the points used during treatment depend on an individual’s diagnosis. “Any number of things can block chi. We treat the underlying cause of fatigue for each person, not the symptoms themselves. When the body is balanced, it functions more effectively, and a person’s overall energy will naturally increase.”
Sometimes you need to just “veg out,” according to Orloff. If you let yourself relax, you’ll recharge your spirit and release stress, which saps energy. “Vegging out means turning off your mind and becoming as vegetablelike as possible,” she says. “To me, the occasional veg-out is a spiritual state because it restores energy. I might watch trashy television instead of CNN, or stay in bed all afternoon with the phone unplugged, doing absolutely nothing ‘constructive.’”
❚ COQ10
CoQ10 is a compound pres-
ent in the mitochondria of
cells. Levels of CoQ10 in the
body decrease as we get
older. It is essential in pro-
ducing ATP, the basic energy
molecule of cells. CoQ10 is
found in fish, organ meats
and the germ portion of
whole grains. It may enhance
aerobic capacity, but studies
are conflicting. Most have
focused on heart patients.
In one such study, angina
PHOTO: ANTONIO MO/GE T T Y IMAGES
patients who took 150 mg in
three daily doses reported
a greater ability to exercise
without problems.
Dosage:
30 to 100 mg daily.
❚ CARNITINE
Carnitine plays a fundamen-
tal role in energy production.
It’s found primarily in tissues
in the body (such as the
heart muscle and skeletal
muscles) that use fatty acids
as their main fuel source.
Red meat and dairy products
are the best dietary sources
for this amino acid. Symp-
toms of carnitine deficiency
include muscle weakness
and fatigue.
Dosage:
2 gm daily.
❚ GLUTAMINE
This amino acid can be
depleted during times of
stress, illness or intense
exercise. Many athletes use
glutamine to prevent muscle
breakdown and overtraining,
which can increase cortisol
levels and induce fatigue. It
can also help moderate blood
sugar levels. “Sugar swings
can leave you feeling depleted
and exhausted,” says Erika
Schwartz, M.D. “Glutamine
will help prevent the energy
lows that cause your blood
sugar to plummet and leave
you feeling like you’re run-
ning on empty.” Dosage: Follow directions
on label.
❚ ALPHA-LIPOIC ACID
This powerful antioxidant
prevents cellular damage, as
well as lowering blood sugar
to improve insulin efficiency.
Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA)
increases energy levels by
boosting ATP production,
and it improves metabolic
activity. Studies show that
ALA supplementation can
reverse declines in oxygen
consumption and mitochon-
drial energy production. Dosage: 100 to 300 mg daily.
References:
Archives