Shaheen Naser
Do you feel tired and sleepy for the better part of the day? Lethargy, or simply feeling lazy, can be a result of certain medical conditions or mental issues like excess stress, anxiety, and even depression. What’s surprising is that even babies and young children can be susceptible to lethargy! All this only highlights the need to fix this condition at the earliest to prevent it from interfering with one’s everyday life. To know more about treating lethargy the natural way, keep reading!
Table Of Contents
- What Is Lethargy?
- Symptoms Of Lethargy
- What Causes Lethargy?
- How To Cure Lethargy And Laziness Naturally?
- What Are The Best Foods To Treat Lethargy?
- Prevention Tips
What Is Lethargy?
Lethargy is a common condition associated with many medical issues, which leaves an individual feeling sleepy and fatigued (both mental and physical).
It can be identified by the following symptoms.
Symptoms Of Lethargy
Individuals suffering from lethargy may experience:
- Mood swings
- Reduced thinking ability
- Fatigue
- Low energy
- Sluggishness
As mentioned earlier, lethargy is a symptom associated with many underlying medical conditions. These may include the following.
What Causes Lethargy?
Health conditions that can leave you feeling lethargic
include:https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003088.htm
- Anemia
- Flu
- Stomach virus
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Dehydration
- Hyperthyroidism
- Fever
- Hypothyroidism
- Swelling of the brain (hydrocephalus)
- Lyme disease
- Kidney failure
- Meningitis
- Pituitary diseases like pituitary cancer
- Poor nutrition
- Sleep disorders like sleep apnea
- Traumatic brain injury
- Stroke
Mental health disorders that can result in lethargy include:
- Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
- Major depression
- Postpartum depression
Lethargy can also be caused by certain medications such as narcotic drugs.
As discussed, lethargy can occur in babies and children as well. The symptoms that may surface in lethargic infants are:
- Difficulty to be roused
- High fever
- Symptoms of dehydration
- The appearance of sudden rashes
- Vomiting forcefully for more than 12 hours
If you notice any of these symptoms or causes, you could be suffering from lethargy. But irrespective of the causes, certain home remedies can help improve your condition.
How To Cure Lethargy And Laziness Naturally
1. Drink Water
Keeping yourself hydrated is one great way to treat and prevent lethargy and laziness. Dehydration can leave you feeling fatigued and tired. Thus, adequate intake of water and other healthy fluids can have a significant impact.
2. Essential Oils
a. Basil Essential Oil
You Will Need
- 2-3 drops of basil oil
- A diffuser
- Water
What You Have To Do
- Fill a diffuser with water.
- Add two to three drops of basil oil to it and mix well.
- Inhale the diffused basil aroma.
How Often You Should Do This
You must do this 1 to 2 times daily.
Why This Works
The stimulating properties of basil oil help boost your concentration, sharpen your senses, and alleviate stress and depression (1).
b. Peppermint Essential Oil
You Will Need
- 2-3 drops of peppermint oil
- A diffuser
- Water
What You Have To Do
- Add a few drops of peppermint oil to a diffuser filled with water.
- Inhale the diffused aroma.
How Often You Should Do This
You must do this at least twice daily.
Why This Works
Research shows aromatherapy works great in treating fatigue and other lethargy symptoms. Peppermint essential oil works similar to basil oil in relieving mental fatigue and stress (2).
3. Basil Leaf
You Will Need
- 10 basil leaves
- 1 cup of water
What You Have To Do
- Add the basil leaves to a cup of water.
- Bring it to a boil in a saucepan.
- Simmer for 5 minutes and strain.
- Allow the solution to cool down a bit before drinking it.
How Often You Should Do This
You must drink this twice daily for optimum benefits.
Why This Works
Basil exhibits cognition-enhancing properties in addition to reducing stress, anxiety, and lethargy (3).
4. Coffee
You Will Need
- 1 tablespoon of coffee powder
- 1 cup of water
- Sugar (as needed)
What You Have To Do
- Add a tablespoon of coffee powder to a cup of water.
- Bring it to a boil and simmer.
- Add a little sugar to the coffee and drink it once it cools down a bit.
How Often You Should Do This
You can drink 1 to 2 cups of coffee daily.
Why This Works
The caffeine in coffee boosts your alertness and energy levels (4).
Caution
Do not drink more than two cups of coffee in a day as it may make you feel tired and sleepy, making you even more lethargic.
5. Honey
You Will Need
A few teaspoons of pure honey
What You Have To Do
Replace the sugar in your favorite dessert or smoothie with a few teaspoons of honey.
How Often You Should Do This
You must consume honey daily.
Why This Works
The carbohydrates in honey boost your energy levels and help combat lethargy. In fact, honey is also a recommended source of carbohydrates for athletes during endurance exercises (5).
6. Lemon
You Will Need
- ½ lemon
- 1 glass of warm water
- Honey (as required)
What You Have To Do
- Squeeze out the juice of half a lemon into a glass of water.
- Mix well and add some honey to it.
- Drink the lemon water.
How Often You Should Do This
You must do this once every morning, preferably on an empty stomach.
Why This Works
The citric acid in lemon juice can help treat exhaustion by fighting oxidative stress. Regular intake of vitamin C (which lemon juice is rich in) also enhances iron absorption, thereby alleviating the fatigue and stress associated with lethargy (6), (7).
7. Green Tea
You Will Need
- 1 teaspoon of green tea
- 1 cup of water
- Honey
What You Have To Do
- Add a teaspoon of green tea to a cup of water.
- Bring it to a boil in a saucepan.
- Simmer and strain.
- Allow the tea to cool. Drink it up.
- You can also add some honey for taste.
How Often You Should Do This
Drink green tea twice daily.
Why This Works
The antioxidant polyphenols in green tea can relax your mood and relieve the stress and tension that cause lethargy (8).
Note: Having too much of green tea can leave you feeling tired and sleepy. So, keep a check on your intake.
8. Magnesium
You Will Need
200-400 mg magnesium
What You Have To Do
Consume 200-400 mg of magnesium daily either via your diet or supplements. Foods rich in magnesium include spinach, kale, figs, banana, avocado, raspberries, legumes, broccoli, cabbage, and fish (salmon and mackerel).
How Often You Should Do This
Do this daily.
Why This Works
Magnesium deficiency can cause stress, anxiety, and fatigue. Thus, supplementing your diet with magnesium can help improve your condition (9).
Following a healthy diet also plays an important role in your recovery from lethargy. Incorporate the following foods into your daily diet along with the home remedies.
What Are The Best Foods To Treat Lethargy?
Foods that help boost energy levels and prevent lethargy include:
- Chia seeds
- Bananas
- Quinoa
- Oatmeal
- Whole wheat bread
- Beans
- Almonds
In addition to taking these foods, making certain changes to your lifestyle can also help.
Prevention Tips
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Get proper sleep and rest.
- Manage your stress.
- Exercise regularly.
- Avoid consuming foods like white bread, sugar, junk food, energy and drinks.
Once you succeed in making healthy changes to your diet and lifestyle, it is quite easy to deal with lethargy. However, if there is no improvement in your condition, it is best to get yourself checked by a medical professional for further assistance.
Hope you found this article informative. Do let us know your feedback in the comments section below.
Expert’s Answers For Readers’ Questions
What vitamins are good for treating tiredness?
Vitamins B12, B9, and C are great for preventing fatigue and treating lethargy. In some cases, deficiencies of these vitamins could be responsible for lethargy.