Fatigue
“I’m just so tired.” We’ve all heard someone say it – maybe we’ve said it ourselves. Feeling fatigued seems to be the mantra of our busy lifestyle these days. Whether you have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or just feel a “slump” of energy in the afternoon, your naturopathic doctor will pursue the cause and come up with a treatment plan to get you feeling better again.
The causes of fatigue
Despite what you might read online, there’s no cure-all for fatigue. This is because there are a myriad of reasons why people are fatigued. Two people can be experiencing exactly the same symptoms, but for entirely different reasons. Here are a few of the most common causes:
- Anemia
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Thyroid disorders
- Adrenal insufficiency
- Insufficient or poor sleep
- Viral infections, such as Epstein Barr Virus (the virus that causes mononucleosis), or Hepatitis
- Blood sugar issues
- Menopause
- Low Testosterone
- Oxidative stress – from environmental toxins, metabolic disorders, hormone imbalances, etc.
Fatigue can also be a sign of something more serious, so it’s important to catch it early. Here at Evergreen Center, our naturopathic doctors start by investigating the cause of fatigue. This will involve a complete history, physical exam, and most likely lab work. It’s important to have all this information, so we can address the underlying cause and come up with an individualized approach.
Naturopathic Approach
The Naturopathic approach to treating fatigue depends on what is causing it. When we treat someone with fatigue, we might use dietary modification, supplements or vitamins aimed at correcting deficiencies, anti-viral herbs, detoxification, insulin support for patients who have dysglycemia and pre-diabetes, support for worn-out adrenal glands, or hormonal support. We have found that no single approach works for everyone, which is why it’s important to have a naturopathic doctor guide your treatment.
If your quality of life has already begun to suffer from not having enough energy, give us a call today. Our patients – even some who didn’t come in for treatment of fatigue – say they have increased energy, more exercise capability, less need to nap, better sleep at night, no “crashing” during the afternoon, and some simply say ”I just feel better.” We invite you to join the growing number of patients who have been helped at ECIM.