Eliminating Persistent Post-COVID Symptoms, Chronic Lyme and CFS/Fibromyalgia

Chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia (CFS/FMS), including post infectious forms such as Long COVID and Lyme, represent an energy crisis in your body. Decreased function of the body’s cellular energy furnaces (called mitochondria) can have many triggers. Including your body shutting down energy production to starve the infection.

Unfortunately, sometimes energy production doesn’t turn back on properly after the infection. This can trip a circuit breaker (called the hypothalamus) in the brain. This controls sleep, your entire hormonal system, and blood pressure/pulse (autonomic function).

Although there are literally hundreds of symptoms, the hallmark ones would be exhaustion, insomnia, brain fog, and often widespread pain.

Our eight studies on effective treatment of these conditions, plus over 40 years of experience with them, have shown these conditions to be very treatable. For example, our published initial and placebo-controlled studies showed that the S.H.I.N.E.® Protocol (addressing Sleep, Hormones, Infections, Nutrition, and Exercise as able) resulted in an average 90% increase in quality-of-life.

Two of our recent studies showed that for severe fatigue, including after infections, two supplements available in the US have been highly effective after one month of use. These include:

1. HRG80™ Red Ginseng chewable tablets[1]. 
2. Smart Energy System™[2]. 
3. Multivitamin/mineral/amino acid and energy cofactor support: I recommend that people use the Fatigued to Fantastic™ Energy Revitalization Drink Mix (by EuroPharma) powder ½-1 scoop daily. This simple drink supplies optimal levels of 30 key vitamins, minerals, amino acids, energy factors and other nutrients.

These three represent an excellent place to begin the healing process.

My newest book “You Can Heal from Long COVID” (June 10, 2024) on Amazon is a short yet authoritative guide to healing CFS, Fibromyalgia and/or Long COVID

CFS, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Lyme and Long COVID Are Treatable

It is estimated that 2-6% of the population had post-infection or other causes of CFS or fibromyalgia before COVID. This has skyrocketed, with 10% of people who had COVID coming down with Long COVID (post viral chronic fatigue syndrome). The good news? For those familiar with CFS and fibromyalgia, we have over 40 years of countless research studies lighting the way to recovery. Sadly, because they’re not associated with any patentable very expensive medications, most physicians are almost completely ignorant about these diseases or how to help people recover.

But you would be surprised at how much you can recover on your own, and even more so with the help of a local holistic physician.

Some Common Post-COVID Symptoms

Symptoms are not limited to cough, fever, and shortness of breath. Other widely reported symptoms span neurological, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and other systems and include:

• fatigue (reported by 81.3% of respondents)
• chills/sweats (75.9%)
• body aches (73.9%)
• headache (72.2%)
• brain fog and concentration issues (68.6%)
• gastrointestinal issues (66.9%)
• trouble sleeping (66.1%)
• dizziness (60.6%)

The Bottom Line

About 10% of symptomatic cases of COVID-19 will have persistent disabling fatigue and other symptoms (essentially post-viral CFS and fibromyalgia). This translates to over 15 million new U.S. cases of CFS and fibromyalgia.

The healthcare system will continue to largely focus on finding patentable treatments and therefore often ridiculously expensive new medications for this condition. These will likely take decades to develop and to get through the regulatory system procedures. I do not recommend waiting.

You can begin recovering now!

The Good News

Fortunately, people with CFS/FMS/Long COVID/chronic Lyme are not contagious. Both the post-viral CFS infection and the post-COVID effects on the heart, brain, and lung are very treatable, using a holistic mix of natural and prescription therapies.

Why I Got Interested in This

How did I get interested in post-viral CFS/FMS? The same way so many holistic practitioners do. I had it and was failed by the standard healthcare system.

In 1975, I came down with a nasty viral illness that I call the “Drop Dead Flu.” It knocked me out of medical school and left me homeless for much of the year. But it was as if the Universe put a “Holistic Homeless Medical School” sign on my park bench. Naturopaths, Herbalists, Energy Healers, nutritionists, and a wide array of other holistic doctors found their way to my park bench. Sometimes they even had a pizza with them, and I ate. But this was the venue in which I learned the bits and pieces of what I needed to recover from my own post-viral CFS and fibromyalgia.

I was able to return to medical school, get honors in Medicine, and I have spent the last 45 years researching, writing, treating, and teaching about effective treatments for these conditions. This includes four new treatment studies that I have been principal investigator on in the last few years.

The S.H.I.N.E.® Treatment Protocol

STEP 1: Addressing CFS and Fibromyalgia

(Including After infection such as chronic Lyme or Long COVID.)

The first goal is to restore energy production and mitochondrial and hypothalamic function. This can be done by following the S.H.I.N.E.® Protocol.

Basically, post-viral chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia represent an energy crisis with associated mitochondrial and hypothalamic dysfunction.

The hypothalamus is like a “circuit breaker” which controls:

1. Sleep. So inability to get restorative sleep is critical. I use a mix of natural and low-dose prescription treatments for this. In my book From Fatigued to Fantastic I go through dozens of natural and prescription therapies that can get you sleeping eight hours a night.
2. Almost the entire hormonal system, especially thyroid, adrenal, and ovarian/testicular. Hormone function needs to drop by well over 50% before the blood tests become “abnormal.” So diagnosis of hormonal issues should be based on symptoms and response to treatment.
3. Autonomic function. Gravity causes blood to drop to our legs when we stand up. The autonomic system is what sends it back to our muscles, and the brain and other organs. When this does not work properly, the person develops Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome or Neurally Mediated Hypotension (POTS/NMH). These can be easily screened for with a two-minute quiz or a 10-minute pulse test. It is often remarkably simple to treat as well, starting with medium pressure (20-30 mm) compression stockings, increasing salt intake and adrenal support, and then progressing to numerous available other treatments as needed. Orthostatic intolerance has been found to be common in CFS/FMS and Long COVID. You can email me at fatiguedoc@gmail.com for the free POTS testing and treatment information sheet.

To address this mitochondrial/hypothalamic dysfunction, several of my published studies, including a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled prospective study, showed that the S.H.I.N.E. Protocol resulted in an average 90% increase in quality-of-life (p<.0001 vs placebo) in people with CFS/fibromyalgia, including post viral.[3,4]

How to apply the S.H.I.N.E. Protocol is discussed in depth in earlier articles and in the newest 4th edition of my best-selling book From Fatigued to Fantastic (Penguin/Avery June 15, 2021). It is geared for both practitioners and the public and will make you an expert in these conditions.

STEP 2: An Easy Way to Begin

Because of this severe need, my research team and I recently completed a series of four studies on new supplements we were finding to be highly effective at improving energy and function.

HRG80 Red Ginseng: The Asian Miracle Recovers

For over a millennium, ginseng has been the most popular herb in China and much of Asia. Unfortunately, the overharvesting of wild ginseng led to it becoming insanely expensive. The newer farmed ginseng often just didn’t work well, so its popularity started to wane.

Old wild ginseng produces over 50 different ginsenosides as a protective response to the insect attacks and difficult weather. But these are usually not found in most farmed ginseng.

But now, a unique new hydroponic farming technique that reproduces the plant’s challenges faced in the wild has allowed grown ginseng to have the same active component profile as the old wild plants. This has created new health possibilities, including in this situation.

The key active ginsenosides are found in red ginseng, which is made from the whole root which is then steamed. But these then need to be converted to what are called “rare (or noble) ginsenosides” to be able to be absorbed and active. Unfortunately, the levels of these in current farmed ginseng is very low. So, they can be helpful, but nowhere near as much as the old popular wild ginseng.

But I was astounded at the effectiveness of this new form of HRG80™ Red Ginseng chewable tablets. I tried one of the chews myself and I could feel the effectiveness within minutes. In fact, even though I feel great, I take it myself on days that my schedule is very busy. It keeps my energy and mental clarity very solid. I recommend that you get a bottle yourself and try it! The people I treat routinely found the same effect, so I recently completed a study [1] of 188 people with a greater than 50% drop in function, including persistent post-viral exhaustion.

60% in our study improved with the HRG80 red ginseng. Here’s what the findings showed.

• 67 % average increase in energy
• 44 % increase in overall well-being
• 48 % improvement in mental clarity
• 58 % composite improvement in the above 3 (primary outcome measure)
• 46 % improvement in sleep
• 33 % decrease in pain
• 72 % increase in stamina

The HRG80 Red Ginseng chewable tablets is the form I recommend (1/2 -2 in the morning with an optional second dose at lunch). Taking one chewable tablet in the study was as effective as two capsules, bringing down the cost dramatically. The study can be found at PubMed.

Our most recent study [2] looked at a mix of six nutrients/herbs which has also been very helpful. It’s called “Smart Energy System™” I am getting that study ready for publication. In this study stamina increased an average of 80%, with marked improvements overall as well.

Live Outside the United States?

Two of our other recent studies [5,6] were done using a unique oral European serum bi- and tri-peptide formula called Recovery Factors®. Many of you are familiar with the blossoming use of these peptides intravenously, but so many find it unaffordable. My colleague, Gaetano Morello ND stumbled over an oral preparation that had been used in hospitals to treat severe malnutrition for over a decade. In addition to being exceedingly safe and effective in helping people recover from their severe malnutrition, numerous other conditions seemed to resolve. Gaetano found that 60% of people in his fibromyalgia and complex illness clinic had dramatic benefits. I asked him if he had a few bottles I could try with the people I treat, and I got the same results. Which are simply stunning! We decided to do an initial study which confirmed what we found clinically. Then COVID with its persistent post viral debilitation hit, so we did a second larger study of 100 people looking specifically at persistent post-viral debilitation.[6]

Unfortunately, although it is available everywhere else in the world, it is not yet able to be shipped to the United States. But if you live outside of the United States, I recommend you try a bottle or two to see the effect. In many people it is life changing. It is available from www.recoveryfactors.com.

STEP 3: Low-Dose Naltrexone

A fascinating medication that blocks the effect of narcotics overdoses, called naltrexone, has been found to “reboot the immune system” in CFS/FMS/Long COVID as well as countless other autoimmune conditions. But only at doses under 5 mg a day, instead of the usual 50–200 mg day dosing. This requires a prescription and cannot be used if people are also taking narcotics for pain. But otherwise, the effects can be life changing. At a cost of under $1/day (or even less if you make your own from the larger tablets – see how to do this further below). It is best started slowly because it can disrupt sleep otherwise, causing vivid dreams. And it takes at least two months to start working, so be patient. (You’ll find a section on this later in this article.)

The bottom line? A comprehensive treatment approach helps most people with CFS/FMS/persistent post-COVID symptoms improve dramatically, and they can often recover full health. To learn how to do so in more detail, read my book From Fatigued to Fantastic.

Can’t get your doctor to prescribe it? Research is suggesting that a special natural supplement called PEA (Palmitoylethanolamide) can do the same thing as LDN. But possibly even more effectively. The form matters and I recommend two capsules a night of the product PEA Healthy Inflammation Response. It takes 2 to 3 months to start working, but then can very powerfully change people’s lives. So, I recommend people get three bottles and give it three months to fully start working. Start with 1 a day and increase as is comfortable (usually 2 a day is easy for most people- even with sensitivities. But good to ease in with most things).

I also recommend people began with the energy enhancing supplements below:

1. Multivitamin/mineral/amino acid and energy Cofactor support: I recommend that people use the Fatigued to Fantastic™ Energy Revitalization Drink Mix powder ½-1 scoop daily. This simple drink supplies optimal levels of 30 key vitamins, minerals, amino acids, energy factors and other nutrients.
2. Smart Energy System™. This remarkable mix contains ribose, Ashwagandha, Rhodiola, Schisandra, green tea extract and licorice. In our recently completed study, about 60% of people improved after taking this, with an average 60% increase in energy and 80% increase in stamina! [2] One caution. Licorice does increase blood pressure in some people. Most people with fibromyalgia have low blood pressure, so no problem. But in those with high blood pressure, blood pressure does need to be monitored.
3. HRG80™ Red Ginseng chewable tabs 1-2 a day. 

STEP 4: For Those with Heart or Lung Damage From COVID

With lung damage, you have to shut down excessive inflammation and free radical reactions. By and large, these are what cause the heart and lung damage during COVID, though not in other forms of CFS/FMS.

So if you had any heart or lung damage, shut down any ongoing inflammation and free radical excess with a mix of CuraMed® 750 mg and Clinical Glutathione™. I recommend one of each once or twice a day.  Brand matters, as it could take hundreds of tablets of turmeric and many of curcumin to get the effects of what is in the single CuraMed capsule.

If you have significant pain, Curamin® (1-2 tabs 3x day) can be substituted for CuraMed, giving the Curamin six weeks to work. While the curcumin (from the Curamin) is balancing the cyclooxygenase inflammation system (e.g., joints), the Curamin also contains boswellia (a.k.a. frankincense), which balances the lipoxygenase (LOX) pathway of inflammation, which is so important in the gut and lungs. The Curamin then also has phenylalanine to increase endorphin levels for pain and nattokinase to help break down the debris from the excess clotting and inflammation.  As you can see, this single compound is outstanding for healing. It is also the first thing I go to in helping most people who have chronic pain from most causes, and it has been a pain relief miracle.

If you have significant post-COVID organ injury or if you are having shortness of breath, please feel free to email me at fatiguedoc@gmail.com and request the free information sheets on these.

Conclusion

CFS and fibromyalgia, especially following COVID, can be very frightening to the people affected and challenging for the practitioners treating them. The good news? Although complex conditions, they can be effectively treated and often eliminated.

Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D. BIO

Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D., is one of the most frequently quoted integrative, pain, Long COVID and fibromyalgia medical authorities in the world. He is the author of 12 books, including the best-selling From Fatigued to Fantastic! (Penguin/Avery 2021)and You Can Heal from Long COVID (2024). He is the lead author of 8 studies on effective treatment for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, and several medical textbook chapters. Dr. Teitelbaum appears often as a guest on news and talk shows nationwide including Good Morning America, Oprah & Friends, CNN, and Fox News Health. Learn more at his website, Vitality101.com.

Sourcing Supplements: these can be found in numerous websites and health food stores including EndFatigue.com

References

Nine Studies Authored by Dr. Teitelbaum

1. Teitelbaum, J.; Goudie, S. An Open-Label, Pilot Trial of HRG80™ Red Ginseng in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and Post-Viral Fatigue. Pharmaceuticals 2022, 15, 43. https://doi.org/ 10.3390/ph15010043  https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/15/1/43/pdf.
2. Smart energy system study is completed but does not yet been submitted for publication. You can request the findings from Dr. Teitelbaum at FatigueDoc@gmail.com.
3. Teitelbaum JE and Bird B, “Effective Treatment of Severe Chronic Fatigue: A Report of a Series of 64 Patients,” Journal of Musculoskeletal Pain 3 (4) (1995): 91–110. http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.1300/J094v03n04_11.
4.  Teitelbaum JE, Bird B, Greenfield RM, et al., “Effective Treatment of CFS and FMS: A Randomized, Double-Blind Placebo Controlled Study,” Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Vol. 8, No. 2, 2001. PP3-28   https://vitality101.com/Effective-Treatment-Of-Severe-Chronic-Fatigue-States or  https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1300/J092v08n02_02.
5. Teitelbaum J, Morello G, Goudie S. Nutritional Intervention in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia (CFS/FMS) A Unique Porcine Serum Polypeptide Nutritional Supplement. The Open Pain Journal, December 31, 2020, Volume 13:52.  https://openpainjournal.com/VOLUME/13/PAGE/52/FULLTEXT/.
6. Nutritional Intervention in Postviral Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia (CFS/FMS). A Unique Porcine Serum Polypeptide Nutritional Supplement Jacob Teitelbaum MD , Gaetano Morello ND, Sarah Goudie. Study being submitted or publication. Copy available on request from FatigueDoc@gmail.com.
7. Teitelbaum JE, JA St.Cyr, C Johnson. The use of D-ribose in chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia: a pilot study. J Alternative and Complementary Medicine 2006;12(9):857-862. http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/acm.2006.12.857.
8. Teitelbaum JE, Jandrain J, McGrew R. Effective Treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia with D-ribose—A Multicenter Study. The Open Pain Journal. 2012:5:32-37  https://openpainjournal.com/contents/volumes/V5/TOPAINJ-5-32/TOPAINJ-5-32.pdf.
9. Jacob Teitelbaum, MD; Devi S. Nambudripad, MD, PhD, DC, LAc; Yvonne Tyson, MD; Ming Chen, MD; Robert Prince, MD; Mala M. Moosad, RN, LAc, PhD; Laurie Teitelbaum, MS. Improving Communication Skills in Children With Allergy-related Autism Using Nambudripad’s Allergy Elimination Techniques: A Pilot Study. Integrative Medicine • Vol. 10, No. 5 • Oct/Nov 2011. P36-43. http://naethawaii.com/wp-content/uploads/published-articles/NAET-and-Autism-Study.pdf.

Disclaimer

Please be aware that medicine is complex and without being your attending physician we cannot give medical advice. Any information given is to be used as a teaching tool for you and your physician to work with, and therefore we cannot take any legal responsibility for its use. Please check with your personal physician before applying any recommendations discussed in this article.

This article is for your personal use in response to your request to me for information and is intended to be an educational aid for you and your physician.