Natural herbal & homeopathic help for people suffering from routine fatigue & Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)

Fatigue
HEALTH HERBS & NUTRITION - REMEDIES - FATIGUE

· General Description · Symptoms · Causes · Herbal & Homeopathic Remedies · Helpful Dietary Habits · Dos and Don'ts

Feeling dog-tired, as so many people do, is disheartening, demoralizing and frustrating. People complain of feeling drained and exhausted so often that doctors call fatigue the number one health complaint. Often fatigue is accompanied by lack of motivation and low sex drive. Many medical conditions and lifestyle issues can contribute to fatigue, including lack of sleep & inadequate nutrition. Fatigue is a symptom rather than a specific illness or disorder.  Affecting both body and mind, long periods of fatigue can seriously impair your daily functioning and make even the simplest of life’s responsibilities difficult to cope with.  If you are struggling just to stay awake, life is passing by and you can’t keep up with it, willpower won’t fix it, so what does? Try a total energy makeover – change the way you eat, drink and exercise. Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is one of several names given to a poorly understood, variably debilitating disorder of uncertain causation. CFS is thought, based on a 1999 study, to affect approximately 4 per 1,000 adults in the United States. For unknown reasons, CFS occurs more often in women than men, and in people in their 40s and 50s. Chronic fatigue syndrome is not the same as "chronic fatigue". Fatigue is a common symptom in many illnesses, but CFS is a multi-systemic disease and is relatively rare by comparison. Definitions require a number of features, the most common being severe mental and physical exhaustion which is "unrelieved by rest", and may be worsened by even trivial exertion (a mandatory diagnostic criterion according to some systems). Most diagnostic criteria require that symptoms must be present for at least six months, and all state the symptoms must not be caused by other medical conditions.

Since there is no identifiable cause for chronic fatigue, and the physiology of the syndrome remains unknown, treatment often aims at relieving symptoms and teaching the patient to cope with the illness. A holistic approach may incorporate moderate physical activity, dietary supplements and natural remedies to help you cope with the symptoms. Both fatigue, as well as CFS, can be benefited by natural supplements harmlessly to improve the general energy levels.

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General symptoms of fatigue include:

Weariness that varies in intensity An overwhelming need to sleep Headaches Feeling of muscular numbness with pain of a varying intensity when using limbs Difficulty in concentrating & problems with short term memory Slower reflexes and responses rates Low mood, irritability or depression Changes in appetite Reduced resistance to disease due to low immunity Poor motivation Please Note: When fatigue is intense and persistent, it is important to consult a doctor to determine its precise nature and also to eliminate other disorders.

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There can be many causes of your fatigue. Some of them include: A result of some illness - flu, obesity, allergies, infections, alcohol abuse, hypothyroidism, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, glandular fever, Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), Excessive Candida overgrowth in the digestive tract, Arthritis, Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) or Periodic Limb Movement (PLM) and AIDS. Psychological conditions such as anxiety, stress & depression Lack of sleep Lack of exercise – taking regular exercise will increase the oxygen storage capacity of the muscles and stimulate the immune system Anemia – reduced capacity to deliver oxygen to the tissues. Most common is iron deficiency anemia due to poor diet, blood loss or illness. Faulty diet, lack of nutrition Fatigue is also a side effect of both prescription and over-the-counter drugs (recreational drugs as well). Among the culprits are sleeping pills, antidepressants, blood pressure drugs and even cough mixtures. Stimulants – Caffeine in tea, coffee and colas brings short-term relief from fatigue, but an excessive amount (more than 6 cups a day) may well leave you feeling tired. Ditto with alcohol, this can leave you dehydrated also.

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Fatigue will be treated according to the underlying cause. In some cases, simply adjusting your life-style to include appropriate dietary, exercise and sleep needs will be enough to combat fatigue. In other cases where medical causes are at play, treating the medical illness is the first plan of action. Natural herbal and homeopathic remedies can be a great help when trying to combat fatigue. There are a number of herbal ingredients that work naturally to energize and balance the body and mind while helping to increase strength and endurance. Herbs such as Siberian Ginseng, Olea europea (extract of olive leaf) and Centella asiatica are commonly used to fight fatigue and boost energy without negative side effects - like those possible with pharmaceutical or dietary stimulants. These herbal ingredients can be taken to naturally assist overall systemic functioning, help to balance all body systems naturally and are often taken by athletes, those suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome, those recovering from illness (convalescence) or those that need the extra boost to help manage a busy life-style. Eleutherococcus senticosis (Siberian Ginseng) - A botanical cousin of Panax Ginseng, this herb has been used in ancient Chinese medicine for thousands of years to enhance the vital energy of the body and to sharpen physical and mental performance and endurance, withstand stress and boost immune functioning. Siberian Ginseng has been approved by medical authorities in Germany as an invigorating tonic for fatigue and to protect against and recover from illness. Ginseng acts as an overall systemic supporter and is a supportive tonic for healthy adrenal function. Olea europea (extract of Olive leaf) - This is used to fight a variety of illnesses and to protect the body against disease, ailments and infection of all types. It is said to be particularly effect against hard to treat illnesses such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Epstein-Barr Disease and Herpes. Olea europea  is also effective in lowering high blood pressure and reducing cholesterol levels. As a powerful anti-fungal, it also fights yeast infections and can reduce candida overgrowth in the system, one of the major causes of fatigue. Borago officinalis (Borage) is an herb with a variety of uses, including significant tonic benefits on the health of the adrenal glands. Astragalus membranaceous (Huang Qi) has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for many centuries as a natural rejuvenating tonic. Ferrum phosphoricum (D6)is a mineral compound of iron and phosphorus. Both elements are present in the body independently; iron aids the exchange of oxygen in the blood, and phosphorus contributes to bone and muscle health. Ferrum phosphoricum was introduced by Dr. Schussler, a German physician who believed that many ailments were caused by a deficiency of biochemic tissue salts. Ferrum phos. is considered good for patients who suffer from conditions accompanied by low energy. Calcarea phosphorica (D6) was proved in 1937 by Dr. Constantine Herring, and later chosen as a "tissue salt" by Dr. Wilhelm Schussler later in the nineteenth century. Those that are easily fatigued, have brittle bones and teeth, and tend to become weak and tired after illness would find this ingredient supportive.