Chronic fatigue: Can a natural remedy boost my energy?

Date Updated: 06/26/2020

Answer Section

Researchers have evaluated a variety of natural products for effectiveness against chronic fatigue syndrome. Most results have been disappointing.

Preliminary studies showed encouraging results for a few remedies, including:

Carnitine
Coenzyme Q10
Magnesium
Melatonin
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)
Ribose

However, many of these promising early results weren't confirmed by follow-up studies, or the original studies were too small to be conclusive. At this time, there's little evidence to recommend any specific natural remedy as a treatment for chronic fatigue.

Dealing with a condition such as chronic fatigue syndrome can be challenging. There's a lot of hype about various treatments and "natural" approaches. As with any dietary supplement, talk to your doctor before adding something new to your care program. Some herbal products can interact with prescription medicines or have other side effects.