We recently moved to Marin County to get our daughter into a better school district, after living in the same house for 17 years. But we needed to fix it up as we planned to either rent it out or sell it. So my husband did most of the work to fix it up. He had two jobs, his regular job of carpentry and fixing up our old house. Consequently, I did most of the packing, moving and unpacking for my family, while working my regular job as well. It took about four months to get settled. It was a very stressful time for all of us.
I began to be sleepy all the time and so thinking it was adrenal fatigue, I took extra adaptogens (see list below). But my fatigue continued. I knew it wasn’t like the chronic fatigue I had many years ago because I have been taking iodine and the iodine regime for many years. So I went to my primary care doctor who is actually a Naturopathic Doctor in a practice with four Medical Doctors. After talking a while she suggested that it seemed like I had a virus. She gave me a slip to get labs done. I tend to procrastinate on labs, so before I could get them done,
I decided to treat a low immune system, assuming I had a virus. I used these tinctures:
Cat’s Claw, Elderberry, Echinacea, Reishi Mushroom. And a probiotic supplement. I put one squirt in a small glass with one half a cup of water, all the tinctures together. And I took this magic potion three times a day. Within three days my fatigue was gone. I continued with the tinctures for about a week and a half. When I stopped them, the illness did not return.
In my twenties, when I was out in the world kissing boys, I came down with Mono,
Mononucleosis, otherwise known as “the kissing disease” or Epstein-Barr Virus. I believe that during the stressful period where we were moving and making big life decisions, my Mono returned. Mono is a virus that lies dormant in your body that only returns when times are stressful. All I needed was the reminder that I may have a virus, a virus that doctor’s say there is nothing they can do about, and I got rid of that sucker in three days by boosting my immune system. Shazam!
Once again I was reminded that I could intervene. I never did get the labs because why spend $300 out of pocket if you don’t have to, as my insurance didn’t cover labs. And my mystery fatigue, or Mono which I believe it was, just went away.
I agree that supplements are expensive but the brand, quality, and dosage are very important when considering a purchase.
Herb Pharm is a brand I like for tinctures:
Cat’s Claw: https://www.iherb.com/pr/Herb-Pharm-Cat-s-Claw-1-fl-oz-30-ml/15007
Gaia is also a good brand: https://www.iherb.com/pr/Gaia-Herbs-Cat-s-Claw-Bark-1-fl-oz-30-ml/13269
Black Elderberry: https://www.iherb.com/pr/Herb-Pharm-Black-Elderberry-Alcohol-Free-1-fl-oz-29-6-ml/10090
Echinacea or Super Echinacea:
https://www.iherb.com/pr/Herb-Pharm-Echinacea-Alcohol-Free-4-fl-oz-120-ml/9452
https://www.iherb.com/pr/Herb-Pharm-Super-Echinacea-1-fl-oz-30-ml/15497
Reishi:
https://www.iherb.com/pr/Herb-Pharm-Reishi-1-fl-oz-30-ml/14654
Reishi Capsules: https://www.vitaminshoppe.com/p/planetary-formulations-full-spectrum-reishi-mushroom-100-tablets/pl-1112
Probiotic: I suggest buying them from the fridge at your local health food store. If not, these are reliable brands:
https://www.iherb.com/pr/Garden-of-Life-RAW-Probiotics-Ultimate-Care-30-V
Probiotics great for travel as they don’t require refrigeration:
https://www.iherb.com/pr/Enzymatic-Therapy-Probiotic-Pearls-Acidophilus-90-Softgels/2238
Probiotics for kids:
https://www.vitaminshoppe.com/p/kids-probiotic-complete-4-billion-grape-60-gummies/smy1014
I like tinctures or liquid herbal extracts but pill or capsule form is ok too. Capsules and liquids are absorbed better by the body than tablets.
Adaptogens are herbs that help one’s body adapt to stress. A big stressor is unseen, environmental toxins we have absorbed through water, air, and skin. Adaptogens make you feel better, especially when you begin to feel the aches and pains of being 50! And adaptogens have been used for thousands of years in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine.
Examples of adaptogens are:
Ginseng, Ashwagandha, Rhodiola rosea, Eleuthero and Shizandra. I usually take Noto Ginseng and Ashwagandha:
Ashwagandha: https://www.vitaminshoppe.com/p/jarrow-formulas-ashwagandha-120-capsules/jf-7328
Rhodiola rosea: https://www.vitaminshoppe.com/p/nature-way-rhodiola-rosea-60-veggie-caps/nw-7293
Eleuthero(Siberian Ginseng): https://www.vitaminshoppe.com/p/solaray-eleuthero-siberian-ginseng-425-mg-180-capsules/so-1592
Shizandra: https://www.vitaminshoppe.com/p/solaray-schizandra-580-mg-100-capsules/so-1534
I was referred to Noto Ginseng as it is supposed to help prevent Dementia, although one needs to find a good source. My doctor referred me to this one:
