Lassitude
Fatigue
Tired even after a full night’s sleep. Food, sleep, your cycle and constitution behind ongoing tiredness.
When people come in
- Waking up already tired
- Afternoon slumps or dizziness
- Worse after your period or busy weeks
The Chinese medicine view
TCM often reads fatigue through the Spleen and Kidney: a weak Spleen makes too little qi and blood, damp makes the body heavy, a weak Kidney leaves you flat.
Common patterns
Spleen qi deficiency
Tired after meals, loose stools, weak voice
Qi and blood deficiency
Pale, dizzy, palpitations
Damp encumbering the Spleen
Heavy body, foggy head, thick coating
Kidney yang deficiency
Feeling cold, lower-back ache, night urination
Patterns are identified by a practitioner through all four examinations. They are here to explain the thinking, not for self-diagnosis.
The medical view
Ongoing tiredness can be linked to anaemia, thyroid problems, diabetes, depression or sleep apnoea, so blood tests or a doctor’s review come first. Weight loss, fever or night sweats need prompt attention.
Unexplained weight loss, persistent fever or night sweats need prompt medical attention.
What the consultation covers
Routine, diet, menstrual flow and exercise are reviewed, then herbs, moxibustion or acupuncture alongside sustainable changes to food and rest.
Therapies that may be discussed: Herbal medicine, Moxibustion
What to bring
- Recent blood tests, if any
- Daily routine and exercise
- Menstrual flow and cycle
Questions
Should I take tonics?
Not always; with damp or heat patterns the wrong tonic can make you feel heavier. The pattern comes first.
Is it normal to be exhausted after my period?
Heavier bleeding can leave you tired, sometimes from anaemia; a blood test is worth doing.
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