Good morning readers!

Today we are going to talk about the difference between Tiredness and Exhaustion in Chinese Medicine point of view and understand what organs are affected by these situations plus how we should treat patients that suffer from these problems.

Before, we need to define the difference between Tiredness and Exhaustion.

Tiredness is a fatigue sensation caused by an excess of mental or physical activities. A feeling that we can no longer keep an adequate activity. Thus, the body demands “rest”, namely, the act of “ceasing movement or activity in order to relax”. The individual must stop what he is doing and give the body what it needs. Some hours of resting, sleep, or doing tasks that don’t require either physical or mental excess.

Therefore, we may say that when the individual rests, tiredness fades away. Wakes up ready for a new day and whatever caused that fatigue is a problem that belongs to the past.

In Chinese Medicine, Tiredness affects the Spleen function, the organ who is responsible for turning food into something that the body can use, also playing a major role in blood making, guarantees the capacity of focusing, memorization and learning, on top of other functions, it’s also responsible for maintaining physical strength.

When the individual does not rest properly, the Spleen becomes deficiency. Days turn longer, the capacity of focusing and memorization are harmed, the body becomes heavy, there is liquid retention, sleepless, memory lapses, muscular weakness and many other symptoms. In order  to get out of this situation, besides rest (mandatory), it’s essential that we strengthen Spleen. Acupuncture and auriculotherapy points combined with therapy diet may be helpful.

My suggestion is to use: SP2, SP3, SP6 in body acupuncture, and Spleen and Metabolism auriculotherapy points. Diet must be rich in energy, that’s why, roots like potato, yam, cassava are recommended. Oat, pumpkin and ginseng are also excellent to heal tiredness.

Now, Exhaustion is a feeling of mental and physical depletion. The body is unable to maintain its basic cognitive functions. Talking becomes difficult. Reasoning, impossible. Muscles demand for bed and the individual don’t want to leave it. We may say that chronic tiredness leads to exhaustion.

In Chinese Medicine, Exhaustion affects the Kidney. The Kidney is the base of our vital energy. It’s the organ that determines our birth, development, reproduction, aging and death. The Kidney decides the alterations that happen during each one of life stages. That’s why, when an individual feels exhausted, that means that his vital energy is being consumed in excess. Fastening life’s aging.

Exhausted patients, sleep, rest and remain exhausted. Strengthening only Spleen won’t improve the situation. Hence why, when we face a patient that suffers from this problem, we should work on the Kidney and the vital energy.

As in previous case, body acupuncture and auricular points combined with therapy diet are recommended. My suggestion is to use KI3, CV4 e GV4, to treat exhausted patients, we can also work them with moxibustion. In auriculotherapy however, Kidney and Apex points are very indicated. In Chinese Therapy Diet, we must use foods that strengthen the water element, such as eggs, sunflower seeds, plums, and grapes. Seeds in general are always recommended.

It’s important to know that Spleen and Kidney have an intimacy relation when it comes to functioning in Chinese Medicine. A chronic Spleen energy injury may lead to a chronic Kidney injury. The opposite is also true. Thus, an extremely tired patient may in few time feel exhausted. And that’s why we should always pay attention and protect these two organs, whenever the patient relates the problem.

Let’s avoid tiredness and exhaustion, shall we? Let’s make our patients ready to enjoy life again?Being always in the mood is the key to a good and happy life!

I hope that you liked it.

A very tight hug!

Profa. Fernanda Mara