Twenty-first-century fatigue comes with a litany of woes: low energy, lassitude, lethargy, trouble concentrating, and even mild depression. But fatigue is nothing new. First-century Greek physician Dioscorides wrote about it in his medical text De Materia Media, documenting the medicinal bene- fits of an herb he called rodia riza to treat fatigue. (It was later renamed Rhodiola rosea.)
Chinese emperors sent expeditions to Siberia to bring back the precious “golden root” for preparations that strengthened vitality and promoted long life. Centuries later, Viking warriors are thought to have taken rhodiola to boost endurance on their long-distance sea journeys and campaigns. Rhodiola’s root has been used to fight fatigue and boost energy in traditional medicine in Russia and the Scandinavian countries for centuries.
Rhodiola is categorized as an adaptogen, a substance that safely helps us cope with stress. Russian and Scandinavian scientists have researched rhodiola for half a century. More recently, American and Canadian scientists have conducted studies. Some research shows that rhodiola decreases stress-induced fatigue and enhances mental performance in fatigue.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome, adrenal fatigue syndrome, and fibromyalgia are three conditions that can cause overwhelming exhaustion unrelieved by ample sleep and rest. Medical doctors have yet to determine what causes them. These three syndromes overlap. In addition to shared symptoms, all three are usually accompanied by abnormalities in the stress hormone cortisol and an increase in inflammatory chemicals.
Chronic fatigue syndrome is characterized by deep-seated fatigue lasting at least six months, impaired memory and concentration, exhaustion after physical exertion, muscle and joint pain, unrefreshing sleep, sore throat, tender lymph nodes in the neck, and headaches. Although the cause is unknown, some infectious agents have been linked to the disease.
The hallmark of fibromyalgia is chronic pain in muscles and ligaments, especially in the neck, shoulders, back, and hips. Fatigue, difficulty concentrating, poor quality sleep, and depression are also common.
Adrenal fatigue syndrome has only recently been recognized. Most of the time, the problem with chronic stress is an excess of the adrenal hormones epinephrine (adrenaline) and cortisol. In adrenal fatigue, cortisol is abnormally low. A prominent theory is that excessive stress (including a taxing illness) can cause the syndrome. People feel tired, achy, and lightheaded. Weight loss and low blood pressure may occur.
No magic bullet cures any of these syndromes. Recovery can be slow and requires a lot of patience, which presents a challenge to the hard-driving types who may be most vulnerable.
Sunday, 6 April 2014
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