Feeling Drained and Tired? Part IV

In the last segment, I talked about the possible consequences of not treating a prolonged fatigue condition.  Of course, blood sugar problems are among the issues that demand quick attention.  Yet, there are other ailments caused by chronic fatigue that require treatment as well.

Leaky gut is one of those problems.  This is a pesky issue.  It is caused by the lack of a nightly repair of the mucous lining of the gut.  This happens when an on-going fight-flight-reflex shuts down digestion.  As a result, bacteria and partly digested food escape the intestine and take up residence in the body cavity and in the blood.   This can produce unwanted waste products, infections, and allergies.  Eventually, any or all of these will begin to slow down the body in general.  Usually, the condition can be treated.  Herbs as well as holistic therapies, such as Neuro-Emotional and  Emotion Clearing techniques, can help to repair the mucous lining and turn off the on-going fight-flight-reflex.

The lymphatic system also suffers in overly fatigued folks.  This remarkable mechanism is essentially the body’s garbage disposal and, like every refuse bin, it needs to be cleaned out regularly.  But before it can be cleaned out, we must make sure that the system’s main valves- open/close doors - are working.  Commonly, we find the main valves are stuck in a closed position.  This causes congestion in the flow of wastes and results in constipation, liver back-up, weight gain, and more fatigue.  In order to open these valves, a trained physician needs to manipulate them manually.  The patient is then given special, slow aerobic exercises that are repeated for several days. These activities clear the lymph system and restore its ability to flow and to detoxify naturally.  Once this healthy condition manifests, more strenuous exercise can be done.

Food allergies are yet another problem faced by many chronically fatigued people.   They can be identified with muscle-testing and cleared with a special allergy technique that combines chiropractic and acupuncture (without needles).  Many allergies are a result of a less-than-optimal digestive system.  As we have discussed already, the digestive system is significantly affected by the fight-flight-reflex that causes partly digested particles to enter the blood.  When this happens, the immune system identifies these particles as  “foreign” and does what it can to attack them.  In order to restore one’s immune system to good health, a person must get out of the fight-flight condition.   

Finally, the fight or flight mechanism produces a tension that, often times, results in a variety of structural problems.   This mechanism vertically compresses the body in order to make it a smaller target - a great defense mechanism if an aggressor is chasing you!  Ailments like neck and back pain, TMJ (temperomandibular joint), face-head-shoulder pain, digestive upset and gait pain are among the nasty consequences of a prolonged fight or flight condition.  I have found that chiropractic is an excellent method for identifying such structural abnormalities and for applying satisfactory remedies.

Well, we have come to the end of our discussion on fatigue.  I would like you to remember this, please.  If you are experiencing fatigue, then your body is trying to tell you something.   Just think about this metaphor for a while:

        When the body aches or is tired a little, it is whispering a message.
        When the body aches or is tired as lot, it is yelling loud and clear - HELP ME!

Ignoring this message is not going to help you in any way.  Certainly, it won’t help those that depend on you.  Disregarding this body communiqué is nothing more than a successful self-sabotage method. So, if you are feeling fatigued more often than not, it is time to take constructive action and take back your life. I know that you can do this.  I’ve helped many patients down this path to wellness and I could do the same for you.

I’ll have more for you on this topic in my next segment.  In the meantime, if you are feeling any of the symptoms mentioned above, please give me a call at (510) 652-2302. We can talk about the ways in which I can you regain energy and stamina.

Dr. Larry Gertler, M. Ed., D.C., is a nationally known holistic chiropractor and teacher.  He is available for in-office visits and telephone consultations.  For more information, please call (510) 652-2302 or visit his website www.drgertler.org.

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Feeling drained and tired? Part III

In my last segment, I talked about the fight or flight reaction and it’s need for a high carbohydrate diet. Here is a little more on that subject.

The problem with feasting on carbohydrates is that it runs up your blood sugar levels. The only way to resolve this problem is by lots of physical exercise. If the carb load builds up and is not burned off, then an imbalance occurs that leads to a number of health issues. One of these consequences is fatigue.

If the fatigue is not corrected as soon as possible, then other physical problems result. As health care practitioners, we now know that weight gain/obesity, sleeping problems, and insulin resistance (pre-diabetes) are all possible ailments resulting from untreated, prolonged fatigue. Of course, a host of digestive problems ranging from heartburn to ulcers to chronic mal-absorption and mal-nutrition can complicate the story even more. These latter conditions can and often do lead to cardiovascular and other degenerative diseases such as chronic infections and ultimately, cancer.

The first step toward remedying fatigue is getting the blood sugar balance back in order. This can be done in a number of ways. The first step is modifying your diet. The best diet incorporates 40% of calories from carbs, 30% from fats, and the remaining 30% from protein. It’s important to consume these ratios at each and every meal and snack - no ice cream binges or candy frenzies! In mild cases of fatigue, this diet need only be used for several weeks before you feel more energized. In more severe instances, folks might need to balance their meals for a longer period.

I’ll have more for you on this topic in my next segment. In the meantime, if you feel that you would like to chat with me about your fatigue, then please give me a call at (510) 652-2302. We can talk about the ways in which I can help you regain energy and stamina.

Dr. Larry Gertler, M. Ed., D.C., is a nationally known holistic chiropractor and teacher. He is available for in-office visits and telephone consultations (for California residents only). For more information, please call (510) 652-2302 or visit his website http://www.drgertler.org.

Dr. Gertler has been designated as a TOP Chiropractor in This Prime Buyer's Report!  Click here.

Feeling drained and tired? Part II

In my last segment, I talked about fatigue, its symptoms and the important role that blood sugar plays in helping you to maintain your energy. Here is a little more on that subject.

The fight or flight reaction is always triggered by stress. For example, a mugger accosts you and, consequently, you run for your life - this is the fight or flight response in action. In such a case, you would have experienced more energy and strength than you ever thought possible!

Yet, in reality, a life-threatening experience does not always have to be present for your fight or flight response to be activated. In other words, you need only to perceive some in-coming harm - real, physical, non-physical or imagined - and your body will counter with the appropriate fight or flight response in order to match the threat.

For some people, this fight or flight system is permanently switched on. Yes! You read that right - PERMENANTLY switched on! Life circumstances are so stressful that their minds and bodies are consistently mired in this state. This is easy to understand in light of the current economic times. When job and home are threatened, it is very natural to experience a fight or flight reaction.

For many people who find themselves in this condition, carbohydrates are their main food attraction. Basically, carbs give the body the energy it needs to fuel the fight or flight mechanism. Of course, that makes perfect sense. Remember, we need lots of energy when we are escaping from the mugger and those carbs really come in handy when we are the object of a hot pursuit. However, when that fight or flight burst of energy lasts for too long a time - weeks, months or years - the resulting hormone rush will cause a fatigue, obesity and, eventually, a system-wide burn-out.

I’ll have more for you on this topic in my next segment. In the meantime, if you feel that you are in a consistent fight or flight condition, then please give me a call at (510) 652-2302. We can talk about the ways in which I can help you recover your ease and regain energy and stamina.

Dr. Larry Gertler, M. Ed., D.C., is a nationally known holistic chiropractor and teacher. He is available for in-office visits and telephone consultations (for California residents only). For more information, please call (510) 652-2302 or visit his website http://www.drgertler.org.

Feeling drained and tired? Could this be one of the causes? Part I

Fatigue affects people in all walks of life.  It's no wonder that so many folks have it.  People are chasing around complaining of how busy and tired they are.  For most of us, a run to Starbucks is the easiest way to keep ourselves going.  You know what I mean.  It is a huge relief to get your hands around that grande cup of ambition that will surely give you enough energy to get through the day.

Still, there comes a time when that a sip of that magic java does not produce the effect that it has in the past.  Something inside you knows that all the coffee in the world will not give you the energy and focus that you need.  You are not bouncing back as quickly now and feel even more tired when you wake up than when you went to bed.  What is wrong? 

Well, you have fatigue!  The symptoms are very noticeable.  They include lethargy, delayed recovery from exercise, vague depression, poor concentration or even heart palpitations.  These conditions can be mild or severe.  Despite the intensity of it, some underlying root cause is telling you that the body needs fixing before things will get better.

There are many reasons why people feel such fatigue.  Diet, leaky gut, anemia and food allergies are just a few of the stressors that provoke fatigue.  Still, one of the most common root causes is blood sugar problems.

Those who need to eat all the time usually subsist on fast food, snack and graze extensively.  Often times, they eliminate well-balanced meals and exercise erratically.  These folks frequently suffer from a blood-sugar system that is all out of whack.  Relying on a diet that is too rich in carbohydrates looses a barrage of hormones that cause the liver to back up and poison the body, leading ultimately to fatigue.

I'll have more for you on this topic in my next segment.  In the meantime, if you are feeling any of the symptoms mentioned above, please give me a call at (510) 652-2302.  We can talk about the ways in which I can help you to regain your energy and stamina.

Dr. Larry Gertler, M. Ed., D.C., is a nationally known holistic chiropractor and teacher.  He is available for in-office visits and telephone consultations.   (Telephone consultations are for California residents only.) For more information, please call the Center for Holistic Health at  (510) 652-2302 or visit this website http://www.drgertler.org.

Dr. Gertler has been designated as a TOP Chiropractor in This Prime Buyer's Report!  Click here.