Whether you have general fatigue or have been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, you might try some alternative treatments to reduce your symptoms. Alternative treatments for fatigue range from taking supplements or herbs to aromatherapy, homeopathy and acupuncture. Consult your doctor before using any alternative treatment to discuss the potential side effects, health dangers and interactions with conventional medications.
Herbal Remedies
You might take certain herbal remedies to help treat fatigue. Echinacea, Siberian ginseng, licorice and Asian ginseng are sometimes recommended for treating chronic fatigue syndrome, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. You might also take herbal treatments containing astragalus or pau d’arco to combat fatigue. The typical dosage of Asian ginseng is 100 to 300 mg taken twice daily, while the dosage of echinacea is 200 mg twice daily, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. You might take 1 teaspoon of liquid pau d’arco extract in 1 cup of water two or three times daily or 200 to 400 mg of licorice three times daily. Astragalus is usually consumed as a tea three times daily by steeping 1 teaspoon of root in 1 cup of boiling water. Ask your doctor about the proper dosage before taking any of these herbs to treat fatigue.
Other Alternative Treatments
You might take certain vitamins and minerals to help fight fatigue. Taking beta-carotene, carnitine, DHEA, gamma-linolenic acid or “GLA,” melatonin, NADH, coenzyme Q10, magnesium, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin D and pantothenic acid could help treat fatigue. Alternative treatments such as acupuncture, aromatherapy and homeopathy might also help. Homeopathic herbs that are sometimes used to treat fatigue include sulphur, arsenicum, pulsatilla and gelsemium, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center. Aromatherapy using rosemary, jasmine and peppermint essential oils might also help to treat fatigue. Talk with your physician about these alternative treatments for fatigue before using them.
Function
Supplements such as vitamin B-12, DHEA, coenzyme Q10, NADH, GLA and magnesium play important roles in energy production in your body. Beta-carotene and vitamin C can boost your immune system function, while other B-complex vitamins can ease the negative effects from stress and fatigue, explains the University of Maryland Medical Center. Asian ginseng, astragalus, pau d’arco and echinacea work to support your immune system. Asian and Siberian ginseng also appear to affect the hormonal stress reaction in the body, notes the University of Michigan Health System. Licorice can increase blood pressure in people who have chronic fatigue syndrome and low blood pressure, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Licorice might also stimulate your adrenals to ease fatigue, as people with chronic fatigue syndrome appear to have low adrenal function.
Scientific Evidence
A 2005 observational study in Hong Kong found that electro-acupuncture helped to treat chronic fatigue syndrome, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center. A 1990 double-blind study of people with chronic fatigue syndrome found that the study participants were deficient in essential fatty acids and that taking GLA from evening primrose or fish oils helped to relieve their symptoms, according to Acta Neurologica Scandiavica. Another study published in the European Journal of Clinical Investigation in 2002 found that taking melatonin supplements helped people with chronic fatigue syndrome, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. A case report published in the New Zealand Medical Journal in 1995 involved a man who took 2 ½ grams of licorice root per day and experienced relief from his chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms, notes the University of Michigan Health System. No clinical trials have investigated the use of licorice for treating fatigue, however. A 2002 study published in Acta Pharmacologica Sinica determined that an herbal combination containing astragalus reduced fatigue in athletes, says the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Finally, laboratory studies published in the journal Immunopharmacology in 1997 determined that echinacea and Asian ginseng can boost immune function in cells from people with chronic fatigue syndrome in test tubes.
Dangers
Alternative treatments can produce side effects, potential health risks and drug interactions, so it’s important to discuss any treatments with your doctor before using them. Astragalus herbal treatments can interfere with certain medications such as the immunosuppressants cyclosporine and tacrolimus, aldesleukin, and cyclophosphamide, warns the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. GLA supplements and pau d’arco can increase your bleeding risks if you’re taking blood-thinners like Coumadin, magnesium, carnitine and licorice can affect your blood pressure, and DHEA can worsen hormone-related diseases like breast or prostate cancer. These and other herbs or supplements might cause additional side effects or drug interactions.
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