If Dr. Shoemaker were weighing in on this subject he'd probably mention how MSH levels go up during pregnancy, and that this has a direct anti-inflammatory effect, amongst other things.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanocyte-stimulating_hormone
That's very interesting.
Since I have ghastly pale skin and cannot tan at all (despite living in Sicily), would that mean I have an abnormal low level of these? My mother swears I used to tan really well when I was a kid, and I have read many times that being really pale is typical in CFS, so maybe it's something caused by the illness.
What do you reckon?