best programme:

  • Daily Tonic
  • Short Sedative each afternoon or night maybe with Massage
  • Rest, recreation and gardening between
  • At night Wet Girdle
  • Don't do many local treatments for specific problems, as this focusses on patient's problems. Integrate in general treatments.

Contra-indications

Diseases of:

Nervous System

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