Feeling tired on a regular basis is extremely common. I often get this question from my clients. They say they’re always tired. What can they do? This article has an answer for all your worries about common fatigue. Here’s what we’ll discuss.
What Is Fatigue?
Fatigue And Ayurveda
Causes Of Fatigue
Signs And Symptoms Of Fatigue
When To Seek Medical Attention
How Ayurveda Can Help You Get Your Energy Back
What Is Fatigue?
Fatigue means you feel over-tired or exhausted. When you’re fatigued, there is consistent low energy levels that might interfere with your day to day activities.
The fact is nearly everyone is overtired or overworked from time to time. These are instances of temporary fatigue mostly due to improper sleep, unhealthy or irregular food patterns or work pressure.
On the other hand, if you’re always tired and it isn’t relieved with rest it can impact your psychological and emotional well being.
READ MORE: This Is What Happens When You Don’t Sleep, Sleep: Ayurvedic Home Remedies + 10 Tips To Improve Sleep, 5 Bedtime Routines For Adults: Inspiration For A Good Night’s Sleep
Fatigue And Ayurveda
Ayurveda generally considers fatigue and tiredness a symptom of increased Kapha Dosha. Physical fatigue will most likely be caused by an imbalance in Kapha Dosha. While with mental fatigue, Vata dosha would be the culprit. When it comes to emotional fatigue it can be due to an imbalance in Pitta Dosha.
READ MORE: Vata Diet: Everything You Need To Know, Pitta Diet: Everything You Need To Know, Kapha Diet: Everything You Need To Know
Causes Of Fatigue
Causes of fatigue are mostly related to an unhealthy lifestyle. A lack of exercise, lack of sleep or unhealthy dietary habits can all lead to feeling always tired.
It can also be due to depression or other underlying diseases like anemia, cancer, diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome, heart disease and sleep apnea, among others. If you think you may have any of these clinical conditions, work with your doctor and get a detailed examination.
Signs And Symptoms Of Fatigue
- Lack of sleep and getting up tired even after proper sleep
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Muscle weakness
- Irritability
- Impaired decision making and judgement
READ MORE: Vertigo Home Remedies, Symptoms, Causes, Diet + Lifestyle Tips
When To Seek Medical Attention
If your fatigue is associated with chest pain, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, abnormal bleeding or severe headache which is not relieved by over the counter medication, seek medical attention. More importantly, if your fatigue has persisted for two or more weeks despite making an effort to rest, reduce stress, and eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of fluids, it’s time to see the doctor.
How Ayurveda Can Help You Get Your Energy Back
Here are ten tips for increasing energy and reducing tiredness.
- Determine your body constitution and eat accordingly.
- Reduce tea and coffee consumption before bedtime hours. Instead, have a cup of warm milk with a teaspoon of turmeric. If you have lactose intolerance, substitute cow’s milk with almond or soy.
- Go to bed early and remember to take a bath in warm water before bed.
- Practice sun salutations daily.
- Stop skipping meals. Eat three times a day, lunch being the largest meal of the day. Have dinner before 8pm. Ideally there should be a two hour gap between dinner and sleep.
- Do oil massage daily before your bath or shower. If you can’t do it daily, do it at least twice a week. Use sesame oil which helps in muscle relaxation and avoids muscle fatigue.
- Avoid excessive sugar and remember to reduce or minimize coffee, soda, caffeinated teas, and sleeping pills to allow your body to reestablish a natural rest and activity cycle.
- Give time for yourself. Your work, tensions and stress can wait. Schedule enough time to rest each day. Listen to soothing music and light a scented candle in your bedroom. Use aromatic oil in your bathing water or dispense in a diffuser. Love and pamper yourself. No one else can do that better.
- Traditional Ayurveda herbs like Ashwagandha and chyawanprash will definitely help to give you an internal energy boost and stimulation.
- Yoga and breathing exercises (Pranayama) can also be beneficial.
READ MORE: Ashwagandha Insomnia Remedy From Ancient Indian Wellness, How Ayurvedic Massage Works + Ayurvedic Massage Oils, 21 Ways To Take Ashwagandha (Ashwagandha Remedies + Recipes), Ayurvedic Massage: Everything You Need To Know About ‘Abhyanga’, Watch: 12 Minute Calming Yoga Sequence For Vata Dosha, With Meditation
I find watching TV (we have one in our bedroom) too long before going to sleep really affects how I sleep. Now we go “lights out” at around 10:00 p.m. Both my husband of 29 years and I sleep very well. Neither of us are “daytime mappers” either – I used to be. Makes a huge difference in a good nights’ sleep!
That’s fantastic! Sleep is very important!
Gud piece of work doc…
Thank you Deepa