15 Natural Remedies for Fatigue
No matter what stage of life you are in, without a doubt, you must have experienced the silent epidemic that plagues individuals of the 21st century.
Chronic tiredness; exhaustion to the point of being unable to participate in recreational activities, focus on self-care, or even get day-to-day tasks done at home or work; all of these are troubling symptoms of severe fatigue, which, if left untreated, can ultimately wreak havoc on your physical, mental, and emotional health.
It is no secret that in the case of exhaustion, traditional medicine is often useless, offering nothing but pharmaceuticals with potentially dangerous side-effects that could leave you in even worse shape over time than you were before.
What is, then, your best bet to combat exhaustion and reclaim your life?
I suggest exploring the wonderful world of natural cures and home remedies for fatigue, since finding time-tested and amazingly effective solutions has never been easier than now.
Keep on reading to discover every fabulous fatigue-fixer on this list of the top 15 home remedies!
Before we begin our quest to find out how not to be tired, however, let’s see some more information about the condition of fatigue itself, to understand better what we – and our bodies – are up against.
What Is Fatigue?
When talking about fatigue, we usually refer to a physical, mental, or emotional exhaustion that causes mild, moderate, or even severe distress to the affected individual.
Indeed, all of us have experienced this condition to varying degrees, and most everyone recovers with the help of some additional rest and self-care.
Symptoms – which usually present themselves as lack of energy, slowed motions, or physical weakness, foggy thinking, and delayed reactions – don’t tend to last long before the body finds its way back to homeostasis again.
Often, however, fatigue isn’t corrected by sneaking in a few extra hours of sleep, but persists for extended periods of time, pointing toward a more severe imbalance taking place inside the organism; a problem that requires additional attention and tangible solutions before exhaustion escalates and overtakes your life.
What Causes Fatigue?
Fatigue is relatively easily triggered by physical, mental, or emotional stress, overwork, sleep deprivation, and various acute or chronic health conditions.
A nutritionally-inadequate diet and not drinking enough fluids throughout the day will also set off bouts of fatigue, especially when these are not addressed early on and are continued for prolonged periods of time.
When severe fatigue lingers without relief for several months, it may be the single most prominent symptom of chronic fatigue syndrome, a debilitating neurological and immunological condition that affects the well-being of over 1.5 million Americans, often featuring classic signs of physical disability.
Fortunately, the vast majority of us are not experiencing fatigue to this extreme degree; however, when in doubt, always seek the help of your primary care physician to get to the root of your troublesome condition!
How to Avoid Fatigue?
If you are affected by fatigue to any degree, you are probably looking for solutions to how not to be tired all the time.
In general, a vast number of lifestyle choices can be modified to bring that long-awaited relief; there are hundreds of natural remedies for fatigue that should make a world of a difference when you persist in including them in your daily life.
Below are 15 hand-picked, highly efficient, and proven home remedies for fatigue; try any or all of them to experience their almost instant positive effects on your overall energy levels!
15 Natural Remedies for Fatigue
Physical Activity
This remedy may seem counterintuitive at first glance, yet the benefits are outstanding if done correctly: a carefully-chosen and appropriate physical exercise not only strengthens the physique but melts away fatigue too.
It can’t be stressed enough, however, how important it is to pick the right kind of activity since you don’t want to stress your already over-extended body any further.
Consider your current physical fitness levels and overall health before choosing an exercise that you enjoy doing enough to stick with, even on days when you don’t have the energy to climb out of bed.
Even more importantly, avoid strenuous activities, since they tend to raise your cortisol – the primary stress hormone – levels, which will most assuredly do more harm than good, leaving you even more fatigued and burnt-out.
Prolonged cardio sessions, for example, are very taxing for your system; pick a low-intensity, gentle, and soothing style of movement, such as swimming, walking outside, or low-key rebounding on a mini trampoline.
Yoga
Meet an activity that perfectly fits the bill for a gentle, yet powerful fatigue-booster!
Yoga is, in fact, more than just another physical exercise: according to the Hindu belief system, it manipulates the universal life force energy that continuously flows through everything, your body included.
When this delicate flow is disrupted, energetic blockages develop, causing lethargy and lack of balance, leading to physical, mental, and emotional fatigue and later on, various diseases.
Yoga aims to restore this energetic flow gently and without any strain; therefore, when looking for a solution for how to cure fatigue, this may be your best bet!
While yoga can certainly be learned alone and practiced in the comfort of your own home, you may want to seek the advice of an expert yoga instructor to help you master some basic concepts and movements that will greatly benefit you in your battle against fatigue.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a psychological state of being fully-aware, focused, and conscious, and we are innately capable of harnessing its life-transforming powers.
The question is, what are you focused on at this present moment?
Are you allowing old and sorrowful memories to steal your attention, keeping you attached to the past that no longer exists, and is unchangeable?
Or, perhaps, are you so full of anxiety about the future that you don’t notice as your time slowly slips away, waking up one day with the frightening realization that you have nothing left to look forward to?
If your answer is yes to any of the above, you are probably starting to understand how this internal struggle may be stealing your energy and health, and why the practice of mindfulness meditation can be so beneficial for tackling fatigue.
Slow down, breathe, and gently direct your thoughts back to the present moment, finding small things in your surroundings that can make you smile.
Do not dwell on negative thoughts.
Repeat daily to reinforce new neural pathways in your brain toward happy things, and watch how quickly fatigue disappears!
Quality Sleep
How to get rid of fatigue? In theory, it’s a no-brainer: rest more!
In reality, though, you may find that no amount of extra naps or early bedtimes will cure chronic exhaustion, unless the focus shifts from quantity to quality; that is, aiding your body and mind to allow more restful and undisturbed sleep.
Remove all distractions that make you tense, especially in the evening: turn off the TV, or only watch lighthearted entertainment before going to bed.
Consider the use of supplements to help you to drift off faster and remain asleep longer; avoid over-the-counter or prescription drugs, as they have many unpleasant and even dangerous side effects.
Valerian root capsules, melatonin, passion flower, and the blend of various essential oils such as lavender, bergamot, or mandarin can be of great help.
Blue Light
Your body operates based on a repetitive physiological cycle – the circadian rhythm – that manages every aspect of the organism on a 24-hour basis, ensuring that you are in sync with environmental factors, such as the sun, leaving you energetic and vitalized throughout the day.
Unfortunately, man-made sources of light, especially the ones that emit blue light (smartphones, anyone?) cause significant disruptions to your brain since they mimic visible morning light conditions, thereby tricking it into believing that it is daytime even in the middle of the night when you casually check your phone, thus halting your natural melatonin production.
To avoid further bouts of fatigue, it is imperative to limit your screen time when it’s past your bedtime, or if you absolutely must use them, invest in a blue light screen filter for your phone or tablet.
On the flip side, utilize the naturally occurring blue light: take a walk in the morning to feel instantly refreshed and awake, and enjoy the physical activity to sleep even better the following night, as a result!
Losing Weight
Physical activity and better quality of sleep are both beneficial for shedding those excess pounds you may have been carrying around, resulting in a leaner, stronger, and healthier body, one that recovers from all kinds of ailments much faster, general exhaustion included.
Even a seemingly insignificant amount of fat loss can have amazing benefits, and for a good reason: try carrying around a five-pound bag of goodies for a few hours to feel the ache in your arms and shoulders for days to come!
While the bigger percentage of weight you lose the more energetic you will feel, aim for a sustainable speed for your physical transformation that doesn’t cause strain, stress, or nutritional deficiencies – all of those are the enemies of recovering from fatigue!
Water
One of the easiest and cheapest ways to fight fatigue is, without doubt, drinking more water; dehydration has virtually become an epidemic in our modern culture that promotes consuming caffeinated beverages that may act as a diuretic, especially if you are drinking these in large quantities, forgetting about your basic physiological needs.
Water speeds up your fatigued brain and invigorates every single cell and organ of your body, which will breathe a sigh of relief: without enough fluid, it is unable to expel all those toxins that found their way inside and are potentially dragging you down.
If you feel that you consistently fail to meet your bodily needs by drinking enough, make sure that you are eating fruits and vegetables that are almost equally as nourishing: watermelons, cucumbers, tomatoes, berries, or citrus fruits are all excellent additions to ensure that you are adequately hydrated.
Nutrition
How is your nutritional intake?
How to get rid of fatigue when all that your body has to work with are empty calories devoid of vitamins, minerals, and other vital building blocks?
Most of our modern prepackaged meals don’t offer proper nutrition at all; no wonder, then, that experiencing fatigue is such a common occurrence these days.
Plenty of diets promote cutting out entire food groups for faster weight loss or to reach an ideal state of health; you need to research every one of them carefully to find out what works best for you.
However, in general, it is a wise idea to aim for balanced thinking about nutrition too: fats, proteins, and carbohydrates all have a significant place and purpose on your plate.
Aim for the highest-quality ingredients you can find, ditch the sugar and fast foods, and watch your energy levels skyrocket!
Coconut Oil
If there is an ultimate superfood, it has got to be coconut oil: with hundreds of known uses for better health or more radiant looks, it certainly deserves all the hype!
Amongst those enormous benefits, sufferers of fatigue will find a powerful cure that may finally fix low energy levels too.
Although most of the time the exact cause of tiredness may not be obvious, if it is caused by lingering viral, bacterial, or fungal infection, coconut oil – and its primary component, lauric acid – will make sure that the toxic invaders won’t survive for long inside your body.
As a powerful functional food, it is also capable of restoring hormonal balance, thereby aiding the proper working of all glands.
Since fatigue often goes hand-in-hand with low thyroid function and an adrenal emergency, this could offer tangible hope to even those who are affected by severe fatigue and who haven’t found relief elsewhere.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Some consider apple cider vinegar a miracle in a bottle, and rightfully so: it is a well-known substance that is thought to heal many major physical ailments, from obesity to asthma.
The question is: can it work for our benefit, and if so, how to cure fatigue by ingesting apple cider vinegar?
You’ll be happy to hear: this age-old method may just be the solution you’ve been looking for since it tackles the problem of tiredness from multiple angles.
If you have over-exerted yourself physically or otherwise, this stress can cause lactic acid build-up inside the body, causing not only exhaustion but aches and pains, as well.
Enter apple cider vinegar.
With its high concentration of healing enzymes and potassium, if ingested regularly, it will restore the body’s homeostasis, including an ideal pH balance that is essential for fighting off fatigue-causing diseases and low energy levels.
Finally, apple cider vinegar is a powerful antifungal, preventing dangerous yeast overgrowth – especially Candida – which is known to cause chronic levels of fatigue in many.
Stinging Nettle
It may look like nothing but a humble weed, but stinging nettle is a nutritional giant in the world of healing supplements: full of protein, vitamins, and trace minerals, it is considered to be one of the most energy-packed plants available today, which, considering its inexpensive price, may mean that you have found the ultimate herbal medicine to overcome fatigue.
Nettle goes straight to the heart of the matter – the adrenal glands – to fight chronically-low levels of energy and invigorate the body from within.
It is best to be consumed in the form of an infusion to enjoy all these benefits: take an ounce of dried herbs and place it in the bottom of a quart jar, then pour boiling water on it till it’s full, seal it closed, and allow it to brew overnight.
Enjoy it cold or heated up, after straining it, and prepare to witness a miracle transformation from within!
Licorice
If you automatically think of candy flavoring when reading about licorice, you are not alone: most people nowadays are completely unaware of the vast health benefits this powerful herb has to offer, even though it has been considered one of the most important plant medicines throughout antiquity, even as far away as China.
Fortunately, these amazing qualities are readily available for all of us who want to take advantage of it, and in our perpetually busy and chaotic modern world we are in dire need of it, as well: it is capable of normalizing all glandular function, along with minimizing the damaging effects of environmental stress that disrupts hormone balance and sends our cortisol production into overdrive, causing persistent fatigue.
Ginseng
Ginseng may taste bitter, yet its benefits in fighting fatigue are rather sweet news to those who suffer from lack of energy.
This is another herb that has been greatly favored by ancient practitioners of Chinese medicine for several millennia, primarily because of its adaptogenic qualities: by restoring the balance of your adrenal system, it also aids the body in adjusting to environmental stress, thereby preventing damage, physical or otherwise, and allowing it to rebound quicker from all types of injuries or distress, fatigue included.
Since all of these health benefits are associated with the root of a ginseng plant, it is best consumed in freshly ground form; dried ginseng root powder, however, is almost equally potent and thus is a perfectly acceptable alternative.
Magnesium
With as many as 1 in every 4 Americans being deficient in magnesium, it is crucial to be well-informed about those symptoms that may go hand in hand with low blood levels of this essential mineral.
Not surprisingly, you will find that physical and mental fatigue is considered to be one of the very first signs your body is sending you about the need to ingest more magnesium; therefore, if you are suffering from persistent tiredness, make sure that you are adequately supplementing according to your physiological needs and overall health condition.
Since a magnesium supplement is safe and inexpensive, it is a route that is definitely worth exploring when treating chronic levels of fatigue with natural remedies.
Raw Honey
Raw honey may be the last item on this list, but it is definitely not anything to sneeze at, especially in the 20th century, when as much as 80% of the population will face adrenal fatigue at some point in their lives.
Good quality honey deals with this devastating problem by rebalancing every component of your bodily systems one by one: first, it improves your sleep by aiding the release of melatonin; second, it cures insomnia and allows you to sleep longer; and third, it decreases cortisol levels overnight, leaving you instantly refreshed upon awakening.
To utilize all of these fatigue-curing benefits, make sure that you ingest raw honey right before bedtime; take 1-2 tablespoons each night, preferably purchased from a local source, and enjoy its mind-relaxing effects instantly.
Within a few weeks, you will notice an incredible surge in your energy levels!
Conclusion
Fatigue is a complex physiological issue that requires targeted and actionable solutions from multiple angles.
Nutritional support is merely one piece of the puzzle; if you want to experience a noticeable relief from exhaustion, a whole lifestyle makeover is recommended.
Don’t wait to implement these changes; every day of delay will further reinforce your condition, leaving you even more stressed, depressed, and feeling hopeless.
Adapting to a brand new way of life that is centered around self-care and honoring your own needs doesn’t have to be difficult.
Remember, nature is on your side, generously offering a wide array of healing herbs, nourishing supplements, and easy-to-implement home remedies that all can work in conjunction to restore your energy levels, bringing fun and joy back to your life, and opening up new horizons for a transformed and vibrantly energetic version of you.
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