People living in Western societies are often overwhelmed with exhaustion. There are days when life, school and work can be unbearable and exceedingly demanding. This causes people to feel already very tired even before noon time when they day just seems to be starting for some. This happens usually to people with low levels of energy or those who have problems sleeping properly. A lot of doctors will say sleeping for 8 hours is needed to replenish the body with much needed energy; however, a lot of people have a hard time falling asleep, let alone have the proper amount of sleep.

There has been a significant rise in the number of products offered in the market these days that claim to increase the energy levels of a person suffering from daily fatigue. Energy bars and pills, are readily available anywhere and one needs no longer visit a pharmacy or a doctor. Of course, most of us know that these products contain substances that can adversely affect the body. In fact, labels in these so-called energy boosting products provide us with information that if only people consuming or drinking them read first will force them to think twice before using these products; taking in substances regardless if they’re taken on a regular basis or occasionally, can result in sickness, and/or pain.

Why am I so tired?

Fatigue may set in a person due to various reasons. Many of these can be addressed with just small changes in one’s diet and lifestyle. Some of the causes for fatigue include heart disease, sleeping problems, diabetes, thyroid conditions, nutritional deficiency, anemia, lack of exercise, inadequate sleep, insomnia and an unhealthy diet.

Can Fatigue be Resolved with Acupuncture?

Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture are just two of the many components comprising Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Chinese herbs and acupuncture have been used (and still are) for tens of thousands of years to help treat pain and illnesses. Fatigue and other symptoms can be relieved by acupuncturists who direct their treatment in restoring harmony and balance as well as treating disharmonies in the body.

After thoroughly evaluating the patient, the acupuncturist may apply differential diagnosis to determine identify the pattern(s) of disharmony that needs to be rectified. One very important factor that needs to be considered is if the patient’s disharmony is due to a deficiency or excess. When this has been determined, the acupuncturist can then formulate the proper treatment plan for the patient.

In coming up with a correct diagnosis, the acupuncturist will query the patient with a series of questions. Some of these questions may go like these:

-How is your appetite?
-Do have feel any pain in your ribs?
-Are you easily irritated or depressed?
-Do you feel any heaviness in your body?
-Does your fatigue improve with exercise or movement?
-What time of the day does your fatigue worsen?

After the patient answers these questions, the acupuncturist will then proceed in examining the patient’s pulse and tongue. The pulse and tongue diagnosis is an integral part of the treatment as it provides the acupuncturist with information of the nature of the disharmony.

After all the necessary information is gathered, the acupuncturist can then proceed with treatment. This may include combining recommendations in lifestyle and diet changes, Chinese herbal therapy and acupuncture. The aims of the treatment are to promote well-being and balance, address the underlying reason for the fatigue and treat the patient in a holistic manner.

Dominic Sembello L.Ac.
Health Source Acupuncture
401 New Rd #211
Linwood, NJ 08221
(609) 248-6922
www.healthsourceacupuncture.com