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In 5 Element Chinese Medicine, there are different types of fatigue stemming from different types of activity, environments and constitutional factors. The different types of fatigue can cause specific variations of imbalances.
Can you identify your own causes of fatigue and/or different variations of fatigue in yourself?
What activity do you observe as the most draining in your day-to-day life?
What type of fatigue do you observe in your body and mindset?
Wood Type Fatigue (Spring energy)
Feels like: irritable, moody, impatient expectations of ourselves and our growth, perceived as ‘aggressive’ OR like a doormat
Physical signs: excess sighing, PMS, irregular menses, feeling of a lump in the throat, tendon tightness
Causes: ongoing stress, feeling stuck, tight schedules, never satisfying the “to-do” list, or agitating environmental factors (too much noise, frequent disagreements, etc)
What helps: piddling around the house or in nature without an agenda, singing (or anything that opens the throat from tightness), exercise such as walking, running, swimming, or biking, creative pursuits
Fire Type Fatigue (Summer energy)
Feels like: wanting to control every outcome, outbursts or feelings of rage, overly vulnerable or social anxiety, lack of joy
Physical signs: restless sleep, memory loss, feeling flush, spontaneous sweating, heart palpitations
Causes: too much ‘humaning,’ not enough intimate time with self, after big leaps in development (kids + adults), prolonged negativity
What helps: taking naps, eating red food (beets, cherries, tomatoes, goji, etc), being with those you feel connection to, taking time to be alone to connect to your own thoughts, doing things that bring you joy
Earth Type Fatigue (Late Summer energy)
Feels like: Unmet needs, being misunderstood, craving something other than what you’ve got, jealousy
Physical signs: Tired after eating, loose stools, bloating, feeling sluggish in your legs
Causes: caregiver’s fatigue, overthinking, sitting too often, poor diet
What helps: eating as a ritual (undistracted, real and good food, not too much, on time), lean towards warm food and drinks vs. cold, gentle and frequent movement (walking, yoga), warming herbs (turmeric, cinnamon, nutmeg), journaling as a way to release overthinking
Metal Type Fatigue (Autumn energy)
Feels like: overly critical, hard on self or others, wanting precision/perfectionism (to a fault), ‘unfair’, feelings of loss and grief, cuts ties quickly, holding a grudge
Physical signs: tired by having to talk, shortness of breath, sweats easily, tired after exercise, feels cold, gets sick easily, year-round cough, prone to allergies, chronic tiredness, eczema
Causes: using your voice frequently (eg. teachers), unprocessed grief, hereditary factors, lower GI issues
What helps: meditation, breathwork, frankincense and eucalyptus essential oils, eating foods that are in season, good gut health (probiotics, fermented food), staying warm, stretching and moving your body daily, upper back cupping or gua sha
Water Type Fatigue (Winter energy)
Feels like: difficulty with stillness, “overtired,” restless, anxious, dread, worries about money, overly risk tolerant OR frozen in fear
Physical signs: adrenal fatigue, hair loss, low back pain, cold limbs, low libido, erectile dysfunction, fertility issues, urinary frequency
Causes: overwork, extended periods of burning the candle at both ends, persistent anxiety/fear/dread
What helps: good sleep, hibernating as needed, warm foot soaks, drinking plenty of water, moxa heat therapy, and avoiding excess sweating
