Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Why it works: Some preclinical (animal) studies and mechanistic research suggest pine pollen—because it’s nutrient-dense, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and contains flavonoids, polysaccharides...

Instructions: Important: there is no standardized, evidence-based dose for treating CFS. The following are commonly used regimens reported by manufacturers, herbal guides, and practitioners — no...

Warnings: Allergy / respiratory risk. Because it is pollen, pine pollen can trigger allergic reactions (sneezi...

Studies: Preclinical animal studies (anti-fatigue effects). Multiple...

Why it works: Adaptogen / stress-modulating effects. Rhodiola rosea is classified as an adaptogen — plant compounds (notably rosavins and salidroside) appear to modulate the stress response and...

Instructions: Common clinical dosing used in trials: many human studies used a standardized extract called WS®1375 at 200 mg twice daily (total 400 mg/day) for durations like 6–8 weeks in patien...

Warnings: Drug interactions (important): Rhodiola can affect neurotransmitter systems and drug-metabolizing en...

Studies: Open-label multicenter trial (WS®1375, 2×200 mg/day) in prol...

Why it works: Free & Easy Wanderer Plus (FEWP) — the modern product name for the traditional formula Jia-Wei-Xiao-Yao-San (an “augmented” Xiao Yao San) — has clinical evidence for mood/anxiety/d...

Instructions: Typical commercial dosage (example manufacturer guidance): many FEWP teapill / pill products are sold as standardized tablet/teapill preparations. A common recommended dosing (on p...

Warnings: Drug interactions — anticonvulsants and other drugs: clinical reports/studies have shown reduced ser...

Studies: What has been studied (important, load-bearing studies):Depr...

Why it works: Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis, “five-flavor berry”) shows plausible anti-fatigue activity in animal models and a handful of small human trials (exercise / muscle fatigue, cognit...

Instructions: Human trial dosing most cited: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in adult women used 1,000 mg of Schisandra chinensis extract daily for 12 weeks and found increa...

Warnings: Drug interactions — CYP enzymes & drug transporters: Schisandra lignans can inhibit CYP3A4 and affec...

Studies: Important overall point: There are some animal and in-vitro...

Why it works: There is no high-quality clinical evidence that echinacea cures or reliably treats ME/CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome). What exists is mostly laboratory (in-vitro) data showing immun...

Instructions: There is no official, evidence-based dosing protocol for ME/CFS. Regulatory or clinical bodies do not endorse echinacea as a standard treatment for ME/CFS because trials showing be...

Warnings: Short-term use is usually tolerated but not risk-free. Government summaries state short-term echinac...

Studies: No high-quality randomized clinical trials demonstrate that...

Why it works: Adaptogen effect / HPA axis modulation. Eleuthero is classed as an adaptogen — compounds that appear to modulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) stress response, balance c...

Instructions: Forms: standardized dry extracts (capsules/tablets), tincture (alcohol extract), or crude root powder/tea. Most clinical data refer to standardized extracts (specified as % eleuthe...

Warnings: Hypertension / cardiovascular disease: Eleuthero has stimulant properties and has been cited as pote...

Studies: Randomized / controlled trials & clinical reportsRandomi...

Why it works: Panax ginseng contains active compounds called ginsenosides and other constituents that act as adaptogens (supporting stress resilience) and have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, im...

Instructions: What clinical trials actually used (so you have concrete, evidence-based dosing & durations):. • PLOS ONE (Kim et al., 2013) — a randomized, double-blind RCT in people with idiopat...

Warnings: Main warnings. • Pregnancy & breastfeeding: often advised to avoid ginseng in pregnancy because safe...

Studies: Randomized clinical trialsKim H-G et al., PLoS ONE, 2013 — A...

Why it works: CoQ10 is a key mitochondrial electron-transport component and antioxidant. Several studies show ME/CFS patients often have lower CoQ10 levels, increased oxidative stress and signs...

Instructions: Clinical trials most commonly used CoQ10 together with NADH (many authors report greater effects with the combo). The two best-known trials used the following regimens:. • Castro-M...

Warnings: CoQ10 is generally well tolerated, but there are important cautions:. Common side effects (usually m...

Studies: Randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trials (ME/CFS):...

Why it works: Adaptogen — HPA-axis and stress modulation. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is classed as an adaptogen: compounds thought to help the body respond to stress by modulating the hypo...

Instructions: Common clinical dosing range: Most randomized trials for stress/fatigue have used about 300–600 mg total daily of a standardized root extract (often 300 mg twice daily or 300 mg on...

Warnings: Major warnings / contraindications. • Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Ashwagandha is generally not reco...

Studies: Systematic review / reviewsSystematic review of ashwagandha...