Fatigue is a feeling of tiredness, exhaustion, or lack of energy. You may feel mildly fatigued because of overwork, poor sleep, worry, boredom, or lack of exercise. Any illness, such as a cold or the flu, may cause fatigue, which usually goes away as the illness clears up. Most of the time, mild fatigue occurs with a health problem that will improve with home treatment and does not require a visit to a health professional.

A stressful emotional situation may also cause fatigue. This type of fatigue usually clears up when the stress is relieved. Many prescription and non-prescription medicines can cause weakness or fatigue. The use or abuse of alcohol, caffeine, or illegal drugs can cause fatigue. A visit to a health professional usually is needed when fatigue occurs along with more serious symptoms, such as increased breathing difficulties, signs of a serious illness, abnormal bleeding, or unexplained weight loss or gain.

Natural Treatment of Fatigue
-- Eat small mid-meals at 11 a.m., 4 p.m. and before retiring to bed.
-- Seeds, nuts and grains, fruits and vegetables should be included in the diet.
-- Sprouts increase nutritional value of foods and create new vitamins.
-- Deficiency of Vitamin B and Pantothenic acid causes fatigue.
-- Banana, milk, nuts, green leafy vegetables, peas, pulses, whole-grain cereals, rice polishing and yeast should be consumed for the same.
-- Calcium, potassium, zinc, sodium and other minerals are also beneficial.
-- A combination of carrot juice, beetroot juice and cucumber juice helps overcome fatigue.
-- Alcohol, coffee, smoking, eating sweets, aspirin, tranquilizer and other drugs which give only a temporary boost should be avoided.

Herbal Remedies
Black tea A cup of black tea contains about 30 mg of caffeine. Doses of roughly 60 mg--the equivalent of 2 cups--act as a stimulant to increase the activity of the central nervous system. To prepare, pour 1 cup boiling water over 11/2 teaspoons black tea leaves. Let steep for 5 minutes, then strain and drink.

Valerian A sleeping aid for more than 2,000 years, valerian is helpful in treating stress-induced fatigue. Use 1 cup boiling water to 1/2 to 1 teaspoon minced fresh roots to make a bedtime tea. Or mix a few drops of valerian extract or tincture into a glass of warm water. Use for longer than two weeks is not recommende