What Causes Chronic Fatigue Syndrome According to Ayurveda?

Many people suffer from fatigue. They may feel physically and /or mentally tired, emotionally stressed out and with no stamina to continue their everyday activities. It is basically a feeling of tiredness and lack of energy. It is all right to be tired after a good days work but sometimes the feeling does not go away with resting after a night of sleep. Sometimes it even becomes chronic. CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) is a serious condition that starts with symptoms similar to having the flu and lasts for months.

What Causes Fatigue?

Traditional medicine has many explanations for why fatigue appears in a person. Among them: hypothyroidism, anemia, depression, chronic pain, hay fever, asthma, alcohol, sleep disorders, use of illegal drugs like cocaine, fear, grief, etc. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS is more complex because although fatigue symptoms are present, there is no clear physiological abnormality.)

What Causes Chronic Fatigue Syndrome According to Ayurveda?

Ayurveda medicine is based on balancing three natural elements (doshas) present in our bodies. These doshas should be in correct balance for good health. Ayurveda medicine believes that an imbalance in doshas is the main cause of fatigue.

If we think of terms of mental, emotional, and physical fatigue, Marahishi Ayurveda (a branch of Ayurveda) believes that mental fatigue is associated with an imbalance in one of the doshas (Vata dosha), emotional fatigue is caused by an imbalance in the Pitta dosha, while physical fatigue is due to an imbalance in Kapha dosha.

With regard to Chronic Syndrome Fatigue Ayurveda sees 4 main issues:

1. Vata doshas imbalance: vata may be seen as an imbalance of the nervous system. This imbalance may cause insomnia, pain headaches, anxiety, sensitivity, etc

2. Increase in toxic substances within the body. Toxin pollution of the body changes the correct balance of the doshas an may cause my of the symptoms of fatigue

3. Reduction of the body’s ability to heal (immunity)

4. Overuse, misuse or no use of mental or physical energy that may cause different levels of stress (physical, mental, chronic, etc)