A Basic Protocol

The following have been documented on PubMed to help CFS/FM patients with no studies finding no benefit or negative benefits. These are the key supplements to use:

Chocolate (85%)
Coenzyme Q10
D-Ribose
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza)
Malic Acid
Magnesium
Racetams

Additionally, appropriate probiotics should be taken. These have been demonstrated to be effective for IBS, IBD and related conditions. An example of my maintenance plan is here.

You may wish to also see “The Frugal Recovery Plan” for a longer list with cost information

www.facebook.com/mevsmeblog 8:58 am on January 8, 2014

Hi ken,
i like you wholeheartidly belive CFS walks hand in hand with our gut bacteria.

I have been sick for five years, i discovered that i had an E.histolytica parasite infection, and got rid of it, but and also noticed that when i was on Tinidazole and doxycycline, my symptoms dissapeared in about a week, i had so much energy! however last year they all came back and i have been housebound. At the moment I am on the GAPS diet? are you aware of it? I am also aware that if i starve myself for two days my symptoms are greatly reduced, but know that this is no way to live

I also got some lab results, would you take a look at them and comment on what you think might be the problem and a good way to address it?

bacterioids/clostidia/streotimyces all in normal range

Mycoplasma spp./prevotella spp. verging on low

fusobacteria – high

lactobaccilus and bifidobacterium – high

E coli – verging on low

No opportunistic bacteria

Thanks
- lassesen 3:12 pm on January 8, 2014
  
  You did not have separate measures for lactobaccilus and bifidobacterium? My initial inclination would be to suggest pure bifidobacterium probiotics — based on the premise that the overgrowth is cause by bad bifidobacterium and thus you want to displace with known good ones. Align Probiotic, CVS Digestive Probiotic, and I believe Walgreen has two digestive probiotics that are only B. Have you tried Prescript-Assist?
www.facebook.com/mevsmeblog 3:24 pm on January 8, 2014

Thanks a lot! i havn’t tried prescipt assist it looks good and i’ll look into it! i have tried a high bifido yoghurt and FOS as i heard that it selectivley raises bifidobacterium in the past without huge success
- lassesen 3:44 pm on January 8, 2014
  
  The problem of the yoghurt route is L. Acidipolous… Which suppresses E.coli. My attitude is that it may be a”Vichy” and not to be trusted with Cfs
Marcelo 9:33 pm on July 5, 2014

http://nccam.nih.gov/health/licoriceroot It can lead to heart problems!?
- lassesen 3:47 am on July 15, 2014
  
  The quote is “In large amounts, licorice containing glycyrrhizin can cause high blood pressure, salt and water retention, and low potassium levels, which could lead to heart problems.”
  
  The “could lead” means that it is speculated by some as being possible — it has not been established. Thus the dosage required to cause it (if it does happen) is also unknown.
  It has been used in folk medicine for thousands of years and is likely extremely safe in normal dosages.
Colette 12:02 pm on July 26, 2014

Hi

Im a sufferer of cfs. Im almost 10 months post partum its at its worst. Anxiety. Mood swings. Depersonalisation feeling. Groggy. Heavy limbs. See I had to have a c section. I was on medication. My blood pressure plays up so they forced me onto beta blockers too. I produced no breast milk. I plan on having no more children. Anyway im taking magnesium b vitamin complex vit d and liquid iron. I just feel so bad. Im almost housebound! My baby needs her mummy. It breaks my heart. I will start probiotics too is biokult any good? I was given ashwaganda will I take that? Im just so confused and on a budget so all the supplements really are expensive. Also I plan to cut out wheat sugar and dairy
Colette 12:04 pm on July 26, 2014

To add im no longer on beta blockers or any medication I forced my dr to wean me off about 8 weeks post partum
Mila Ckrkic 8:15 am on August 2, 2014

Hello,
I am a CFS sufferer from 1991.
How much of these key supplements to take dayly ?
thank you
Mila
Louis 2:40 am on December 14, 2014

Hi, Ken,

CoQ10 causes GI issues for me, so that doesn’t work too wel. I just put in an order for a racetam, so we’ll see how that goes. I’ve tried ribose, but I don’t remember there being any effects. Are there other supplements that you recommend for concentration / motivation while attempting to correct the dysbiosis? I have to keep my job while I fix the gut :).

Thanks!
- Louis 2:48 am on December 14, 2014
  
  Scratch that. I just saw you have a number of posts on mitigating brain fog, so I’ll check those out before imposing on your time. Thanks again for this amazing blog!
- lassesen 4:20 am on January 5, 2015
  
  Been there… serrapetase, lumbrokinease and nattokinease will dissolve past accumulation of coagulation. 500 mg flushing niacin (if you can stand the itch) is usually good for 2-4 hours of clarity. Racetams. Tumeric with 1% black pepper. Grape seed extract works better than aspirin (longer half life in the body, not risk of causing stomach ulcers).
  
  Keep an eye out for easy bruising or excessive bleeding — then you MUST cut back significantly or stop.
Louis 6:17 am on January 29, 2015

Thanks! I felt the effects of nattokinase right away! Not sure if the others have helped. Won’t try the niacin, since methylation supplements seem to be really helping, so I don’t want to counteract that. Tried pramiracetam, but haven’t noticed anything. Will try other racetams.
M. 3:31 pm on December 12, 2015

Totally wrong. All bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes create H2S by their direct decomposition in the small intestine which is relatively sterile of all bacteria and is not capable of detox beyond a very limited capacity. H2S then enters the portal vein where there is not enough oxygen to neutralize, the rest then gets dumped into the liver. H2S is capable of paralyzing the vagus nerve, the olfactory nerves and demyelinating nerves which then affects the MMC and motility and motor function of the intestines after which bacteria can not be swept out of the small intestine resulting in SIBO. If one wishes to recover from chronic fatigue neutralizing H2S and restoring MMC and motor function is critical. Probiotics are contra indicated in SIBO because probiotics belong in the colon, not the small intestine.
- lassesen 4:42 pm on December 12, 2015
  
  You appear to be asserting that the small intestine is sterile — lacking any bacteria. Can you please provide a PubMed citation . If there is bacteria in the small intestine and there is a dysfunction with them — how would you correct that.
  
  How do you neutralize H2S? What is the chemical process you are advocating? Please provide pubmed studies supporting that this is effective for CFS. I find ZERO articles on PubMed — http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=H2S+chronic+fatigue+syndrome returns nothing.
  
  There is an article “Hypothesis: chronic fatigue syndrome is caused by dysregulation of hydrogen sulfide metabolism.” dated from 2009. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18799269 with no testing of this HYPOTHESIS/SPECULATION appearing to be done in the 7 years since. [full test is at: https://sqmymas.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/nueva-hipc3b3tesis-sobre-la-causa-del-sfc-desregulacic3b3n-del-sulfuro-de-hidrc3b3geno-2008-inglc3a9s.pdf ]
  
  In reading the article, the citation “Recent research has demonstrated that at low, non-toxic doses,
  exogenous H2S produces a reversible state of hibernation-like deanimation in mice, causing a decrease in core body temperature, an apnea-like sleep state, reduced heart and respiration rates,and a severe metabolic drop” is interesting because repeated studies found that there was NOT a decrease in core body temperature with CFS — only in external thermometer readings. His statement ” It is my hypothesis that mitochondria, organelles required by every cell to
  sustain life, are unable to adequately utilize oxygen” is in agreement with the hypocoagulation theory — which has been tested and found significantly correct. Please note concerning the author “She got a short paper published, a remarkable accomplishment, I thought, for someone without a medical background.” http://phoenixrising.me/research-2/hydrogen-sulfide-a-breakthrough-in-mecfs/hydrogen-sulfide-and-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-the-originator-speaks
Pingback: The Frugal Recovery Plan | CFS Remission
Pingback: A Quick Reference to past posts | CFS Remission
Pingback: UN PROTOCOLO BÁSICO. – SfcSalud
Hank G 2:40 pm on January 7, 2018

I’m confused why CoQ10 is listed here as a Basic Protocol, when elsewhere you state,
“It looks like the low CoQ10 is the result of other processes and not the cause of symptoms. Supplementation will improve lab results, but likely not bring noticeable relief to symptoms. Given the relative high cost of CoQ10 and NADH and no clear symptom relief, it is likely not a priority item for CFS and FM patients.” [https://cfsremission.com/2016/04/08/coq10-b-vitamins-and-cfs/]
Can you elucidate, please? Thank you.
- lassesen 8:40 pm on January 7, 2018
  
  One is talking about direct improvement of symptoms (no direct evidence), it is likely a co-factor for improving microbiome shifts. By itself likely not sufficient.
Pingback: The angst of trying to find a physician for ME/CFS | CFS Remission
Mason Ross Mullennax 4:31 am on September 7, 2021

Yes, I have had CFS for 15 years. But unlike most people I do not have fever, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches, pain, dizziness, or headaches. My main symptoms is just severe bed bound fatigue. I have had most of the common tests done to evaluate my health with all coming back normal. I take a great multivitamin, probiotic, fish oil, and vitamin D. What additional tests can I do to try and uncover a possible cause for my fatigue since my CFS seems to be unlike most others?
- lassesen 4:52 am on October 5, 2021
  
  A 16s Microbiome test (Biomesight.com or thryveinside.com), then upload to MicrobiomePrescription.com
  
  See my alternative blog http://blog.microbiomeprescription.com/