Natural Treatments for Chronic Fatigue

Chronic pain and fatigue are common conditions that affect millions of people around the world. These two conditions, known as chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia have symptoms that can cause serious life changes and result in a life full of pain and suffering with no visible cause. The condition of chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia was so misunderstood for decades that many doctors did not even believe the condition was real.

Millions of women and men in extreme pain had to suffer needlessly because their conditions were ignored. Today, doctors recognize chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia as real, treatable conditions. While many doctors offer pain medication for these conditions, there are also natural treatments that can reduce the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.

Cause of Fibromyalgia

Doctors are not sure why fibromyalgia occurs in some people and not others, or why it more commonly affects women than men. However, a few explications have been offered, including:

Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia have many of the same symptoms. The main difference is that during fibromyalgia, a person feels as though they are in constant pain everywhere in their body and chronic fatigue simply makes a person feel extremely lethargic and always tired.

Common symptoms include:

• Exhaustion that occurs after any physical exertion
• Severe headaches
• Insomnia
• Disturbed rest
• Digestive problems
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Depression
• Sensitivity to light, smells, and sounds
• Chills or night sweats
• Chronic joint and muscle pain

Natural Treatments for Chronic Fatigue

Depending on the cause of your chronic fatigue, you may have success in applying natural remedies. Some causes, such as autoimmune disorders, could be reversed with natural treatments. A mix of herbal supplements, vitamins, and other natural remedies to treat chronic fatigue syndrome will provide the best results.

Always consult with a medical professional before trying any extreme treatment measures, particularly if you are already taking medication to treat your symptoms. Some herbal remedies may interfere with the proper function of medication.

Melatonin

Melatonin is a natural hormone that your body makes at night. However, if your body makes too little of the hormone, you will suffer from restless nights and insomnia. The best way to reset your melatonin levels is to go outside both for the rising and setting of the sun. This triggers the natural production of melatonin and can help regulate your hormone levels naturally. Until the natural production returns, however, you may find it helpful to supplement with natural melatonin supplements. In most cases, a few weeks of supplementation combined with resetting your biological clock will be enough to improve your sleep. Just getting better sleep can often reduce symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Magnesium

Magnesium is a mineral that many women are chronically low in no matter if they are healthy or not. Magnesium deficiency is commonly associated with fatigue, muscle aches, pain, and insomnia. Taking magnesium regularly can have beneficial effects on chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.

Ascorbigen and Broccoli

Ascorbigen is a compound found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli. A combination of ascorbigen and broccoli can detox the liver and has other benefits on insomnia, pain, and overall suffering. Studies indicate that consuming more ascorbigen has powerful benefits in boosting the immune system and overall health.

Rhodiola Rosea

Rhodiola Rosea is used to fight fatigue and cognitive decline. The herb has been linked with boosting ATP production, which helps prevent muscle pain and fights muscle fatigue and generalized tiredness.

Ginger

Ginger boosts the immune system, reduces inflammation, and can reduce autoimmune disorders. In one study, study participants who consumed ginger powder for several weeks reported feeling less pain and aches when the study period ended.

Malic Acid

Malic acid is an acid commonly found in apples. This compound boosts the absorption of nutrients including magnesium and calcium. A study from 1995 found that when study participants supplemented with a combination of magnesium and malic acid for several weeks, they reported reduced pain and tenderness.

5-HTP

5- HTP is a compound made in the brain that boosts rest and fights insomnia. A study published in the Journal of International Medical Research found that 5-HTP was able to reduce anxiety and depression when taken by individuals with chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia.

Ginseng

Chronic fatigue is often triggered by excess stress. Ginseng is an herb that has major benefits in fighting the dangerous effects of stress. Ginseng can also boost energy and alertness during the day, which can help reset the normal sleep/wake cycle and prevent insomnia at night.

Valerian Root

Valerian is an herb that has been used effectively for hundreds of years to fight insomnia and increase rest while fighting daytime fatigue. Valerian has a mild sedative effect, which prevents nighttime waking and helps prevent some of the common side effects of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.

Try Acupuncture

Some studies suggest that acupuncture can help reduce the pain of fibromyalgia and reduce chronic fatigue. Acupuncture is designed to relieve stress and pain from certain trigger points and has been shown in some studies to boost the immune system and relieve pain in the joints and elsewhere in the body.

Reduce Stimulant Consumption

If you suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome, you may find that alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco consumption only makes your symptoms worse. Avoid these three items until your fatigue is corrected and you feel healthy again. Clean Up Your Diet Junk food can increase your fatigue because your body does not have enough vitamins and minerals to function properly.

Instead of eating junk food, try a diet high in vegetables, fruit, protein, and minimally processed carbs. Switch to a diet low in sugar and you should start to feel better in just a few weeks. If you are overweight, this new diet will also help you shed excess pounds which will increase your energy and help you feel less tired.

Exercise Regularly

You may not feel like exercising when you are in pain or extremely tired, but regular exercise is one of the best ways to start feeling better. Try exercising at least three times a week for 30 minutes a day. Start with gentle exercises, such as yoga, walking, swimming, or riding a bike. You can increase intensity when you start to feel better. Exercise regulates hormones, helps fight pain, and increases energy all at once.

Natural Remedies Can Reverse Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

You may be suffering from chronic fatigue and constant pain now, but you don’t have to suffer forever. Evidence shows that natural remedies combined with a healthy diet and exercise can go a long way toward reversing the effects of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. The best way to reverse this problem is to take baby steps one at a time to reverse this painful and damaging condition for good.