The concept of qi is one of the things that often alienates rationally-minded patients, yet these same patients will come into the clinic and report that they have low energy. They're describing the same phenomenon.
If a patient comes to a Western doctor with low energy, the Doctor will make a diagnosis based on lab tests. In Western Medical terms, the most common causes of fatigue are sleep disorders, thyroid problems, diabetes, anemia, depression, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and chronic fatigue syndrome.
When addressing low energy with Traditional Chinese Medicine, we don't necessarily isolate the root cause, but we try to balance the body as a whole so that the symptoms are reduced and the patient is healthier.
Here are a few simple ways to boost your energy level and improve your overall health:
- Eat Well - Eating minimally processed foods, especially lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, will improve your overall health dramatically. The better you eat, the better you feel.
- Exercise - It may seem counter-intuitive, but getting your heart rate up for half an hour or more will give your more energy throughout the day. Exercise keeps you young.
- Meditate - Stress and negative emotions often cause fatigue, and meditation give you a chance to clear your mid of all thought. Although the practice is used by certain religions, meditation doesn't have to be a religious practice.
- Drink More Water - Water is necessary for many chemical reactions in your body, that's why dehydration can sap your body of energy.
- Limit Caffeine Intake - You may think that a cup of coffee gives you more energy, but, in the long run, it's really wearing you down. Caffeine stimulates a variety of hormonal systems that give you a fleeting sense of energy.
- Stretch - Whether it's a full-on yoga class or twenty minutes of stretching in the morning, flexibility is often linked to longevity.
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