Want to recover from chronic fatigue? Here’s where to start.
What is Chronic Fatigue?
Chronic fatigue can be a deep seated exhaustion that just doesn’t improve, even with rest. It can leave you feeling old before your time, and tired to your bones. It’s not just fatigue though, it’s brain fog, poor gut health, and a nervous system that’s redlining it day and night.
The good news is TCM has existed for thousands of years and has an explanation for every kind of tiredness you can experience. And the wisdom it offers is-you don’t have to push through. What you really time is time, and rest and a chance for your gut and nervous system to recover.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), chronic fatigue is not merely about being tired—it’s often a deep depletion of Yang (lifeforce energy) and imbalance in the body’s organ systems. Recovery is not just resting, it’s about nurturing our energy, calming the mind, and improving gut, nervous and immune health.
What depletes Yang?
Chronic viral disease-glandular fever, ross river fever
Overwork & overtraining
Years of pushing through, relying on caffeine and stimulants
Not enough rest
Insomnia and poor sleep
A diet full of cold, raw, or hard to digest foods that deplete our digestive fire
Anxiety & stress
How to recover from Chronic Fatigue
From a TCM perspective the following systems need nurturing and repair in order for the body’s vital energy to be restored.
The Taiyin Division: Lungs, but also the Spleen-the center of our digestive function. If there is deficiency of the Spleen there’ll be poor transformation and absorption of fluids and foods. Signs of this include: bloating, loose stools, fluid retention, feeling cold, sluggish and foggy headed. Iron and nutrient deficiencies can be present. The focus here is warming the center and strengthening the lungs through the breath. Care should be taken to avoid cold food and overexertion.
The Shaoyin Division-the Heart-Kidney axis. The Heart is the source of yang and energy in the body, it’s like the warm sun shining on the earth and bringing life wherever it goes. When weak or deficient it is characterised by fatigue with a strong desire to sleep or nap throughout the day. In my experience this is indicative of adrenal burnout. Excessive stress or fear, anxiety has depleted the reserves of essence in the Kidneys. Recovery includes warming the kidneys, slowing down and regulating the nervous system for a prolonged period of time. Trauma, suppressed fear and long-term burnout need to be processed in a safe and supportive space.
The Shaoyang Division: The Triple Warmer and Gallbladder axis: this system circulates the yangof the Heart through the body and the blood. It’s characterised by alternating fatigue and restlessness/agitation, mood swings, low appetite and sluggishness. Here the fatigue is often improved by exercise as the fatigue is one of stagnation, less so of deficiency.
Lifestyle Changes to Adopt for Chronic Fatigue
Warming and seasonal Diet: At least 80-90% of your food should be cooked or warm. The same goes for your fluid intake-make sure your water is at least above body temperature. The easier is it to process food and fluids, the more energy you can conserve, the better your gut will function.
Listen to your body: if you need rest, rest. If you need food, eat food. Begin to listen to what your body needs on a daily basis. Make it the foundation of how you move through your day. Remember, your body is a self-healing organism. It knows how to repair itself, if it has the right conditions.
Resting: nap, sleep, meditate, exercise. All of these come under the umbrella of rest. If you want more energy, increase your rest. A quiet and peaceful mind means a calmer body.
Regulating the nervous system: meditate, exercise, work with a somatic therapist, get acupuncture or bodywork. Whatever it takes to help your nervous system feel calmer and at ease. Spend less time on technology, slow down, breathe. Be embodied.
Be patient and give it time: chronic fatigue is a long term issue. To recover or improve takes time. Be slow and gentle with yourself. Focus on good, healthy and sustainable habits that make you feel better in your body.
