It’s normal to feel tired at the end of the day.But if you feel tired all the time,if you even wake up tired,you’re in trouble.

If you suffer from this kind of chronic,day-after-day fatigue,you should check it out with your doctor.There could be good medical reasons for your fatigue – anaemia,diabetes,an under-active thyroid,to name just three – and you need to proper treatment for them.

There are some pretty amazing herbs which can help boost your energy,increase your resistance,and raise your spirits,but before you start spendinggood money on herbal remedies,you need to check out just what’s going on to cause your fatigue.

There could be a dozen different causes.You’re not eating properly.You’re working too hard.You’re born worrier; you can’t stop even at bedtime.You’re not getting enough exercise.You’re bored with your job,or miserable in your love life.So study lifestyle factors first and work out what needs fixing.

Too much stress can leave you worn out and exhausted.Step forward the great adaptogenic herbs – increasing your general resistance and vitality,and so help you cope better with both physical and mental stress.Siberian ginseng is the star in this field,following dozen of studies in the USSR: Russia’s athletes and cosmonauts are among it’s biggest fans.’An ideal all-round energy tonic,’ say UK herbalist Penelope Ody,’ideal to take whenever extra energy is needed…before a particularly busy period at work,during exams,or before long-distance air travel,for instance.You can take it for up to six weeks at a time:then you need a fortnigt’s break.Don’t use in an acute infection or if ypu’re on digoxin.

Another great herbal tonic comes from Russian folk medicine.For centuries the roots of Rhodiola rosea or Arctic root,were chewed to stave off fatigue and exhaustion,and boost general endurance.Studies carried out by moderb Russian researchers have demonstrated this usefulproperty in – among other subjects – sleepdeprived doctors,har-worked army cadets and students facing key exams.

It sounds blindingly obvious,but lots of people never seem to figure out that their tiredness is caused by a serious sleep shortfall,either because they stay up too late or because they just can’t get to sleep.If you’re up till the small hours and then need Big Ben to rouse you for a day’s work,the cure could be just some regular early nights.I f sleep eludes you,even when you retire at a virtuously early hour,try my favourite cure for insomnia – passionflower.I usually take a dose of the tincture an hour or so before bedtime.Valerian,every GP’s favourite tranquilliser a  century ago,doesn’t suit everyone,but when it does.it works brilliantly:  it’s often combined with sedative hops and wild lettuce.Limeflowers and chamomile – oftencombined in tea bags or ready-made herbal remedies – bothmake wonderfully calming bedtime drinks.Sip them slowly while having a bedtime bath to which you’ve soothing essential ouls: chamomile,lavender or neroli.(Stir the oils into a little whole milk before adding them;they will disperse better.)

Here’s an idea for you…

If you’re burning the midnight oil,if you need to stay sharp and focused for an exam or if you’re battling a long demanding job,guarana is the herb for you.This extraordinary tonic from the Amazon rainforest (it’s gathered sustainably by local people) can help keep you going cheerfully for hour after hour ,with a clear mind,even on minimal sleep – though when the job is done,you’ll need to crash out in earnest.Don’t drink coffee when you’re taking it.Faced with an implacable deadline for delivering a book,i once sailed through three days of intensive work on just four hours’ sleep a night and twice-daily dose of this wonder-working herb.Then i collapsed…