20 years ago: The British Homoeopathic Journal, January 1989

Myalgic encephalomyelitis

In “Thoughts on the management of myalgic encephalomyelitis: The problem of ?ME” Michael Jenkins dealt comprehensively with this rather indeterminate condition, first observed in the Royal Free outbreak in the 1950s, and described by AM Ramsey in his monograph Post-viral Fatigue Syndrome: The saga of Royal Free Disease in 1986. Jenkins was not convinced that it is a single disease entity and felt that trying to make it so could cause confusion. He was convinced that most cases have an organic basis to their illness. He thought that, provisionally, it was perhaps better to consider it a syndrome with many possible causes. There seem to be considerable overlaps between the manifestations of ‘Classical ME’ as described by Ramsey (extreme muscle fatiguability, cerebral dysfunction and autonomic/vasomotor disorders); and post-viral fatigue syndrome, intestinal candidiasis, hyperventilation, hypoglycaemia, hysteria, depression and multiple allergies.

The author dealt briefly with each of these conditions; noted that physical signs are usually unremarkable, and dealt at length with the range of investigations available. The treatment, for the present, needs to be holistic and multidisciplinary. It covers regimen (rest and careful ‘pacing’), diet and dietary supplements, drugs (antifungals – he noted that caprylic acid was used by some in place of Nystatin, and is non-prescription), desensitization treatments, homeopathic medicines and acupuncture for some (suggested points are Stomach 36 and Liver 3). An extensive Appendix outlines some of the homeopathic medicines the author has tried in patients, and two tables present repertory analyses of common ME features using CARA: one shows several polychrests; the second iteration deliberately excludes them, bringing up several other notable medicines.[ ¹ ]

• References

• 1 Jenkins M. Thoughts on the management of myalgic encephalomyelitis. The problem of? ME . Br Hom J 1989; 78: 6-13.
• 2 Vakil A.E., Nanabhai A.S., Vakil Y.E. A study of Iris Versicolor 3c. Br Hom J 1989; 78: 15-18.
• 3 Nagpaul V.M., Dhawan I.M., Vichitra A.K., Rastogi D.P. Tarantula hispanica – a reproving. Br Hom J 1989; 78: 19-25.
• 4 Jack R.A.F. In the light of experience. Br Hom J 1989; 78: 34-40.
• 5 Leary B. Historical column 2. Br Hom J 1989; 78: 41-42.
• 6 Wadia S.R. The final decade of Hahnemann's glories in life and death. Br Hom J 1989; 78: 27-29.
• 7 Leroi R. Obituary. Br Hom J 1989; 78: 55.
• 8 Fisher P. Editorial: the end, or just the beginning. Br Hom J 1989; 78: 4-5.