natural remedies for fatigue

[alwaysvb]

Does anyone know of any natural remedies for fatigue? The plaquenil doesn't seem to be working and I don't want to add anymore medicine to my regime. I was just hoping someone knew of something to help me.

Thanks,
Alwaysvb

[SjoGirl]

Vitamin D has helped I also take iron because I am anemic. Yoga has given me inner strength and a different kind of stamina, same with walking (though not power walking for me anymore). Keeping sugar in take to that in natural foods has been a big help.

[Joe S.]

Siberian Ginseng Tea. For some people it has an effect similar to taking speed what ever that is. The person that told me about it died of a drug overdose a few months later.

[jazzlover]

MangoSTEEN juice... specifically, Xango.

[Sleepy In Seattle]

My energy picked up and my body aches went down quite a bit when i quit eating dairy and wheat/gluten.

Everybody is different, though...to some extent, you just have to experiment. But be careful - some "natural" remedies are more dangerous than the "unnatural" ones.

I don't know how long you have been on Plaquenil, but for many people it can take 4-6 months to really make a difference - so be patient! (I know it's hard...).

[Tinker]

I'll be watching this topic as fatigue is my biggest complaint.  I have found nothing to help. I'm already taking Vit D.

[SookieBordeaux]

I have been drinking a shake with all kinds of Vitamins and minerals and herbs etc... and it's amazing for energy.  The magic pick me up for fatigue in it is Guarana.   It's nature's caffeine.  You can get it at the Health Food stores.  600 mg is equal to one cup of premium coffee.  Check it out for conflicts with the drugs that you take though and ask your doctor.  I can't tolerate caffeine at all but this stuff is amazing and it lasts all day long for me!  Night and day for fatigue.  It does cause weight loss so I would not suggest it if you don't need to lose weight.  I take it after I eat because it makes me lose my appetite if I take it before I eat.  It does not make me jittery or anxious either. 

Like I said be sure to ok it with your doctor first.

SookieB

[warmwaters]

I have been drinking a shake with all kinds of Vitamins and minerals and herbs etc... and it's amazing for energy.  The magic pick me up for fatigue in it is Guarana.   It's nature's caffeine. 

SookieB

Said with a bit smile - caffeine is nature's caffeine - extracted from coffee, tea and other plants

[Linda196]

@Warmwaters and Sookiebordeaux, you're both right, the active ingredient in Guarana is  (drumroll please) ...Caffeine!

[finallyadx]

Have you tried the B vitamins?  I hear for some folks it helps tremendously!!!  Just a thought...fatigue is a bigger bummer!

[dry2010]

I have been juicing and very surprised with the energy it gives me

Dry2010

[Sleepy In Seattle]

I also swear by good ol' coffee...

I used to not be able to drink it because I had so much irritation in my bladder all the time - but I really think that it was a Sjogren's symptom (look up "trigionitis" - it's an irritation of the mucous glands at the base of the bladder and can be a symptom of Lupus and/or Sjogrens). Once I got treatment for Lupus and Sjogren's (a course of steroids, and then plaquenil and methotrexate), the bladder irritation pretty much disappeared and now I can drink moderate amounts of coffee with no problem - THANK GOODNESS!!!!  It IS a nice pick-me-up around lunchtime...keeps me going through the day.

I have found, however, that it really does matter what KIND of coffee I drink - it has to be an espresso drink (some kind of latte or an Americano), not drip coffee or French Press. I read that the acid content and chemical content in coffee varies QUITE A BIT depending on how it is brewed, and that seems to make a big difference for me. Drip coffee and ESPECIALLY French Press still irritate my stomach and bladder.

Good thing I live in Seattle, where there's a nice espresso stand on just about every corner!   

[Skylar]

I have what I think is the best natural remedy - a whole foods diet - nothing else, well except B12 supplements and because I have PMLE and can't be out in sunlight vitamin D.

I follow Dr. John McDougall's diet - eating only whole foods, not highly processed foods filled with additives etc. And I would put those supplements in the highly processed food category. I mean if you want the vitamins - get it at the source because they come with other phyconutrients that your body needs.

Within days of switching my energy levels soared. Even my DH who was eating this way at home but cheating while eating out felt his energy increase and decided to join me 100% on this healthier way of eating.

Now I do sometimes still have to manage my energy - I do take a little catnap (maybe 15-30 minutes) a couple of times a week - but nothing like how I used to be. It has made a huge improvement in my lifestyle.

[SookieBordeaux]

@Warmwaters and Sookiebordeaux, you're both right, the active ingredient in Guarana is  (drumroll please) ...Caffeine!

This cracks me up because the makers of this drink will deny it all day long...lol  It's so safe..yadda yadda.. I looked it up and you really do need to be careful with it.  I don't get why I can handle this and not get jittery but yet one diet drink with caffeine makes me jittery and sick to my stomach.  Koala Nut is another pick me up but again it's just another caffeine high nature's drug most likely. 

One thing is for sure... Fatigue gets old.. and it's nice to have that extra energy!

SookieB