Tired and exhausted - natural substances for more vigour in everyday life

These natural substances give you more energy in your day-to-day life

You drag yourself through the day, not even coffee helps, and everyday activities become a chore – a constant feeling of tiredness and exhaustion can become a real burden. The reasons for this can be as varied as they are complex: sleep disorders, overwork, intense exercise, mental strain or chronic stress are just a few of them. First and foremost: feeling tired after a strenuous day, a stressful situation or an intense workout is completely normal! Ideally, the body is then given time to rest so it can fully recover. If you give it this rest, plenty of sleep and well-deserved breaks, yet still feel as though you’re going through the day completely drained of energy and exhausted, you should take a closer look at the possible causes.

A genuine way to support yourself naturally in everyday life can be found in nature. We’d like to introduce you to our top 3 ‘pick-me-ups’.

Ginseng

In China, ginseng has been one of the most popular roots for boosting vitality for decades. Ginseng has now become the subject of numerous studies, which have yielded promising results. According to Reay JL et al. (2005), taking ginseng can enhance cognitive performance (1). Contrary to many rumours, this does not apply to physical performance. A large number of studies refute this widespread belief (2, 3).

Ginseng proves particularly beneficial as a support during challenging phases of life. Several studies attribute adaptogenic properties to ginseng, particularly in cases of fatigue and stress (4, 5). ‘Adaptogen’ refers to the body’s ability to adapt to situations of increased stress.

Ashwagandha

With ashwagandha, we take a journey into Ayurveda, which originated in India.
In this tradition, it is hailed as the ‘Queen of Ayurveda’ and is particularly praised for its balancing effect during periods of high stress. Ashwagandha is also attracting increasing attention in studies. Here, too, the results are promising. When taken in high concentrations, it is said to increase the body’s resilience to stress (6). Ashwagandha is also becoming increasingly popular in competitive sport as a supplement during mentally demanding phases of competition.

Rhodiola

Rhodiola, also known as golden root, is found in cool, damp mountainous regions. In Russia (Siberia), it has long been recognised as a beneficial root for coping with harsh winters and hard labour. Like ginseng and ashwagandha, it is classified as an adaptogenic plant. Here too, the active compounds are found in the plant’s root. These include, amongst others: rosavin, as well as flavonoids and terpenoids. These compounds ensure that Rhodiola is an excellent choice, particularly during stressful periods such as exam periods. A Russian study tested this on medical students during their final exams. You can find the results here.

All three plants have been used in traditional folk medicine for decades and are highlighted positively in numerous testimonials. As stress and overload are ever-present in our daily lives, we recognise the importance of science in continuing to underpin the potential of these plants with valuable studies.

Sources:

1. Reay JL, Kennedy DO, Scholey AB: Effects of Panax ginseng, consumed with and without glucose, on blood glucose levels and cognitive performance during sustained ‘mentally demanding’ tasks. J Psychopharmacol 2006; 20:771–781.
2. Kulaputana O, Thanakomsirichot S, Anomasiri W: Ginseng supplementation does not alter lactate threshold and physical performance in physically active Thai men. J Med Assoc Thai 2007; 90:172–179.
3. Allen JD, McLung J, Nelson AG, Welsch M: Ginseng supplementation does not enhance peak aerobic exercise performance in healthy young adults. J Am Coll Nutr 1998; 17:462–466.
4. Scaglione F, Pannacci M, Petrini O: The standardised G115 Panax ginseng C.A. MEYER extract: a review of its properties and usage. Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine 2005;2:195–206.
5. Facchinetti F, Neri I, Tarabusi M: Eleutherococcus senticosus reduces the cardiovascular stress response in healthy subjects: a randomised, placebo-controlled trial. Stress Health 2002;18:11–17.
6. Chandrasekhar K, Kapoor J, Anishetty S. A prospective, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the safety and efficacy of a high-concentration, full-spectrum extract of ashwagandha root in reducing stress and anxiety in adults. Indian J Psychol Med. July 2012;34(3):255–62. doi: 10.4103/0253-7176.106022. PMID: 23439798; PMCID: PMC3573577.
7.  Spasov AA, Wikman GK, Mandrikov VB, Mironova IA, Neumoin VV. A double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study of the stimulating and adaptogenic effect of Rhodiola rosea SHR-5 extract on student fatigue caused by stress during an examination period, using a repeated low-dose regimen. Phytomedicine. April 2000;7(2):85–9. doi: 10.1016/S0944-7113(00)80078-1. PMID: 10839209.