Why am I always tired?

 

Why am I always tired?

Finding the answer to chronic fatigue through Korean Medicine

According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Korea has the longest average working hours among OECD members. Stress and fatigue continue to build up due to long hours of labor and busy daily lives, but we still have to live through another day again. We must address this daily issue. Perhaps that's why some say, ‘They drink coffee to stay alive', relying on the awakening effects of caffeine.

 To combat this chronic fatigue, you may rely on caffeine as well as various nutritional supplements, nutritional supplements and foods, and all types of injection therapies. However, what about chronic fatigue that never goes away even after you take a rest?

 According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), chronic fatigue syndrome is diagnosed when more than four of the following eight symptoms last or repeat for more than six months in a person with no particular cause of fatigue.

 Unlike normal fatigue, chronic fatigue refers to a condition in which fatigue lasts for more than six months for no particular reason. At this time, the symptoms of chronic fatigue do not subside even if one takes sufficient rest.

Why is Korean Medicine the answer?

Chronic fatigue syndrome is related to the nervous system, the immune system, the hypothalamus-pituitary gland-suprarenal gland, and its treatment method is also unclear as the contributing factors are complex and the cause is not found. Antidepressants, immunomodulators, and corticosteroids are being studied for treatments, but they do not demonstrate clear effects and their use may be limited due to the risk of side effects. Therefore, Korean Medicine is cutting an appearance as a complementary and alternative treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome.

 With the help of Korean Medicine along with the improvement in lifestyle depending on the cause, one can resume a more energetic daily life in a more rapid and effective manner.

Chronic fatigue viewed from the Korean Medicine

 With a history of 5,000 years, Korean Medicine has long regarded fatigue as a major disorder that requires treatment and has therefore developed treatments. "Donguibogam," a medical publication written in 1610 by Heo Jun, a royal physician in the Joseon Dynasty who compiled a collection of medical publications in China and Joseon, describes the symptoms of "Consumptive Diseases."  

 

 In Korean Medicine, stress, lack of exercise, alcohol consumption and bad eating habits break the balance of internal organs, which leads to the lack of energy and reduced immunity, and then to chronic fatigue.

 Then, what would be the order and method of treating chronic fatigue in Korean Medicine? First of all, an in-depth consultation is conducted to grasp the psychological state and lifestyle of the patient, including pulse examination, body type examination, and brain wave test. Depending on the results of the consultation, personalized prescriptions are provided to match each individual even for the same symptoms, because the causes of fatigue and hypo functioning internal organs may vary. 

 Among the deteriorating factors or environmental factors identified through the consultation, those that can be corrected are selected and the patient is advised. Afterwards, an intensive treatment begins according to the situation and constitution of the patient.

Medicinal herbs are effective in fighting fatigue and strengthening immunity. The ingredients of medicinal herbs include various natural substances such as animals, plants, and minerals, but most of them come from vegetation. Therefore, it is also called 'herbal medicine' overseas. In order to combat chronic fatigue, substances that reinforce hypo-functioning internal organs, substances that reinforce qi, substances that relax stagnant energy and helps the qi circulation, and substances that act anti-inflammatory are mainly used.

 In addition to the fatigue, if the patient also suffers from a headache, muscle pain, or joint pain, the remedy combined with acupuncture reduces the period required for treatment. It stimulates acupoints to regulates internal organs, delivering an immediate effect on the pain reduction. However, if the patient's physical strength is significantly reduced, it is desirable to consult a doctor of Korean Medicine before getting an acupuncture treatment in order to find out if acupuncture may further reduce his or her physical strength.

The moxibustion is a treatment that burns up medicinal herbs such as wormwood or apply steam to the affected area or acupoints to add heat, and this treatment is effective for hypothermic diseases, diseases arising from weakness, and chronic diseases. Meaningful effects on chronic fatigue have also been verified on several occasions. Chronic fatigue, which was difficult to diagnose with Western medicine since no clear diagnosis is shown and it doesn’t go away even after you take sufficient rest, can be diagnosed with Korean Medicine. 

 Korean Medicine, which has expertise in "fatigue" and offers personalized treatment tailored to each individual could be the answer.

[Reference]

MSD Manual, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome 

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