How to Use Herbs for Increased Energy

Introduction

The answer to having increased energy is not as straightforward as it seems. I know when I'm tired, getting a few hours of extra sleep doesn't always make things better. In fact, it can make things worse.

If I am under a lot of stress, for example, sleeping more only temporarily fixes the problem. Stress takes a toll on the body and unless it is taken care of, the problem will only get worse.

Other things that can cause fatigue include poor diet, lack of exercise, a chronic illness or disease, or not taking care of yourself in general. Work with your doctor to find an underlying cause so that you can change your energy level permanently.

Herbs can help assist with the healing process. There are several ways that an herb can give you energy. First, there are some that supply caffeine or act as stimulants, such as green tea. Others supply essential vitamins and minerals which helps keep your body healthy and increases energy that way. Also, if you know the underlying cause, you would choose the herb that will help assist with that.

The goal is to choose the herbs that makes sense for your situation. Think about what the cause really is and choose a diet, lifestyle and herbal plan that will help bring you back in balance. The end result will be an energy level that lasts.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You'll Need

• A doctor you trust
• An idea of the cause of your fatigue
• A good herbal book or online resource where you can do your research
• Your herb of choice--you can choose more than one

Steps

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Step One

Your first step is to contact your doctor so that you can find out the cause of your fatigue. If your fatigue is an isolated incident, this step may not be necessary and could indicate that you aren't sleeping enough. However, if your fatigue is chronic, there could be something else going on. Your doctor may want to examine you and run some tests. The tests could be as simple as blood tests for nutrient deficiencies or other, more complicated tests that will determine if you have any diseases.

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Step Two

Once you find the cause, you will need to select an appropriate course of action. For example, if your fatigue is caused from a deficiency in iron, your doctor may want you to take a supplement. You will also need to eat foods that are rich in iron.

In other words, the cause will help you determine the diet and lifestyle changes you need to make in order to help you get your energy back. It will also help you choose the appropriate herbs. It is not a good idea to take herbs that are supposed to increase energy unless you know the cause.

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Step Three

Once you know the cause, you can select the herbs you should take. To do this, you will need to have access to Websites and herbal books that will help you learn about the plants and what they do. I provided my favorite Website at the end of this article. Make sure that any books you read were written by an herbalist or other qualified professional.

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Step Four

Your next step is to select the herb you want to use and prepare it. The research you do about the plant will help you determine how to prepare it. Some are best taken as tablets, others as a tea, etc.

Here's a short list of some herbs to try:

* Alfalfa (for vitamins and minerals)
* Green tea (for energy)
* Chamomile (for stress)
* Oatstraw (for stress, nerves, vitamins and minerals)
* Nettle (for the stress adrenal glands, vitamins, and minerals)

All of the above herbs are best as a tea.

Tips & Warnings

• You may need to experiment with several herbs before you find one that truly works.
• Resist the urge to try several herbs at once. Stick to one or two. Otherwise, you may not know which herbs are actually working.
• Consult a doctor before taking anything new.
• Research the herbs to make sure you know the side effects.