The Most Formidable Herbs To Fight Menopause Fatigue
Are you feeling constantly drained? Unable to focus? Given up on any chance of a good sleep? If you’re going through menopause, such severe and relentless exhaustion can significantly impact your physical and mental health. But alongside several available treatments you can chose from, there are also natural herbs that are a great way of dealing with the menopause fatigue. Let’s look at them now.
- The Most Formidable Herbs To Fight Menopause Fatigue
- Types of Fatigue
- Most Common Causes of Fatigue
- Possible Lifestyle Causes
- Medical Conditions Causing Fatigue
- Herbs That Fight Menopause Fatigue
- Tips For Using Herbs For Menopause Fatigue
- Where To Buy Herbs To Treat Your Menopause Fatigue
- Selecting the Form of Herbs
- Testing Your Herbs for Reactions
- Different Ways To Use Herbs
- Other Natural Remedies For Fatigue
- Conclusion
Everyone gets tired and overworked from time to time. Everyone gets plagued by occasional lack of sleep.
But if you’ve been feeling exhausted lately, to the point where you must cope with overwhelming fatigue, it’s time to do something about it.
There are many causes of fatigue, as well as many ways to treat it. Sometimes it’s a matter of directly treating the cause of your fatigue if you know it. And if you know the right treatment.
But it could be that your menopause fatigue could be coupled with chronic tiredness caused by other conditions. In that case, you just need to experiment with a few different remedies until you figure out what works best for you.
The following information is going to guide you through some natural remedies for menopause fatigue, particularly by using medicinal herbs.
These herbs provide a lot of health benefits for you.
While they can help with your fatigue, they will also help with other ailments at the same time.
Types of Fatigue
There are two basic types of fatigue – acute and chronic.
Acute fatigue tends to be short-term and easier to treat. It’s most commonly associated with lifestyle choices like diet and lack of exercise.
Then there is chronic fatigue, which can also be from lifestyle stressors. But it’s also associated with medical conditions or a life stage, such as menopause.
Chronic fatigue may go away temporarily but is more of a long-term struggle.
In both cases, the fatigue can originate in more than one thing at a time.
Before you look at the natural herbs and other natural remedies that will help with your fatigue, it helps to understand what might be causing it.
Most Common Causes of Fatigue
First of all, if you have been struggling with fatigue for a while, you should look at the most common culprits first.
Some of these might sound familiar to you, but don’t rule out other causes as well.
Sometimes, it just means narrowing down the possibilities until you figure out the most likely factor.
If you’re experiencing other menopause symptoms, then menopause is most likely the cause of your fatigue.
The most common causes of fatigue include:
Improper sleep – Have you been struggling with sleep lately? If so, it could be that you’re just tired. But if it starts to affect your quality of life, it’s reasonable to consider menopause as the cause of your fatigue. This could mean having issues with the ability to relax, falling asleep and staying asleep. Or when you wake up, you feel like you just tossed and turned all night without ever really reaching a deep sleep.
Lack of physical activity – Another very common cause of fatigue is not getting enough physical activity. This can be a catch 22 because lack of exercise might lead to worsened fatigue. But you’re so tired that you don’t have the energy for exercise. Just adding a little at a time can make a big difference. Keeping active is especially important if you’re struggling with menopause weight gain.
Poor diet – Your diet can also affect your sleep and cause fatigue for various reasons. This might include an unhealthy diet and not getting enough nutrients, eating too little and facing malnutrition. Or eating at times when it affects your sleep, such as late at night immediately before bedtime. Again, a healthy, well-balanced diet is essential for the weight control during menopause.
Anemia – Among the physical conditions that can lead to fatigue, anemia is one of the most common ones. You might be susceptible to anemia, or it may be caused by not having enough iron in your diet.
Fatigue disorder – Another condition is a fatigue disorder, which is one of the more common causes of chronic fatigue. This will require help from your doctor.
Mental issues – Don’t forget about your mental health, as hormonal changes during menopause can bring on emotional imbalance. And this can cause things like stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions can greatly affect your energy levels and sleep patterns. This in turn can cause some major chronic fatigue.
Possible Lifestyle Causes
In addition to diet and exercise, there are some other lifestyle factors to consider when it comes to why you’re struggling with fatigue.
For example, if you travel a lot, you might be suffering from something called jet lag disorder.
This has to do with your lifestyle and is something you’ll need to work on in order to get proper sleep.
Another possibility is that you’re taking medications that are causing more fatigue, even if you think they are helping. Such as too many antihistamines or medication meant to cause drowsiness to help you sleep at night.
You should also limit your use of drugs and alcohol, as they can also lead to fatigue and sleep disturbances.
Medical Conditions Causing Fatigue
If you have fatigue that is more chronic, it’s a good time to talk to your doctor.
They will run some tests and rule out any possible medical causes for the fatigue.
Here’s a list of some of the more common conditions, but it is by no means a complete list:
Inflammatory bowel disease
Acute liver failure
Chronic kidney disease
Diabetes
Fibromyalgia
Infection or inflammation
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Sleep apnea
Recent traumatic injury
Thyroid issues
As you can see, fatigue is very complex. Aside from menopause, there’s a long list of other possible causes, so it’s a good idea to start writing down when you experience fatigue, how long it lasts, and what was going on before it occurred.
Herbs That Fight Menopause Fatigue
While there are many natural remedies for menopause fatigue – many of which we will cover in a later section – medicinal herbs are a great place to start.
They’re easy to use, convenient and affordable, and you can get them just about anywhere.
You can buy the dried or fresh herbs, or even grow them right in your own backyard.
Here are some of the top herbs that can help with your fatigue.
1. Licorice Root
This is definitely one of the most popular herbs to use for tiredness and will help you in dealing with menopause fatigue.
Licorice root helps in a variety of ways.
First by helping to repair your adrenals if they have been damaged, which can happen by some of the medical conditions that cause fatigue.
Licorice root can also be helpful be reducing your cravings your sugar, which might cause a sugar crash and make your fatigue worse.
Additionally, licorice root has been shown to help reduce fatigue thanks to increasing the cortisol levels in your body. These are hormones that help you to experience more energy.
2. Siberian Ginseng
You’ll notice that ginseng is mentioned more than once in this list.
That’s because there’s more than one type of ginseng, and not all of them are ideal for fatigue.
Siberian ginseng is one of the best for tiredness and exhaustion. That’s because it can reduce adrenal fatigue, improve your hormone levels, and provide a natural way to handle stress that might be worsening your fatigue.
Siberian ginseng belongs to a group of herbs called adaptogen herbs, which really help a lot with how your body can handle stress.
3. Ashwagandha
This is not a new herb, but it has become more popular in recent months. Ashwagandha is a powerful medicinal herb with many healing properties.
In the past, it’s been used for thyroid conditions and adrenal fatigue, which can lead to chronic fatigue if not treated properly.
Like many other healing herbs on this list, ashwagandha also helps to balance out your hormone levels.
Another great herb to increase your energy or reduce the menopause fatigue.
4. Maca
You might have heard of maca or maca root, and that’s because it has become a well-known medicinal herb.
Maca is a type of plant similar to cruciferous vegetables. These plants provide a natural energy similar to what you would get if you had caffeine, but without feeling the side effects like jitters.
When you have maca on a routine basis instead of caffeine, you’re increasing your energy more naturally without all those nasty side effects.
You don’t get a sugar crash or have shakes that keep you from being productive.
The bonus is that maca also has many other natural healing abilities. So you are helping with other bodily functions in addition to helping with your fatigue.
5. Ephedra
If this herb sounds familiar, it’s because it used to be used in some form to create stimulating medications.
However, it should only be used in its natural form.
Ephedra is a type of herbal medicine that helps to stave off fatigue while increasing your energy.
But it has some side effects that can be unwelcome, so it’s best to consult an herbalist when using this one.
6. Asian Ginseng
As we mentioned, there’s more than one variety of ginseng that can help with fatigue, including Asian ginseng. You might also see this labeled as panax ginseng.
Asian ginseng is another popular Chinese medicinal herb that will help to improve functions in your body to increase your energy levels.
As another adaptogen herb, this is vital to helping to control your chronic fatigue, while helping with your mental health and heart health at the same time.
7. Ginkgo Biloba
This is yet another healing herb that is familiar and great for fatigue.
Ginkgo biloba is one of the oldest trees on Earth, so you can imagine how many different ailments it has helped with.
This is actually a prescription medication in some countries, including Germany.
Ginkgo biloba is wonderful for oxidative stress, which is how it improves your adrenals and helps to fight fatigue naturally.
It can also help to protect your liver and brain from free radicals in your body.
8. Sea Kelp
While not always known as an herb, sea kelp can also be great for your fatigue.
The main purpose of sea kelp for fatigue is helping to treat your thyroid condition.
It can help with low thyroid function and regulate your thyroid hormone levels, which helps to increase your energy naturally.
9. Gotu Kola
Moving on to the next herb is gotu kola.
If you have ever researched Ayurvedic medicine for natural healing, then you might have come across this one.
It grows in the Himalayas and is often used in ancient medicine.
Gotu kola works similar to other healing herbs in that it helps to increase stamina and increase your energy.
10. Reishi Mushroom
A different type of herb is the reishi mushroom, a staple in Chinese herbal medicine.
Reishi mushroom can be used in a tonic to help with your fatigue and increase your energy, while also helping to boost your immune system.
It’s also great for stress, which as you know can make your fatigue worse.
11. Stinging Nettle
When it comes to herbs, there are many different varieties that grow all over the world.
Stinging nettle is one of those that tends to stick with you because of its name, and because of how many healing properties it contains.
This herb is used for a wide range of medicinal purposes. From helping to increase your energy, to providing a lot of essential vitamins and minerals for your physical and mental health.
The great thing about stinging nettle is that it helps to improve your energy and stamina if you have fatigue, without all the negative side effects.
12. Ginger Root
Another adaptogen herb that is healing and easy to find is ginger root.
This is similar to the ginger you use in cooking, but you’re going to use it as a medicinal herb.
Ginger has a long list of healing powers as you probably already know, from helping with digestive to providing a natural way of reducing pain and discomfort.
It’s also wonderful if you have fatigue! It helps with adrenal fatigue similar to how ginseng and ginkgo biloba do.
In addition to this, ginger root can regulate cortisol levels in your body and help to reduce your stress levels.
13. St John’s Wort
Last up is St. John’s Worth, which you might have used as a natural remedy for depression or sleep issues.
St. John’s worth is easy to find at any drug store, not just the ones that carry natural herbal medicines.
You can find it in many forms, from a pill you swallow, to powder and extract forms.
Tips For Using Herbs For Menopause Fatigue
The first step to fighting menopause fatigue naturally is of course to learn the causes of your fatigue and select which herbs you want to use.
Once you do that, there are a few things to understand, including how best to use the herbs.
Here are some tips for using your medicinal and healing herbs, not just for fatigue, but other uses as well.
Where To Buy Herbs To Treat Your Menopause Fatigue
You have a wide range of options when it comes to choosing the herbs, whether you grow them at home or decide to purchase them. If you have never purchased herbs before, then your two main options are in person or online.
When you buy them online, you have the opportunity to get high-quality herbs without having to drive to different stores in your area. This is especially useful if you don’t have many markets or herbal shops in your area.
In person, there are even more options available to you. You can try a health food store if your regular supermarket does not supply the herbs you need.
Another option is to go to a specialty herbal store or see a local herbalist to see if they have what you need.
You can also try farmer’s markets, which often provide some homegrown herbs that are organic and the highest quality.
Selecting the Form of Herbs
When you begin shopping for herbs for your menopause fatigue, you will quickly notice that they come in different forms as well.
You might find fresh herbs, which you would either use in their fresh form, or need to dry on your own.
If you intend to use dried herbs, getting them in their dried form is probably your best option.
You can also get herbs as tinctures, lotions, and salves.
Testing Your Herbs for Reactions
Testing Your Herbs for Reactions
Before you start using herbs to fight fatigue, you should test them by using a small amount one at a time.
Don’t just make a tea with 4 different healing herbs and hope for the best.
You might have a bad reaction to one and won’t know which one it is.
Decide how you’re going to use the herbs for fatigue, then choose just one herb at a time, in a small amount.
Consult a doctor immediately if you show signs of an allergic reaction, such as with swelling, redness, itching, or trouble breathing.
Different Ways To Use Herbs
The last thing you should know about using herbs for fatigue is that there are a few different ways to use them.
Here are some excellent ways to get more energy with your medicinal herbs:
Add them to a bath – This is a wonderful way to improve your adrenals, reduce stress, and help improve your fatigue at the same time. If your fatigue is related to being stressed or having adrenal fatigue, a hot bath with dried herbs is a wonderful way to use them.
Make a tea in the morning – For more energy in the morning when you likely experience a lot of fatigue, try making a cup of tea with your chosen herbs or herb blends. Tea with ginger, gingko biloba, or ginseng is a great option.
Infuse different oils – Don’t forget about herb-infused oils! These can be made to add to food and drinks, making it really easy to treat your fatigue and increase energy at the same time.
Put them on your skin directly – In some cases, you want to get the herbs into your skin instead of other methods. This is when you might make a poultice or salve. This not only helps with your fatigue, but can help you to heal skin irritations as well.
Other Natural Remedies For Fatigue
While these medicinal herbs offer a great place for you to start managing your chronic fatigue, there are also some other natural remedies and lifestyle changes that can be very useful. It is good to try different things until you figure out what works best for you.
Stay Active
One good way to fight fatigue in a more natural way is to stay active.
This might seem counterintuitive but being more active won’t actually make you more tired, at least not in the way you think.
Exercise gives you a good amount of energy during the waking hours. But then when it ‘s time to wind down and get ready for bed, you will sleep much more soundly.
Pick any type of physical activity you like to get more exercise for energy
But choose something you enjoy and something that has other health benefits as well, like yoga.
Yoga can really center you, help you with breathing exercises, reduce stress, and heal both your body and your mind.
Eat More Superfoods
Nutrition can also make a drastic difference in how well you are dealing with your fatigue, whether acute or chronic.
Eating too many simple carbohydrates can cause your fatigue to be worsened, especially with sugar crashes in the afternoon.
Try switching to a more balanced diet with lots of fresh fruits and veggies, nuts and seeds, lean protein, and healthy fats.
Some good superfoods for energy include:
Bananas
Yogurt
Leafy greens
Nuts and seeds
Watermelon
Oatmeal
Green tea
Dark chocolate
Take Magnesium
Some supplements are better than others, but one of the best ones for fighting fatigue is magnesium.
You can get this naturally in the foods you eat if you don’t want to take another supplement in the morning.
Magnesium is found in foods like whole grains, nuts, fish, and bananas.
Conclusion
Get your menopause fatigue under control with these herbs. But seek help from your physician or a medical professional if you’re finding it difficult to cope. If the fatigue is overwhelming to the point where it interferes with your daily life, then it’s time to get professional advice.
Disclaimer
This article was written by Zuzana Halliwell. I am not a doctor or health professional and cannot be held liable for the information written here. This article is meant to provide information about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and diet. The content is based on my own personal experience and on information provided by medical professionals that is available to the public. It is not intended to provide medical advice. Do not use it as an alternative to seeking help from a medical professional.