"Supplements to Fight Fatigue" by Steve Evans, Research Scientist

Fatigue Fighter: Ashwagandha

There are many causes of fatigue of course. Among these is an underactive thyroid possibly along with adrenal stress. It is estimated by some experts that there are 52 million Americans with underactive thyroids. For those 40 or over, this may be a good possibility as part of the cause of your fatigue. There are various supplements that can be of benefit. For thyroid support, in this Newsletter issue, I suggest you consider the herbal Ashwagandha

This herb is in a category of herbs called the adaptogens. Although scientists actually don’t really know how adaptogens work, they just know that they have a positive effect on those who use them. They help the endocrine system to help you feel better - whether you’re up or you’re down.   Most adaptogens work with the endocrine system to bring you back in balance. Adaptogens work with all types of people - even people who have issues on opposite sides of a particular spectrum.

For instance, someone could take ashwagandha to support a sluggish thyroid but another person could take it to support an overactive thyroid as well. Again, both outcomes can occur. Knowledgeable herbalist think the reason why is because the herb has a holistic effect on the body. We can learn from those cultures who have been using an herb like this for thousands of years. In this case, ashwagandha has been used in Indian (Ayurvedic) tradition to help with issues linked to hormone imbalance - including stress, fatigue, anxiety and metabolism.  

Aside from the thyroid, Ashwagandha also is also effective for adrenal support. This confirms its ability to work with the entire endocrine / hormone system as an effective endocrine system modulator (adjustor). Keep in mind, ashwagandha isn’t a complete cure for your adrenals or your thyroid. The increases in T3 and T4 (thyroid hormones) are small and if you keep stressing out or using stimulants, your adrenals will not recover. If you want a complete therapeutic approach to thyroid or adrenal health, you need a thorough assessment from your alternative health care provider.

The herb has been used for thousands of years as a tonic herb, which means you can take it for an extended period of time without side effects. When you take ashwagandha, you want to use a high quality extract at about 1000 mg per day.

Fatigue Fighter: The Supplement Ribose

Another cause of fatigue might be weakened heart muscles and diminished heart functions. You see, your heart pumps a large volume of blood every second. This uses up a lot of energy. This energy comes from the ATP your heart cells produce. The problem is, when your heart is weakened, maybe due to aging or after a surgery, the heart cells are no longer able to produce enough ATP and energy. Without enough energy, the heart muscles become fatigued, and starve for even more energy. That’s why people with weakened hearts are so tired all the time. Indeed, it’s not uncommon for heart patients to complain that they can’t even walk to their mailbox without being so out of breath that they have to sit down.

In this situation, the supplement ribose may be of help. For example, in one animal study, scientists took lab rats and clamped their blood vessels, in order to slow down blood flow and deprive the rats’ hearts of oxygen. This in turn caused their ATP levels to plunge. The scientists then split the rats into two groups: one received a supplement called ribose, and one didn’t. Result: The rats in the control group continued to have a serious decline in ATP levels. In contrast, the rats taking ribose saw their ATP levels go back to normal within 24 hours.

In another animal study, scientists found that ribose sped up the recovery of fatigued muscles by up to 430%. They also found that even tiny amounts of ribose helped the cells preserve energy. In a study of 20 men published in the medical journal Lancet, researchers found that those taking ribose could exercise much harder before being fatigued. In another clinical study, Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, medical director of the Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers, took a group of 36 patients who suffered from fatigue, and gave each one a small bottle of ribose. He then told them to take the ribose daily until the bottle was empty. The patients saw a dramatic improvement in their energy levels and also reported to sleep better... think clearer... and enjoy improved well-being.

In a case study published in the journal Pharmacotherapy, a veterinarian was forced to give up the practice she loved due to her debilitating fatigue. She felt depressed and helpless. So she decided to give ribose a try. The case study reports that she was back to her operating room in 3 weeks, practicing normally without any fatigue. Being a very skeptical person, she questioned whether a simple supplement could have such a dramatic effect on her condition. So she stopped taking ribose. Within two weeks, her debilitating fatigue returned. And again, she was forced to leave her practice. But when she resumed her ribose supplementation, her fatigue was gone in days.

In a German study, researchers took a group of heart patients and hooked them up to an echocardiograph to test their heart functions. After that, they gave the patients ribose or a placebo for 3 weeks. After 3 weeks, they re-tested the heart functions of the patients.   The patients taking ribose showed increased energy in their hearts. Their hearts filled and pumped more normally compared to the hearts of the control group. Not only that, the ribose group also reported to enjoy a better quality of life. The researchers then had the patients run on treadmills to see how well they performed. Compared to the control group, the ribose group could run for a much longer time before showing signs of fatigue.

In yet another study, researchers took a group of heart patients and tested them on stationary bicycles. Result: The patients taking ribose performed much better than the control group. The ribose group also showed to have stronger hearts, as measured by the amount of blood they pumped. In still another study, researchers gave ribose to patients who had heart injury. The patients showed improved blood flow, improved oxygen-uptake, and greater exercise capacity. And finally in yet another study, researchers gave ribose to a group of 143 patients who had previous bypass surgery. The patients showed much greater hearts’ pumping ability compared to the patients who had bypass surgery, but without taking ribose.

In summary, if the cause of your fatigue is weakened heart muscles and diminished heart function, then the supplement ribose may prove of benefit. As you see, getting at the cause of your fatigue is important to identify a suitable response.

Steve Evans is the Chief Research Scientist at TRI (Therapeutics Research Institute) in Omaha Nebraska

We are thankful for Steve's contributions to Alternatives Quarterly Newsletters as a guest writer

Alternatives
11036 Oak St.
Omaha, NE 68132
402-827-9450
www.AlternativesOmaha.com