Expert: Dr. Kristina Conner - 1/23/2007

Question
I'm 50 and several of my friends and myself are experiencing a lack of energy. We do exercise but nothing seems to help. Are there herbs or supplements that can help with energy. I am familiar with alternative medicine and homeopathy. I'm tired in the morning and afternoon then unable to sleep at night. Even when I sleep there is a lack of energy the next day which is very debilitating.  

Answer
Donna,
Thanks for your question.  
After years of being on the go with families and careers, this is the perfect time to be pro-active in your health choices.  Peri-menopause is now seen as a time of renewal for many women who find that with some changes they are able to re- gain and enjoy a healthy active lifestyle.  
The first thing we address in naturopathic medicine is making sure that healthy lifestyle choices are in place.  Regular exercise is part of this.  Restful sleep, stress management, emotional and spiritual expression, and life and career goals are also a part.  An important piece of a healthy lifestyle is diet, as well.  It should be composed of pure water and whole foods (veggies, fruits, whole grains, legumes, animal or vegetable proteins, fats rich in omega 3 fatty acids) and organic foods as much as possible with little or no refined and processed foods, trans-fats, sugars, caffeine, and alcohol.  The basic whole foods diet can be specified for each person through trial and error or from the guidance of a nutritional-oriented practitioner.  
You would want to make sure that certain conditions are ruled out, as well, such as anemia or blood sugar imbalances, which can lead to fatigue.  These can be done by a MD or alternative practitioner.  
From what you describe, you may have some low adrenal function.  This often occurs after periods of chronic stress/ lack of sleep, and is very common throughout our on-the-go society.  There are tests that can check for adrenal function.  These are available from practitioners of functional medicine, as typical tests that a regular MD would run, like cortisol, will only show severe dysfunction.  Many people will treat presumptively, however, based on symptoms.  Treatments would include the lifestyle measures above, as well as specific herbs and supplements.  Ones that I commonly use are licorice, Eleuthrococcus, American ginseng, holy basil, vitamin B5, adrenal glandular, and ashwaganda (usually an individual combination of these).  These are commonly taken in the morning, and work well with a nervine/ relaxing herb at night, such as valerian, lemon balm, or chamomile.  You would want to make sure these do not interfere with any other treatments or medications before starting them.   
If you'd like some assistance in these changes, I'd suggest you seek out a naturopathic doctor in your area at www.naturopathic.org.  She will be able to evaluate you on an individual basis and provide more specific guidance.  Homeopathics can be an excellent addition to lifestyle changes, not just for treating symptoms but restoring wellness.  Best results with homeopathy are through constitutional prescribing, which provides a remedy that fits you.  These would need to be done by an experienced homeopathic or naturopathic doctor.    
Good luck to you in your search!
Dr Conner