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What Causes Fatigue
 

 

Chamomile

 

 

 

 

READ MORE ON WHAT CAUSES FATIGUE ....................

 

What causes fatigue and natural treatments

 by naturopath Tracey Lee Morley

 

 

 

1. Do you feel absolutely exhausted?

2. What are the causes of fatigue?

3. Why am I so tired?

4. Natural solutions and treatments for fatigue

5. How to boost your energy

6. Do you crave sugar? have energy slumps 2-4pm? have trouble losing weight from around your middle? Do you have diabetes or high blood sugar levels? Have you ever suffered from hypoglycaemia?

7. Stress A Leading Cause of Fatigue

8. Adrenal fatigue and exhaustion; The LEADING cause of fatigue

9. Assess Your Stress Levels? Are you Stressed? Anxious? or Depressed? DAAS questionnaire

10. Herbal medicines for fatigue (and stress)

11. Herbs for food cravings

12. Supplements for fatigue (and stress)

12. Chinese herbs for fatigue and stress

14. Diet & Lifestyle changes to beat fatigue

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WHAT CAUSES FATIGUE AND

HOW NATURAL THERAPIES CAN HELP YOU

OVERCOME IT!

Holistic Health and Wellness

Tracey Lee Morley

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What Causes Fatigue
 

 

 

 

What Causes Fatigue
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What Causes Fatigue
 

Three lead supplements for fatigue energy X (magnesium N acetyl carnitine and vtiamin B and tyrosine), high quality fish oils (meta epa/dha) and Multivit/min (femm essentials)

 

Withania

 

What Causes Fatigue
 

 

High quality omega 3 fish oil

 

Linseed or Flax seed

 

What Causes Fatigue
 

 

Tumeric

 

What Causes Fatigue
 

 

 

Do You Feel Absolutely Exhausted?


Most people today are living extremely stressful, busy lives, so it is normal to feel tired sometimes. This tiredness generally resolves itself after some rest and relaxation. Increasingly though, persistent tiredness is becoming a major problem for many people.

Fatigue is a common presenting complaint in the majority of Australians and New Zealanders, but it is also often misunderstood, and at times even dismissed, particularly if there is no easily identifiable cause.
 

When Was The Last Time You Felt Really Good?

Do you remember the days when you bounced out of bed in the mornings, excited and energised? Have these been replaced with the desire for a really good sleep in? When did this change happen? Can you pinpoint the day you lost your energy?
 

For many of us, loss of energy is something that sneaks up on us. The reduction in our energy most often happens so gradually that we don’t notice the change from one day to the next. The sad thing is that we actually get used to feeling low in energy and this becomes our new “normal”.


Fatigue is a common condition and is often misunderstood or even dismissed. This may occur if there is no identifiable ‘cause’ from diagnostic procedures, such as blood tests, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t want to strive to be, and feel, your best.

What causes fatigue?

Factors that may contribute to fatigue include:


• Low iron levels
• Inflammation
• Infection
• Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)
• Digestion, liver issues and malabsorption
• Hormonal imbalances
• Excess body fat
• Unstable blood sugars
• Stress (physical and emotional) and Adrenal fatigue (see more below)
• Toxicity
• Mitochondrial dysfunction
• Poor sleep
• Diet
• Inactive lifestyle
• Digestion and liver issues

As you can see, there are multiple reasons why you may feel fatigued. Essentially, whenyour body systems are not working at their optimum levels, this can affect you both physically and mentally, ultimately having an effect on all facets of your life. However, natural medicines can help.


Why am I so tired?

There are multiple reasons why you may feel fatigued. A common reason people get fatigued is poor energy production. To keep your energy levels up, you need to ensure that all your body systems are in balance and working effectively. You also need to make sure that the energy centres of every cell in your body, the mitochondria, are working effectively.

The energy “powerhouses” - the mitochondria Every cell in your body contains energy centres known as the mitochondria, which require certain nutrients to work efficiently. No matter what else is going on in your body, if mitochondrial function is impaired, you will have reduced energy production. Support of healthy mitochondrial function is essential for optimising your energy levels. If you experience fatigue, improving mitochondrial function is an important first step toward improving your energy levels.

Mitochondria are like little batteries that provide energy for our whole body. These mitochondria require several specific nutrients in order to produce energy at an efficient rate. If any one of these nutrients is not available, or if the mitochondria are damaged, the energy we have available goes down. If you experience fatigue, improving mitochondrial function is an important first step toward improving your energy levels.

Supplements to Help Overcome Fatigue

Would you like to know the key to unlocking the energy centres in your body?

Some helpful nutrients which have been scientifically researched and proven to assist the mitochondria to produce energy effectively are:

Magnesium
Carnitine
Coenzyme Q10
Lipoic Aid
Omega 3 oils
Antioxidants


Deficiencies in these nutrients can lead to persistent fatigue. Unless the deficiency is corrected it may prove difficult to overcome the state of low energy and motivation.

Magnesium – an essential mineral for fatigue

Magnesium; the lead supplement for fatigue


Magnesium, an essential mineral, is used in over 300 chemical processes in your body! Magnesium also plays a key role in the production of energy.
 

Many Australians and New Zealanders are low in magnesium due to dietary insufficiencies.

Do you have
fatigue, mood
swings, muscle
aches and pains?
Then you may be
in the 50% of
Australians who
are deficient in
magnesium.


With regards to energy production, it is important for the conversion of sugars, fats and proteins to energy. Magnesium deficiency is very common, with over half the Australian and New Zealand population having a deficiency.

One of the factors that cause this deficiency is the increase in the intake of processed foods and refined grains as well as a decrease in green vegetables, which are a good source of this crucial mineral.

Low intake of magnesium can cause fatigue.

Magnesium may particularly useful when fatigue is accompanied by:
• Muscle aches, pains, cramps and spasms
• Mood changes, irritability, poor concentration
• Stress – mental or physical
• Tension headaches
• Strenuous exercise
• Regular sweating
• Visual fatigue induced by computer screens
• Restlessness and anxiety
• Insomnia
• Tremors
• Vertigo
Other nutrients that can help support cellular energy production and give your energy levels a boost are malic acid, carnitine, coenzyme Q10, lipoic acid, essential fatty acids and B vitamins. Malic Acid: This nutrient can help boost energy production as it is a key component in our cellular energy production pathways. Malic acid can help facilitate the production of energy and may increase stamina.
 

N Acetyl Carnitine: for weight loss, fatigue with poor concentration

Carnitine is an important nutrient that plays an important role in fat metabolism and energy production. It transports dietary fats directly into the mitochondria to be broken down and burnt as fuel for energy production.

Carnitine may be beneficial if you want to lose weight and get an energy boost at the same time.Carnitine plays an important role in fat metabolism and energy production. It acts by transporting dietary fats directly into the mitochondria for breakdown and energy production.


N Acetyl Carnitine for fatigue and poor memory and concentration. It is able to cross the blood brain barrier and assist with mental fatigue.

Low levels of Carnitine can cause fatigue.


 Carnitine may support energy production if fatigue is accompanied by:
• Poor memory and concentration
• Mental fatigue
• Neuropathy numbness and abnormal sensations
• High fat diet
• Strenuous exercise
• Vegetarian or vegan diets


Coenzyme Q10 for fatigue and a healthy heart

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a vitamin-like compound that is essential for energy production. CoQ10 is beneficial in the management of fatigue as it enhances cellular energy production and is also a powerful antioxidant.
 

CoQ10 is also vital for healthy energy production in our cells. CoQ10 protects our mitochondria from day-to-day damage and acts like insulation around an electrical wire. Without insulation around the electrical wires in your house, energy does not reach its correct destination, and we would have no electricity to run our lights, fridges or computers! The same is true with CoQ10, if we do not have enough to insulate our “wires” we don’t have enough energy to function properly, and we feel tired.

Low levels of Coenzyme Q10 can cause fatigue.


Coenzyme Q10;  stores in the mitochondria of these cells. Coenzyme Q10 may be helpful in the management of fatigue via the following actions. It may help:
• Support cardiovascular and heart health.
• Enhance cellular energy production.
• Minimise the affects of cholesterol and/or cholesterol lowering medications.
• Maintain healthy immune function, therefore increasing the ability to combat illness.
• Maintain stamina and endurance.
• Note on dosage; this is one supplement I see many people take the incorrect form of or a too low a dose when self prescribed.

Lipoic Acid: for fatigue, imbalances in blood sugar, to help weight loss and as an antioxidant

Another useful nutrient for anyone who is tired is lipoic acid. Lipoic acid is important for the transport and conversion of carbohydrates into energy. It is also a powerful antioxidant.

Low levels of lipoic acid can cause fatigue.

While N-acetyl carnitine acts like a shovel to transport fat into the mitochondria, lipoic acid opens the gates for carbohydrates. As well as improving our energy, lipoic acid is also useful for balancing blood sugar and can be helpful in reducing cravings for sugary foods. You can see from the way they work why both of these nutrients are so effective at speeding up weight loss too!
 

Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids for fatigue and reduces inflammation

Omega-3 essential fatty acids from fish oils or krill oil are vital for the integrity and stability of every cell in our body. Omega-3 oils stimulate energy production and help lower stress levels. Omega-3 oils stimulate the growth and size of the mitochondria, along with helping to lower stress levels, which overall can contribute to higher energy levels.

Omega 3, or fish oils, are vital for keeping the membranes of our mitochondria stable and healthy. If our omega 3 levels are too low, the mitochondria can become damaged. Over time, this damage accumulates and gradually we produce less and less energy, making us feel gradually more and more tired. Over time this can make a big difference to your energy levels.

Low intake of omega 3 essential fatty acids can cause fatigue.

Omega 3 oils may be beneficial for decreasing fatigue by:
 

• Supporting cardiovascular and heart health
 

• Increasing the creation of some important antiinflammatory messengers in the body


• Maximising the structural fluidity of cell membranes throughout the body – therefore may be helpful in reducing inflammation and swelling

• Maintaining healthy cholesterol levels

• Reducing early morning stiffness associated with arthritis
 

• Increasing circulation especially to the hands and feet

• Supporting eye health

The majority of Western diets are low in omega 3 oils as a result of the increase of processed and refined foods far overtaking the use of fresh foods, including fish which are a source of these ‘good oils’. The best sources of omega 3 oils are the ‘fatty fish’ tuna, salmon, mackerel and herring – which should be eaten several times per week.

Often when people are trying to eat well they can sometimes create an imbalance in the different types of ‘good oils’ in the diet. This can result in an increased amount of inflammation in the body resulting in fatigue and pain. The following table separates the ‘good oils’ into the omega 3 and omega 6.
 

“For every 4
serves of foods
listed in the
omega 6 oil list
you need to have
1 serve (or more)
of the omega 3
oils i.e. at least a
4 to 1 ratio”

OMEGA 6 CONTAINING FOODS

(ONE SERVE)

OMEGA 3 CONTAINING FOODS

(FOUR SERVES)

CEREALS FATTY FISH
WHOLEGRAINS NUTS
VEGETABLES OILS LINSEEDS
CHICKEN  
EGGS  

Ultimately a good goal should be that for every 4 serves of the foods listed in omega 6 list it is necessary to have 1 serve of omega 3 oils – a ratio of 4 to 1 (or even lower would be best!). Currently it is suggested that the Western diet has a ratio of 10 to 1 or higher.

Many people don’t achieve this goal, and a concentrated, purified fish oil supplement can be very helpful. Omega 3 Oils, or fish oils, are vital for the integrity and stability of every cell membrane in the body – including the all important mitochondria. Naturally if the cell membranes are damaged the health and function of the cells is decreased. Omega 3 oils also stimulate the growth and size of the mitochondria along with helping lower stress levels, which will contribute to the overall energy levels.

B Vitamins

B Vitamins are essential, especially when under stress. Low inake of B vitamins can cause fatigue.

All the B vitamins are vital for the Krebs cycle to produce energy. A combination that includes magnesium with B vitamins is likely to help you feel energised and able to enjoy life.

ANTI-OXIDANTS

Antioxidants may assist in improving general wellbeing and, in turn, fatigue by:


• Enhancing and maintaining immune function thereby decreasing the susceptibility of infection

• Supporting a healthy cardiovascular system

• Protecting against cell damage.

One of the reasons people become excessively fatigued is due to the damage to the delicate mitochondria. Damage frequently occurs when components of our food and/or lifestyle stimulate the formation of ‘free radicals’ which create ‘oxidants’.

We have natural systems in the body to deal with a small amount of the oxidants, but when the systems are overloaded the oxidants build up and become excessive, they have the potential to harm every cell in the body.

Interestingly, the antioxidants can set off a chain reaction that leads to an ever increasing productions of these oxidants, creating more and more damage as they go.

By including ‘antioxidants’ you provide the tool to mop up these ‘free radicals’ and minimise their dangerous effects.

Below is a list of the lifestyle and environment factors that increase our need for antioxidants (i.e. they produce substances called free radicals that can cause cell damage). Also below is a list of the most important antioxidant nutrients.

Low levels of anti-oxidants can cause fatigue.


Examples of common generators of ‘free radicals’
in diet and lifestyle include:
Alcohol
Cigarette Smoke
Pesticides on foods
Air pollution
Car exhaust
Gases found in hairsprays

A simple blood test performed at the clinic called 'hemaview' is an excellent way to assess red blood cell damage from free radicals and hence the need for anti-oxidants.


Powerful antioxidants include:
Vitis Vinifera (Grape seed)
Vitamin A
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Selenium
Camellia sinensis (Green tea)
Zinc
Polygonum cuspitadum (Resveratrol)

Lipoic acid

Tumeric

Brands and formulas I prescribe for each client vary greatly depending on individual needs. Firstly you need to take the correct dosages for them to be effective and also the quality of these products varies greatly between brands.

I encourage everyone to see a qualified professional natural therapies. A qualified professional practitioner know what to recommend and which companies produce high quality, value for money products.

 

Five Key Steps to Gain Your Energy and Vitality

Five key steps to get you bouncing out of bed and overcome what causes fatigue!


To get you bouncing out of bed, first and foremost, you need to ensure that you lead a healthy life. By following these five simple steps, you will be on your way to better energy, and a new lease on life.
 

1. Get adequate, regular and consistent amounts of sleep each night.


2. Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet and drink plenty of water throughout the day.


3. Exercise regularly.


4. Learn better ways to relax.


5. Avoid stimulants or excess alcohol.


Diet to help overcome fatigue

You are what you eat
If you are tired, make sure you eat a healthy, well-balanced diet and drink plenty of water throughout the day. The quality and balance of the food you are consuming will have a considerable impact on your energy and vitality. Where possible, avoid overly processed foods and eat organic, natural foods, if available.
 

Exercise a Key to Beating Fatigue


Use it or lose it
Engaging in regular physical activity is also important. Being active can help address some of the underlying problems causing your fatigue. If you have been suffering from fatigue for a long time, it is recommend that you work with your Practitioner to create an individual exercise program that is suited specifically to your requirements. Recharge your batteries!
 

See A Qualified Natural Therapist

Optimising energy levels can significantly improve your quality of life and help you regain your enthusiasm for living. If fatigue is affecting your life, see qualified Practitioners to help you to determine which diet, lifestyle and nutrient factors are letting your body down and causing your fatigue.

   
     

What Causes Fatigue? Stress

   
 
What Causes Fatigue
 

 

 

 

What Causes Fatigue
 

 

 

Withania

 

 

Rhodiola

 

What Causes Fatigue
 

 

 

Chamomile

 

Passionflower

 

skullcap

 
What Causes Fatigue
 

 

 

Three lead supplements for fatigue energy X (magnesium N acetyl carnitine and vtiamin B and tyrosine), high quality fish oils (meta epa/dha) and Multivit/min (femm essentials)

 

Chamomile

Lavender

 

 

 

Believe it or not, stress does have a purpose and small amounts of stress can even be beneficial. Short– term stress can motivate you and give you the energy that you need to perform a task or activity. However, if you face stressful situations often or have extreme, longstanding or ongoing stress, your body will use up all of its energy resources and you become exhausted.

Long term stress can cause fatigue.

Stress Hormones

What would you do if you faced a hungry tiger or some other savage beast? Well, thousands of years ago you may have had to deal with this form of stress. To ensure your survival, you would have had to run fast, put up an almighty fight or try to outsmart the hungry beast.

Today, although we don’t face hungry tigers trying to make a meal of us, we do face other forms of stress. Today the tiger is in the form of stressors like our boss expecting more from us, relationship stress, family stress and traffic jams, just to name a few. Many of us are so used to feeling stressed, we sometimes don’t even recognise how much stress is affecting our health.
 

Fight it or Run! Unfortunately, our body is unable to recognise the difference between a hungry tiger and life stress – whatever the trigger, it responds with the “Fight or Flight” response. This is where the body sends out chemical messengers to allow us to either fight off the stress or run away from it.

The brain and adrenal glands secrete adrenaline and noradrenaline and the adrenal glands also secrete cortisol. These chemicals increase blood flow to the brain, heart, lungs and muscles so that you can run fast!

Cortisol also increases the amount of sugar released into your blood so that you can feed those racing muscles. During this time, as reproductive and digestive functions are unimportant, they are suppressed.

Once the stress is over these chemical messengers return back to normal and balance is restored. This fight or flight response is not a problem unless it does not switch off, as in the case of chronic stress.

Stress : It’s bad for your Health The stress response may have been a great adaptation for us hundreds of years ago but unfortunately the effects of chronic stress can impact our health significantly. Chronic ongoing stress can alter the delicate balance within our body. Stress especially affects the heart and cardiovascular system, weakens digestion, depletes energy levels, upsets blood sugar regulation and hormonal balance, and may disturb sleep and mental health. Therefore, we need to manage stress and our response to stressful situations to ensure balance and health. Rebalance this Natural Process with Natural Medicine

Long term stress leads to ADRENAL EXHAUSTION.

ADRENAL FATIGUE & ADRENAL EXHAUSTION

THE LEADING CAUSE OF FATIGUE


Adrenal ‘Exhaustion’; a common cause of fatigue. We all live with daily stress, but it is our ability to adapt to the stress which determines how it will affect our long term health. Healthy adrenal gland function will ensure a higher tolerance to stress and to the effects of stress.

The adrenal gland are located just above the kidney area and they produce the ‘stress’ hormones adrenalin and cortisol. Our body produces these hormones in times of stress to help us ‘adapt’ and deal with the stress. But the ability to adapt declines when the stress is long term and continuous.

This can leads to adrenal ‘exhaustion’ which has four phases; the longer you are under stress the more severe the adrenal exhaustion will tend to be;

Phase 1: Stressed and Wired where common symptoms include: anxiety, nervousness, insomnia, panic attacks, PMT, trembling, rapid shifts in body temperature, pressure, decreased appetite, diarrhea, palpitations and shortness of breath.

Phase 2 Tired, then Wired which includes an increased risk of depression, anxiety, insomnia and fatigue; decrease resistance to infections including aggravating allergic reactions, depletion of sex hormones and libido, decreasing thyroid function, obesity and insulin resistance. Common symptoms can include intense anxiety, melancholy depression, insomnia, poor appetite, allergies.

Phase 3 Stressed & Tired which includes symptoms of (apathetic) depression, increased daytime sleep, and tiredness, weight gain, lethargy, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple allergies and chemical sensitivities. Fibromyalgia is a disorder in this stage. Energy levels are extremely low and manifest as muscle weakness and pain.

Phase 4 Exhaustion; this stage is usually after a period of the above stages and is often associated with post viral syndrome or chronic fatigue syndrome (as immune system if often compromised). These symptoms are mild fevers, sore throat and increased infections, painful lymph nodes, muscle weakness, headaches, painful joints, depression and sleeping disturbances. The treatment in this stage is similar to stage 3, but with more emphasis on repairing damaged nervous tissue and adrenal glands.

The level of adrenal exhaustion will direct effect the severity of menopausal symptoms, hence it is important to improve adrenal gland’s adaptation & tolerance to your daily stress to ensure an easier transition in peri-menopause and menopause.

 Natural Remedies for Healthy Adrenals To improve adrenal gland exhaustion you need to consider all lifestyle facts to help improve your tolerance/resistance to daily stress. Regular exercise and relaxation techniques like meditation, yoga, tai chi with the use of adrenal tonic herbal medicines can be helpful.


Herbal Treatment For Adrenal Exhaustion

The commonly used herbs are;


Withania, Siberian Ginseng, Panax ginseng, Rhodiola, Licorice and Rehmannia

For adrenal tonic herbs that support the adrenal gland function Licorice and Rehmannia are commonly used (for all four phases).

Poor concentration and memory Rhodiola is specific and has an immediate effect on improving concentration.

Adaptogenic herbs are herbs which increase your tolerance/resistance to stress the three lead herbs are Withania, Siberian ginseng and Rhodiola, Korean Ginseng or Panax Ginseng, Schisandra


Diet & lifestyle factors to improve adrenal function;

Relaxation techniques like yoga, tai chi, mediation & regular exercise.

Remove sugar, high GI carbohydrate food and stimulants like coffee/caffeine from the diet.

An insulin zone diet to correct any blood sugar imbalances is also important to help correct imbalances in adrenal gland function.

Supplements with Vitamin C, B complex with extra B5 & B6 and Magnesium are also important to improve adrenal function.

There are many herbs to choose from and it is important to take not only the correct herbs for your individual needs but also that the quality and the dosage of these herbs is correct. If you are considering taking herbs please see a qualified herbalist.

 

e books recommendations by Naturopath Tracey Lee Morley are;

The Adrenal Fatigue Formula e book Click Here!

  • A complete guide on what causes fatigue and adrenal exhaustion and what to do about it

The most important consideration is your professional practitioner has to take into account that each person reacts to stress differently. This is why each person should receive an individualised natural treatment plan by using different combinations of well researched nutritional and herbal medicines.

Assess your stress;

On this website, Tracey has a stress questionnaire to assess your stress levels, click here

Coping Mechanisms for stress

So, why is it that stress affects different people in different ways? Everyone has a different level of stress that they can cope with, if you have positive copying mechanism you can cope with more, if you have poor coping mechanisms you will cope with less. The following are some of the poor and positive mechanism that people commonly use for coping with stress. Take a minute to consider whether you use any of the following to cope with stress;

The poor coping mechanisms are;

• Drinking alcohol
• Relying on caffeine (coffee or soft drinks)
• Smoking
• Eating sugary food
• Eating too much or skipping
eats or rushed eating.
• Skipping social interaction
• Skipping relaxation time
• Procrastination, ignoring or avoiding the problem.
 

Positive coping mechanisms;
• Exercise
• Getting enough sleep
• Eating well
• Take time to relax and play
• Good time management
• Meditation or some activity where you mind is ‘quiet’
• Time with family and friends
• Balancing work and family time
• Allowing time to rejuvenate after stressful periods.

Signs and Symptoms of Stress

The way that stress affects you individually will depend on your coping mechanisms and level of sensitivity to stress. You may notice that the way that stress affects you changes depending on the severe the stress is. For example at first you may feel very irritable and anxious. After being stressed for a while you may then feel more depressed or exhausted.


Some of the common signs and symptoms of stress are as follows, check how many you have;

Feelings of worry, anxiety, depressed, irritable, emotional, angry, unappreciated, overworked, oversensitive, exhausted, distracted, frightened, overloaded, forgetful, isolated, confused, high or low libido, racing thoughts, short tempered, cravings, poor concentration. Behaving such as; impatient, demanding, crying, shouting, withdrawing, fidgeting, tapping feet, grinding teeth, disturbed sleep, getting into arguments, throwing things, controlling, mood swings, swearing, threatening, irregular eating, avoiding, procrastinating, drug and alcohol abuse.
 

Physical symptoms of; pain and stiffness of muscle or joints, digestive upsets, irritable bowel, headaches, asthma, eczema, hives, ulcers, high blood pressure, PMS, irregular menstruation, colds/flu, exhaustion, tiredness, change appetite, sweating, worsening of existing illness or condition.

Management of Stress

Regular moderate exercise helps to improve your energy, boost your self-esteem, lift your mood and combats stress.”
Get Physical!

Management of your stress will vary depending on how long you have been stressed for, how severe the stress is and how the stress has or is affecting you physically and emotional. Each person is individual and needs different approach to their stress management. I often recommend a treatment plan that involves learning and practicing different stress management techniques in combination with the use of nutritional, herbal or homoeopathics medicines that are appropriate to you as the individual.
 

Getting enough exercise is important for staying healthy and reducing stress. Exercise can help to reduce the feeling of stress and improve your sense of wellbeing. What’s more … regular moderate exercise helps to improve your energy, boost your self-esteem and lift your mood. Yoga is an excellent form of exercise for stress management. Yoga balances and strengthens your muscles, posture and breathing and can be calming to your mind and spirit. Simply walking everyday for 1/2-1 hour is a great destressor. Do a form of exercise you enjoy, at long as you ‘move’ for at least 30mins 6 days a week.

Herbs for Stress

There are many different herbal medicines that can relieve the symptoms of stress. Each is individualized to match the person’s symptoms. They come either in tablets or liquid form. The liquid form doesn’t taste as good but has a better absorption and effect than the tablet form. The quality of herbal products vary greatly, I always suggest you  buy your herbs from a herbalist or naturopath as they often know which products to use.

Some of the common ones are;


Passionflower used for anxiety and nervousness. Tension headaches, and sleeplessness.

Skullcap similar to passionflower but also has nervous fatigue and depression with anxiety and headaches

Withania, Korean and siberian ginseng, rhodiola are all adrenal tonic herbs for adrenal exhaustion and help improve your tolerance to stress. These are useful when fatigue is caused by adrenal fatigue.

Licorice and Rehmannia are adrenal tonics that help restore the adrenal glands. They are often used for chronic stress and fatigue when the adrenal glands have been depleted.

Astragalus is usually used as an immune herb for chronic infections especially with fatigue debility and as a general tonic after stress. As siberian ginseng is also useful in fatigue with immune problems.


Lemon balm and Chamomile used for digestive upsets with stress both are irritable and have insomnia but Lemon balm also has depression and sadness whereas Chamomile is more hypersensitive.

Tracey Lee's Bliss herbal tea contains Passionflower, Chamomile, Rose petals, Lavender, Lemon balm and Lemon grass is an excellent herbal tea blend for adults and children as a relaxing tea.

There are many other herbs used for stress.

Food Cravings

Many people comfort eat, especially during times of stress. Reaching for those sugary/ sweet foods, chocolate or coffee may give you that instant ‘lift’. But these foods are empty foods and only aggravate your negative response to stress.

If you crave sugar and carbohydrates then you may not be eating an adequate amount of protein can could be low in a number of nutrient (especially B group vitamins, zinc, magnesium and chromium).

Correcting the underlying cause of these unhealthy food cravings will dramatically reduce if not eliminate them. To reduce your sugar and carbohydrate craving, eat good quality protein sources at every meal and snack and take the correct multi vitamin and mineral supplement

If you only crave chocolate, then it may be for the sugar but you may be low in magnesium and need to take a magnesium supplement.

If you crave salt and savory foods then this is an indicator that your adrenal glands are ‘overworked’ and need support with nutrients such as B5, B6, Vitamin C and adrenal supportive herbs like Withania, Ginseng, Rhodiola, Rehmannia or Licorice. Ask Tracey Lee to prescribe your adrenal tonic for those stressful times.

If you crave fat and oily food often this indicates a need for liver support.


The Stress ‘Buster’ Essentials
 

The following supplements are essential for anyone living a stressful and busy lifestyle especially if you are relying on ‘negative’ coping mechanisms  In stressful times our body requires higher levels of certain nutrient to keep us healthy and well.

1. A good quality multi vit/min such as Metagenics Fem or Male essentials or Meta B tablets one a day.

2. Magneisum supplement; Metagenics Fibroplex or Calm X or EnergyX

3. Good quality fish oils; Metagneics Meta EPA/DHA 3 capsules or one tsp a day.

4. Herbal and homoeopathics medicines are extremely effective in increasing the body and mind’s tolerance to stress. But these need to be individualized as there are dozens of remedies. Ask Tracey Lee to prescribe your individualized ‘stress’ herbal tonic and constitutional homoeopathics.

Other nutrients may include Vitamin C, B5, B6, zinc and other anti-oxidants.


Crisis Managers The Stress ‘Buster’ Essentials

“If you live a busy and stressful lifestyle you Tissue salts (brand new era is the best) kali phos and mag phos 6X two pills dissolved in mouth every 1/2 to 2 hourly. These supplements are safe for anyone including children and do not interfere with any medication you may be taking. There are also a number of homoeopathics medicines to help you through that ‘stressful
 

If you have a ‘short’ term stress (i.e. lasting only a few days) (for example an exam, interview or an emotional upset), try my ‘crisis management’ treatment. These can be brought from the clinic or any healthfood shop; Rescue remedy (a bach flower combination) 4-7 drops under tongue every 1/2-2 hourly. event; such as Arg nit or Gelsenium for the anxiety before a big exam or event; Ignatia is used often when their has been an overburden of emotional ‘strain’ from grief or loss. Staph is often used in emotional reactions of unresolved anger from being unjustly or unfairly treated by others.
 

 

Chinese herbal medicine for individualised stress patterns; (metagenic products)


What is your Stress Pattern?


Herbal medicine may help rebalance specific types of stress patterns and therefore help to support positive stress management. Here are some examples of herbal combinations that may enhance your ability to cope with stress:
 

• Herbs such as Panax ginseng, Dong Quai, Poria and Longan may work in synergy to help those who are prone to worrying and withdrawing when stressed. This non-stimulating formula supports emotional resilience in sensitive people, effectively relieving anxiety and worry while improving mental clarity and boosting the ability to cope with stress.

• Mate, Cocoa and Licorice have been traditionally been used as mental and physical tonics that may help those who become lethargic, apathetic and mentally exhausted when stressed. These are stimulating herbs designed to improve mental performance in those with poor memory and concentration, or for people who are prone to putting things off. If you are mentally exhausted, this combination may provide you with energy and improved mental function.

• Bupleurum and Peony are herbs traditionally used to relieve symptoms of unrest and tension in people who are irritable, frustrated and impatient under stress. It is particularly useful for pre-menstrual syndrome or menopausal symptoms, and also for irritability and impatience in men. • When Bupleurum and Calcium are combined with herbs such as Pinellia, Gambir and Ziziphus they may assist people who have a bad temper when they are stressed. If you react to stress in an irate manner and have a fierce temper, this herbal formula may help you sleep more restfully and respond to stress in a more restrained, calm manner.

Top Five Stress Busters

As well as these natural medicines, here are some handy solutions to help you deal with stress:


1. Take time out – we all need time to ourselves to help our body recover from stress.

2.Exercise – many studies suggest that regular exercise can help reduce stress levels.

3. Indulge in a massage, reflexology or some other blissful treatment. After all, you deserve it!

4. Use positive visualisation to help lower your stress response. Think of something that makes you feel stressed and visualise yourself in that situation feeling very calm and able to cope.

5. Vaporise some essential oils such as lavender, geranium and chamomile. Not only do they smell great but they can assist with relaxation.

 


 

 

 

   
 
What Causes Fatigue
 

 

Cinnamon

What Causes Fatigue
 

 

 

Imbalance in blood sugar levels and Diabetes – The New Health Epidemic
 

Imbalance in blood sugar levels can cause fatigue.

Type 2 diabetes has become a worldwide health problem. There are approximately 890,000 Australians and 270,000 New Zealanders currently diagnosed with diabetes. In addition to these numbers, it is also predicted that there are thousands of people with undiagnosed diabetes.

Many people in our western countries have too high levels of blood sugar levels which can develop into type 2 diabetes. The good news is that with changes in diet, lifestyle and sometimes using natural medicines you can improve your blood sugar levels and insulin levels.

Type 2 diabetes was once only seen in adults over 40 years of age, however, it is now more and more common in younger people. High Blood Sugar Levels: Too Much of a Good Thing!

Diabetes is a condition related to problems with blood sugar levels (also called blood glucose levels) and insulin levels. For proper bodily functioning, you need to be able to convert glucose (i.e. sugar) from your food into energy. The hormone that is required for glucose to enter into cells to be broken down is called insulin. Diabetic patients have problems with their insulin production, so when a diabetic patient eats sugar (e.g. from sweets, breads, cakes, biscuits, cereals) it cannot be converted into energy and stays in the blood, causing high blood glucose levels. Having high levels of glucose in your blood for prolonged periods of time can cause blindness, kidney problems, cardiovascular issues, and many other health complications.

The good news is that diabetes is avoidable if you focus on having a healthy diet and exercising regularly. Risk Factors for Developing Diabetes.

Risk Factors

To find out if you are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, ask yourself these questions:

• Are you overweight?
• Do you have a family history of diabetes?
• Does your daily diet contain high amounts of sugars and/or refined carbohydrates?
• Do you have a sedentary lifestyle and lack regular exercise? As well as these recognised risk factors, some early warning signs that may indicate your blood sugar levels could be a problem in the future include:

• Frequent sugar cravings.
• 2 to 4 pm energy slump.
• Constant fatigue.
• Frequent urination and/or recurrent urinary tract infections.
• Trouble losing weight – especially weight around your waist.


If you answered ‘YES’ to any of these questions, or experience any of these early warning signs, speak to qualified professional natural therapies today about how to help you to prevent or manage diabetes. Herbs and Nutrients Can Help Natural Medicine may help with managing and preventing diabetes, by focusing on the main causes such as diet and lifestyle.

 Herbals and Supplements for sugar imbalances

If you are at risk of developing diabetes the following herbs and nutrients may also assist.


Cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia) - Cinnamon is commonly known as a spice used in cooking, however it is also a beneficial herbal medicine used to maintain normal healthy blood sugar levels by enhancing the function of the insulin made by your body.

Korean Ginseng (Panax ginseng) - Korean Ginseng is a herb that may help to balance your blood sugar levels and boost energy production at the same time.

Caiapo root (Ipomoea batatas) - Caiapo root is a white sweet potato which is traditionally used in Japanese and Brazilian medicine for the maintenance of healthy blood sugar levels.

Hops (Humulus lupus) and Acacia (Acacia arabica) - Together these herbs may help control blood sugar levels.

Chromium - Chromium is an important mineral that can help to regulate blood sugar levels. Having a deficiency in chromium may contribute to blood sugar problems. Speak to us today about which herbs and nutrients may be beneficial for you.


Diet and Lifestyle Tips


As well as taking some of the Natural Medicines mentioned here, you can reduce your risk of developing diabetes by also implementing some dietary and lifestyle changes.
 

• Maintain a healthy weight. If you would like to lose some weight, ask us about the professional weight management program we offer.


• Eat small, regular meals containing protein rich foods such as fish, lean meat, legumes, nuts, and eggs to keep your blood sugar levels stable.

• Include plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds in your daily diet.

• Avoid eating too many overly processed and sugar containing foods – especially high carbohydrate foods like breads, cakes, biscuits and pastries. Save these foods for special occasions only.

• Limit alcohol consumption. Aim for a moderate intake of alcohol and have at least two alcohol free days per week.

• Include regular exercise into your lifestyle for healthy weight maintenance.

Take Control of Your Health Now!


By making some simple changes to your diet and lifestyle, and by
taking the appropriate supplements, you may be able to prevent
diabetes or better manage your existing diabetes.

 

 

   
      Hypothyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism can cause fatigue
 

Fatigue Caused by thyroid imbalances; The Hypothyroid Solution e book Click Here

  • A complete guide on what causes fatigue & difficulties losing weight from thyroid imbalances and what to do about it.


 

 

   

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