Why You’re Always Tired | An Ayurvedic View of Fatigue and Energy

Fatigue reflects how effectively the body produces and maintains energy. In Ayurveda, sustained energy depends on three factors: digestion, movement, and metabolic coordination. When these processes fall out of alignment, vitality declines.

Energy production begins with digestion. Food must be broken down, absorbed, and transformed into usable fuel. When digestion weakens, assimilation becomes incomplete and metabolic efficiency declines. Energy output drops, and fatigue appears alongside heaviness, sluggish thinking, and reduced endurance.

Energy also depends on movement. Circulation, respiration, and neural activity require continuity to sustain alertness. When movement slows or becomes restricted, energy stagnates. Muscular tension, shallow breathing, and poor circulation increase demand while limiting availability.

Energy also depends on metabolic coordination. Fatigue is associated with inflammation, impaired signaling, and reduced cellular energy production. When fuel use and signaling fall out of sync, energy remains low even when rest is adequate.

These changes often develop gradually. Digestion may appear functional while assimilation declines. The nervous system may remain activated after stress has resolved. Hormonal timing drifts. Tissues retain tension. Energy is consumed continuously without sufficient replenishment.

Fatigue reflects disruption in energy regulation rather than a single deficit. When digestion, movement, and metabolic coordination realign, energy production stabilizes and vitality returns.

References
Charaka Samhita, Sutrasthana, Ch. 17
Ashtanga Hridaya, Sutrasthana, Ch. 13
Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Ch. 2
Institute of Medicine, The Role of Inflammation in Chronic Fatigue, 2015