Feeling tired, both mentally and physically, can take a huge toll in all areas of our lives. When fatigue becomes constant and persistent, it can become difficult to identify that we are fatigued as it becomes our normal state.

Fatigue is a vague diagnosis and in many cases it is assumed to be a normal feeling that we just have to deal with. Whilst it is normal to feel fatigued after high exertion or during recovery of various forms, chronic ongoing fatigue is abnormal and may be indicative of a larger or more serious underlying condition. If you have been experiencing ongoing unexplained fatigue, working with a healthcare practitioner can assist in uncovering the root cause of your fatigue.

Top 5 reasons you may be experiencing fatigue and how a natural health care practitioner can help:

1. Stealth infections

Pathogens or microbial imbalances such as candida, Helicobacter pylori, SIBO and Epstein-Barr virus can survive in the body undiagnosed. These stealth infections can suppress the immune system, utilise the body’s resources, damage cells and impair body functions contributing to fatigue, brain fog and an array of other unwanted symptoms. Stealth pathogens can be present in both their latent and active forms and persist for extended periods.

How can a natural healthcare practitioner help?

A natural healthcare practitioner may assist in identifying stealth infections and refer for diagnostic testing. Once identified, eradication of the pathogen with antimicrobials, alongside immune and detoxification support may be utilised as part of a healthcare plan to eliminate pathogens. Nutrients and herbs may be used to restore homeostasis and repair damaged tissues and cell functions.

2. Undiagnosed health conditions

Certain chronic illnesses can cause an array of non-specific symptoms such as fatigue and brain fog which may not appear to be related to the condition. Some examples include endometriosis, insulin resistance, Hashimoto’s disease and IBS. Often times, chronic illnesses are undiagnosed or are uncontrolled leading to a persistence of symptoms and lack of resolution.

How can a natural health care practitioner help?

Identifying chronic illnesses can take time and visits to multiple healthcare practitioners. For example, the average time to get a diagnosis for endometriosis is 7 years from the onset of symptoms. Working with a natural healthcare practitioner who invests time in taking your full health history and works with understanding the root cause of your symptoms may expedite the process and help treat your health condition at the source rather than using a Band-Aid approach to mask symptoms.

3. Post viral illness

After recovering from a pathogenic infection, a period of recovery known as convalescence is required to restore the body to homeostasis. It is normal to continue to feel fatigued for a period after illness, however if the fatigue persists, it could be indicative that the body hasn’t completely eradicated the virus, or restored its normal functions.

How can a natural health care practitioner help?

Various herbs and nutrients can support the nervous and immune systems in their recovery to normal function. Herbal medicines may help clear the body of lingering pathogens and pathogenic material, hastening recovery, and nutritional support may enhance bodily functions, reducing fatigue in a timely manner.

4. Nutrient deficiencies

Nutrient deficiencies may contribute to fatigue as they are essential for cellular energy production and regular body processes. Some nutrient deficiencies can further contribute to various health conditions. For example, an iodine and selenium deficiency may contribute to hypothyroidism, of which a major symptom is fatigue. Nutrient deficiencies may occur even in individuals with a seemingly healthy diet due to poor gastrointestinal absorption or decreased nutrient density in foods.

How can a natural health care practitioner help?

A natural healthcare practitioner can help diagnose a nutrient deficiency through various pathology testing and clinical observation. Nutrient deficiencies often require therapeutic doses in the form of supplements in order to be corrected. However, not all supplements are the same. A natural health care practitioner can prescribe high quality, highly absorbed products at the appropriate dosages to correct deficiency.

5. Stress

Low grade chronic stress is a huge issue in modern society and many people do not realise that they are constantly operating in this state. Whilst the stress response is necessary in order to identify true threats to our wellbeing, stress becomes pathological when it is ongoing and when a true threat is not present. Thoughts can provoke a physiological stress response even in the absence of a physical threat, thus exacerbating the stress and the fatigue that we may feel.

How can a natural health care practitioner help?

Natural health care practitioners have a variety of tools to help reduce the impacts of chronic stress on the body. Adaptogenic herbs modulate our stress response, and are commonly utilised during periods of stress and in its aftermath to help us bounce back. Other therapies which may be prescribed to relieve stress include breathwork, meditation, exercise and yoga.

If you have been feeling fatigued without a proper explanation or for an extended period of time, reach out to your natural healthcare practitioner who may be able to assist in uncovering the reason for your fatigue and support you with a plan. Working with a practitioner often reaps results faster than self-diagnosis and self-prescription due to their expertise and access to high quality prescription-only products. To find a BioMedica healthcare practitioner near you, visit our Find a Practitioner page