How to Fix Fatigue Quickly

During and after cancer treatment, fatigue can last for weeks, which can affect your daily life and activities. Coffee and energy drinks may seem like an escape, but they can actually worsen symptoms. Tea is a healthy alternative. Unlike other caffeinated drinks, people often experience the effects of caffeinated tea differently, reporting a more sustained energising effect rather than the high and crash often associated with energy-boosting beverages. This is partly due to a unique compound present in tea called I-theanine, which promotes relaxation and focus. Herbal tea ingredients like peppermint and ginger can also provide a stimulating, energising effect for those who are trying to avoid caffeine entirely.

What Are the Benefits of Herbal Tea?

1. Relax and Rejuvenate
   A safer and more natural alternative to prescription medicines, herbal tea can help with stress and anxiety.
2. Boost Your Immune System
   Herbal teas can relieve symptoms of colds and flu.
3. Reduce Pain
   Herbal teas often have properties that can reduce pain without the negative side effects associated with pharmaceutical drugs.
4. Improve Digestion
   Tea can absorb gas, improve blood flow to the digestive tract, and eliminate free radicals that can cause upset stomachs and indigestion.

What Are the Effects of Energy Drinks on Fatigue?

Energy drinks can pose more of a risk than coffee due to large amounts of caffeine, added sugars, and vitamins. Some contain legal stimulants, such as guarana, taurine, and L-carnitine, often in much higher quantities than found naturally in food:

• Guarana: A South American bean with nearly twice the caffeine of coffee beans.
• Taurine: An amino acid that regulates energy levels.
• L-carnitine: An amino acid that helps your body convert fat into energy.

What Are the Side Effects of Too Much Caffeine?

• Restlessness and shakiness
• Insomnia
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Rapid or abnormal heart rhythm
• Dehydration
• Anxiety
• Dependency, requiring more caffeine to achieve the same effects

Herbal Tea Recipes

1. Orange Tea
   Oranges are high in vitamin C, which fights tiredness and strengthens connective tissue. They also provide natural carbohydrates for energy and brain function. Oranges contain healthy, natural, and unrefined carbohydrates, keeping the nutrients intact.
   
   

   Ingredients:
   1 Tablespoon of honey
   1 Orange
   Boiling water

   Mix the juice of one orange, honey, and boiling water in a cup and stir thoroughly.

2. Cinnamon Tea
   Cinnamon is an extraordinary stimulator, very suitable for frequent use in the case of tiredness. Cinnamon can lower blood sugar and fight diabetes by imitating the effects of insulin and increasing glucose transport into cells. Insulin aids in the transport of blood sugar to the body cells, improving energy consumption efficiency.

    
   Ingredients:
   2 Cinnamon sticks
   1 cup water

   Boil cinnamon sticks in water for 15 minutes, then strain.

3. Hibiscus Tea
   Hibiscus is a great source of iron and vitamin C, which can improve energy and focus, boost the immune system, and regulate body temperature. Vitamin C enhances iron absorption, making hibiscus tea a perfect option. However, consult a medical practitioner before consuming hibiscus if you’re on certain medications.
   
   

   Ingredients:
   8 cups water
   2 cups fresh hibiscus flowers or ½ cup dried hibiscus flowers
   ¼ cup honey
   3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

   If using fresh hibiscus flowers, remove the calyx (green part) and pistil (thread-like tube). Bring the hibiscus flowers and water to a boil. Once boiling, switch off and cover. Steep for 15–20 minutes. Add honey and lime juice, then strain. Serve warm or chilled.

4. Dandelion Root Tea
   If you love coffee, try this! Dandelion root resembles coffee in appearance and taste and is considered a coffee substitute. It can detoxify the liver, remove mucus, and provide an energy boost, acting as a mild stimulant.

   
   Ingredients:
   4½ tsp dried dandelion root
   2 cups water
   1–2 tbsp cream (optional)
   1 cinnamon stick, ½ tsp dried ginger, or 1 tsp fresh minced ginger (or a combination)
   Sweetener to taste

   Toast the dried dandelion root in a pot until fragrant. Add water and additional flavourings. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30–45 minutes. Strain and add cream, sweetener, or vanilla extract to taste.

For more fatigue tips, visit: Simple Techniques to Improve Fatigue or Reducing Fatigue Through Food.

Watch on YouTube: Fatigue Treatment: Herbal Tea