Feeling tired all the time seems to be a modern epidemic and many women accept that it is normal. Nothing could be further from the truth: like most common ailments, fatigue is the body’s way of telling us that something is not right.

Tiredness can be due to many different causes, including poor nutrition, poor nutrient absorption, lack of sleep, adrenal fatigue, thyroid problems, or low-grade chronic infections.

What you can do

Due to fatigue’s multi-factorial nature, the best place to start is with a check-up by your health practitioner, who can run a range of tests to assess the cause.

Once the cause is identified you can use natural medicines to restore energy levels.

For example, if your adrenal hormones are affected, the herbs withania, rehmannia, licorice and Siberian ginseng help restore adrenal function.

Low iron and B12 is another common cause of fatigue and can easily be rectified with supplementation and dietary changes.

Professional assessment of your diet is very important as our requirements change according to the level of stress we are under, our physical activity, workload and social activities; so it’s easy to become deficient if your life has changed but your diet hasn’t.

Remember, feeling tired for more than a two-week period, even after you have had adequate rest, is a sign that something’s not right. Don’t accept it, seek professional advice.