The Hummingbirds' Foundation for M.E.

Before reading the research/advocacy information given in the links below, please be aware of the following facts:

1. Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and ‘Chronic Fatigue Syndrome’ are not synonymous terms. The overwhelming majority of research on ‘CFS’ or ‘CFIDS’ or ‘ME/CFS’ or ‘CFS/ME’ or ‘ICD-CFS’ does not involve M.E. patients and is not relevant in any way to M.E. patients. If the M.E. community were to reject all ‘CFS’ labelled research as ‘only relating to ‘CFS’ patients’ (including research which describes those abnormalities/characteristics unique to M.E. patients), however, this would seem to support the myth that ‘CFS’ is just a ‘watered down’ definition of M.E. and that M.E. and ‘CFS’ are virtually the same thing and share many characteristics.

A very small number of ‘CFS’ studies refer in part to people with M.E. but it may not always be clear which parts refer to M.E. The A warning on ‘CFS’ and ‘ME/CFS’ research and advocacy paper is recommended reading and includes a checklist to help readers assess the relevance of individual ‘CFS’ studies to M.E. (if any) and explains some of the problems with this heterogeneous and skewed research.

In future, it is essential that M.E. research again be conducted using only M.E. defined patients and using only the term M.E. The bogus, financially-motivated disease category of ‘CFS’ must be abandoned.

2. The research referred to on this website varies considerably in quality. Some is of a high scientific standard and relates wholly to M.E. and uses the correct terminology. Other studies are included which may only have partial or minor possible relevance to M.E., use unscientific terms/concepts such as ‘CFS,’ ‘ME/CFS,’ ‘CFS/ME,’ ‘CFIDS’ or Myalgic ‘Encephalopathy’ and also include a significant amount of misinformation. Before reading this research it is also essential that the reader be aware of the most commonly used ‘CFS’ propaganda, as explained in A warning on ‘CFS’ and ‘ME/CFS’ research and advocacy and in more detail in Putting research and articles on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis into context.

• What is Myalgic Encephalomyelitis? A medical and political overview of the illness which also includes links to many more relevant articles and books for further reading. An excerpt of this text is reproduced below.
• Putting Myalgic Encephalomyelitis research and articles into context Because of the politics and financial interests involved in M.E. research it is vitally important that before you read anything about the illness that you read this paper first and understand the context in which it was written.
• Testing for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis A basic overview of some of the series of tests which can be done to help confirm a suspected M.E. diagnosis (also contains further information on many other aspects of diagnosis).
• The ultra-comprehensive Myalgic Encephalomyelitis symptom list.
• Treating Myalgic Encephalomyelitis - avoiding overexertion 
• The myths about Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
• Why the disease category of ‘CFS’ must be abandoned M.E. and 'CFS' are not the same. This paper discusses why renaming, refining or sub-grouping 'CFS' cannot work and why 'CFS' must be abandoned.
• The misdiagnosis of CFS None of the definitions of CFS defines M.E., so what do they define? What does a diagnosis of 'CFS' actually mean?
• M.E. vs MS: Similarities and differences M.E. and MS are very similar diseases medically in many ways. However, for reasons that have nothing to do with science, the two diseases are treated very differently politically and socially. The contrast could not be more stark. M.E. patients are treated terribly (and often abused terribly, even unto death in some cases), yet there is no public outcry as there would be if MS patients were treated in this same way. Thus people with M.E. find themselves in the terrible position of actually ENVYING people who have MS.
• Who benefits from 'CFS' and 'ME/CFS'? For whose benefit was ‘Chronic Fatigue Syndrome’ created, and for whose benefit is it so heavily promoted despite its utter lack of scientific credibility? Who benefits from Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and ‘CFS’ being mixed together through unscientific concepts such as ‘CFS/ME’ and ‘ME/CFS’ and Myalgic ‘Encephalopathy’? Who benefits from the facts of M.E. remaining ignored, obscured and hidden in plain sight? This paper looks at all of these very important questions.

Also note that this website has become so large that its features can no longer all be taken in at a glance. In order for site visitors to find the information they need more quickly, this page features Information Guides relevant to each of the different types of visitors to the site.

See also:

• The Nightingale Definition of M.E. and A New and Simple Definition of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and a New Simple Definition of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & A Brief History of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis & An Irreverent History of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and The Complexities of Diagnosis and Are Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and CFS Synonymous Terms? by Byron Hyde MD
• Research into ME 1988 - 1998 Too much PHILOSOPHY and too little BASIC SCIENCE! and The Late Effects Of M.E. and A Rose by Any Other Name and Redefinitions of ME - a 20th Century Phenomenon by Dr Elizabeth Dowsett
• What is ME? What is CFS? Information for Clinicians & Lawyers by Eileen Marshall, Margaret Williams & Professor Malcolm Hooper
• Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME): a review with emphasis on key findings in biomedical research and The Mental Health Movement: Persecution of Patients? by Professor Malcolm Hooper
• Worldwide Epidemic:an ALERT to citizens worldwide and; ME and CFS, the Definitions from The Committee for Justice and Recognition of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
• How to disguise a disease by Cesar Quintero

For a list of purely medical overviews of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis see Section 4 of the CBT and GET database.

Individual research papers

Hundreds of individual research abstracts and articles by some of the world’s leading M.E. experts and authors are also available to view; search for articles by topic or by author.

See: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis research and articles 

This is a collection of literally HUNDREDS of some of the best research and articles, from some of the worlds leading researchers, doctors and M.E. advocates. Sections include: M.E. outbreaks, M.E. and children, viral research, cardiac research, the severity of M.E. and many more.

Essential reading on M.E.

The book: The Clinical and Scientific Basis of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Edited by Byron Hyde, M.D. is also vital reading for anyone with a real interest in M.E.

This book provides, in one superb 75-chapter source, an up-to-date, comprehensive account of current knowledge concerning the history, epidemiology, children with M.E., investigation, virology, immunology, muscle pathology, host response, food intolerance, brain mapping, neurophysiology, neuropsychology, psychiatry, sleep dysfunction and much more. This is an essential reference book for medical, government and public library reference rooms. This text is a unique vehicle for researchers, physicians and other health education and government officials, and is also easily understandable by the general public. All funds from the sale of this book go towards M.E. research and advocacy. See the Review of this book for more information and for purchasing details.