Customer Reviews

Phytotherapy of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Evidence-Based and Potentially Useful Botanicals in the Treatment of Cfs

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In spite of its title, this brief overview of botanical treatments does not, for the most part, cite evidence-based research that has specific bearing on CFS. Rather, Patarca-Montero limits himself to botanicals that might "potentially" have an effect on CFS symptoms. Given the range and breadth of CFS-related symptoms, "potential" treatments could theoretically encompass nearly all botanicals. Not surprisingly, given the lack of funding dedicated to CFS research, the overwhelming majority of studies Patarca-Montero cites concern other diseases and conditions: cancer, diabetes, arthritis, Alzheimer's, heart disease, hepatitis, and so forth.

Patarca-Montero begins the book with a short introduction explaining some of the pitfalls of herbal treatment: lack of standardization in herbal preparations, the use of multiple herb combinations in a single treatment, the presence of contaminants, and possible unforeseen interactions between the complex components of botanicals. What Patarca does not mention, but should have, is that because of the multiple immune system abnormalities found in CFS patients, none of the herbs mentioned in this book will have predictable effects. As with pharmaceuticals, a CFS patient may respond to botanicals with paradoxical reactions; a "calming" herb may produce a bout of hyperactivity and insomnia, an immune system "regulator" may produce anaphylaxis. The truth is that even well constructed scientific studies are fairly useless as a guide to treatment, unless the focus of the investigation is CFS itself.

By far, the most useful part of this book lies not in the text, but in the Notes section. With his usual thoroughness, Patarca-Montero has cited a plethora of articles--434, to be precise. If you are reading this monograph to secure a greater understanding of the effects of botanicals in vitro, or upon rats, or on various other illnesses, then the Notes section will provide you with a valuable resource. However, if you are looking for useful herbal remedies for CFS, you had best look elsewhere.