In this concluding article of our series on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), we look at a recently published paper ‘Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Mitochondrial Dysfunction’ by Prof. Norman Booth (Oxford University), Dr. John McLaren Howard and Dr. Sarah Myhill. The paper was published in the January 2009 edition of the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine.

Of all the CFS/ME therapies I researched, treating mitochondrial failure makes the most sense to me. Of course, this is just my opinion and I am not suggesting that it is the definitive answer to CFS/ME, but it certainly all adds up.

What are the treatment options for someone suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome / Myalgic Encephalomyelitis CFS/ME? Part of the answer probably lies with the doctor that gave the diagnosis or whether a medical diagnosis has been made at all. (Most sufferers still struggle to get their condition recognised by their GP and travel from doctor to doctor in an effort to get a proper diagnosis.) If you are lucky enough to get a sympathetic doctor and a positive diagnosis, you can start with treatment. But where do you begin? CFS/ME is after all a multi-level illness...

The debate about the cause of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) continues to grow: are the symptoms a physical manifestation of a problem in the brain such as a chemical imbalance; is sustained stress or exertion to blame; or is CFS/ME the result of abnormal physiological functioning, with an organic cause, such as a viral or bacterial infection, or exposure to a toxic agent? Yet there still is no clarity, which leaves many CFS/ME sufferers pulling their hair with frustration. Adding to their frustration is the fact that there have been no specific diagnostic tests that can help diagnosis of CFS/ME. As we know, diagnosis is crucial to determine treatment.

Despite lots of research, experts haven't been able to pinpoint Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) to one single cause. Some believe CFS (or CFS/ME) develops from multiple contributing factors which manifest as CFS/ME under the right conditions.

It is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) Awareness Month. CFS/ ME is now recognised by the Department of Health as a real, long-term disease and is a condition that causes extreme physical and mental fatigue that seriously interferes and disrupts the lives of sufferers. It makes sufferers less able to cope with levels of activity in their work, school or social life that were previously normal for them. CFS/ME isn't the result of over-exercising. Even normal physical activity may make sufferers feel very tired.

The exact cause of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome remains unknown, although researchers believe that a number of contributory factors may be involved. These include hormonal imbalances (such as an under-active thyroid), and viral infections (such as the Epstein-Barr and herpes VI virus) which are thought to trigger the condition when the immune system becomes compromised.

Malic acid is a natural substance found in fruit and vegetables - one of the richest sources being apples. It is also naturally present in your body's cells and large amounts of it are formed and then eventually broken down again on a daily basis. It possesses many health-related benefits such as boosting immunity, maintaining oral health, reducing the risk of poisoning from a build-up of toxic metals and promoting smoother and firmer skin.

Myalgic Encephalopathy (ME) is a poorly understood condition.It has been argued that some of these names, such as Tired All The Time, need to change because of the stigma attached to them that greatly undermines the condition - which for the majority of sufferers is extremely debilitating. This situation is not helped by the fact that some doctors still refuse to recognise that the disorder even exists.