Oriental Medicine Treatment for Chronic Fatigue and Energy Recovery
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome · Heoro (Deficiency) · Nogwonsang (Exhaustion)· Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Incheon Songdo Baekrokdam Oriental Clinic
For extreme fatigue that tests cannot detect, we refill your depleted vital energy.
If you feel tired even after sleeping and waking up in the morning feels like hell.It may not be a problem that can be solved simply by resting, but a state of 'Heoro' where the body's energy is completely depleted.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome falls into an area that tests cannot detect. Baekrokdam refills depleted vital energy and unravels the twisted autonomic nervous system to create a body that recovers on its own.
Core disease information at a glance
- Other names
- Chronic fatigue, Heoro (虛勞), Burnout syndrome
- Chinese characters
- 慢性疲勞 (Chronic Fatigue)
- Classification
- Decreased vitality · Autonomic nervous system disorders
- Main symptoms
- Fatigue lasting more than 6 months · Brain fog · Muscle pain
- Possible comorbidities
- Indigestion · Sleep Disorder · Headache · Depression
- Diagnosis
- Differential Diagnosis · Abdominal Palpation · Pulse Diagnosis · Inquiry
- Treatment
- Focused on Herbal Medicine (Custom prescriptions such as Bojungikgi-tang, Gongjin-dan, Gyeongok-go, etc.)
- Treatment Period
- Generally 3 months (Varies depending on the degree of chronicity)
- 진료 방식
- 상태에 따라 대면·비대면 여부를 의료진이 판단
증상부터 생활관리까지
만성피로증후군의 세부 안내를 확인하세요
Commonly heard in the clinic
Many patients visit using these expressions
Waking up in the morning feels like hell
My head feels foggy even after three cups of coffee
I don't feel refreshed even if I sleep all weekend
When I finish work, I don't even have the strength to lift a finger
I feel like my body is sinking into the floor, so I'm afraid to go to a restaurant
I get startled by small noises and my heart races
My vision gets blurry and the back of my neck feels stiff in the afternoon
I can't concentrate, as if there's a fog in my head
Tests say there's nothing wrong, but I feel like I'm dying
I came here wondering if I should at least take some restorative herbal medicine
My body felt so heavy that I eventually had to take a leave of absence.
I sweat even with slight movement, and my whole body aches.
I have indigestion, and I don't feel refreshed even after sleeping.
I can feel my physical strength dropping sharply as I get older.
I feel like I've hit burnout, and I can't seem to recover.
People call it adrenal fatigue, and I don't know what to do.
These are expressions I often hear in the clinic. If this sounds like you, it may be worth suspecting Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Consult via telehealth →What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
It refers to a state where extreme fatigue, which does not improve with rest, persists for 6 months or more. It is not just a level of 'feeling a bit tired,' but is accompanied by lethargy to the point where daily social life or housework becomes impossible.
In traditional Korean medicine, this is calledHeoro (虛勞)orNogwonsang (勞倦傷). This means that the vital energy (正氣) supporting the body has been depleted, leading to a loss of self-healing power, or that the internal organs have been damaged by excessive thinking and labor.
Many people think, 'Is my liver not doing well?' but in reality, it is rare for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients to have abnormal liver function levels. Beyond the liver's detoxification function,Systemic energy metabolism disorder and inflammatory responses of the nervous systemis the essence.
According to the US CDC diagnostic criteria, it is diagnosed when fatigue lasts for 6 months or more, accompanied by 4 or more of 8 symptoms, including memory loss, sore throat, muscle pain, joint pain, and unusual headaches. This means it is not simple fatigue, but a 'disease' that requires treatment.
Chronic fatigue doesn't happen suddenly one day. It is the result of years of accumulation crossing a critical threshold.
만성피로증후군 주요 원인, 어떻게 누적되는가
- 1
- 2 Irregular lifestyle habits
A reversed day-night cycle or a diet centered on instant foods damages the gut microbiome environment and causes chronic inflammation
- 3 Menopause and hormonal changes
Rapid changes in sex hormone levels cause the autonomic nervous system to fluctuate, leading to extreme fatigue
- 4 Emotional exhaustion
In traditional Korean medicine, it is believed that when the energy of the 'Sim (Heart)' is depleted, the brain cannot rest even during sleep, leading to accumulated fatigue
- 5 Sequelae of underlying diseases
After suffering from severe influenza or infectious diseases, the vital energy often fails to recover, leading to chronic conditions
Chronic fatigue is not just about the body feeling heavy, but also about the mind and head becoming ill.
만성피로증후군 주요 증상, 환자가 실제로 느끼는 것들
Physical symptoms
- 천근만근인 몸, 아침에 몸이 바닥으로 꺼지는 기분이고 움직이기가 싫어요
- 근육통과 관절통, 특별히 운동을 안 했는데도 온몸이 두들겨 맞은 듯 쑤셔요
- 잦은 감기와 미열, 면역력이 떨어져 감기를 달고 살거나 목이 자주 부어요
- 임파선 부종, 목이나 겨드랑이 쪽 임파선이 만져지거나 통증이 느껴지기도 해요
Cognitive and neurological symptoms
- Memory loss and decreased concentration
- Slurred speech or difficulty recalling words
- 'Non-restorative sleep' where you don't feel refreshed even after sleeping
- Becoming extremely sensitive to light or sound
What patients find most difficult isBrain Fogthat they feel as if a fog is over their head, leaving them dazed and with a sharp drop in concentration.
As these symptoms appear in combination, they can be accompanied by feelings of depression or anxiety.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Baekrokdam's Approach
Summary, 피로는 참는 게 아니라 몸이 보내는 마지막 경고거든요. 증상을 누르는 게 아니라 에너지를 만드는 공장(장부)을 다시 돌려야 해요.
Why Baekrokdam focuses on herbal medicine
The goal of herbal medicine is not just to suppress surface symptoms, but to create a body that can recover on its own without medication.
Caffeine or high-dose vitamins are like temporarily borrowing energy'Energy Loan'in a sense. Eventually, it returns as even greater fatigue. Herbal medicine is not a loan, but a saving; it directly replenishes deficient Qi and blood and strengthens organ function.
Herbal medicine prescriptions vary completely depending on the cause of fatigue. 소화기가 약해서 에너지를 못 만드는 분, 스트레스로 기운이 뭉쳐서 못 쓰는 분, 갱년기 호르몬 변화로 원기가 바닥난 분, 이분들에게 똑같은 영양제는 정답이 될 수 없거든요. 사람마다 다른 '피로의 결'을 맞추는 게 한약의 본질이에요.
Why it doesn't show up well in tests
Tests look at numerical values and structures, but the essence is often a 'body imbalance' that is not easily captured by tests.
Modern medical tests'Structural Destruction'only show a reaction when a change occurs. They call it a 'disease' only when the liver hardens or inflammation levels soar. However, for chronic fatigue patients, the structure is intact, but'Functional Decline'It's in a state of depletion. It's like saying something is normal just by looking at the exterior, even though the battery life is completely gone.
That is why Oriental medicine diagnosis is important. We observe the waxing and waning of energy through pulse diagnosis and check the tension of the autonomic nervous system through abdominal diagnosis. We read whatThe flow and degree of depletion of energytests cannot detect.
그래서 어떻게 치료하느냐, 백록담의 방식
We examine the entire body through inquiry, pulse diagnosis, and abdominal diagnosis, and address the root cause using herbal medicine.
It doesn't simply end with 'You're tired, right?' We meticulously analyze why you are tired and where the energy is leaking from.
- Pulse Diagnosis (脈診) & Abdominal Diagnosis (腹診), 기운이 허한지(허증), 스트레스로 막혔는지(실증)를 구분하고 장부의 상태를 직접 확인합니다
- Customized Herbal Prescription, 보중익기탕(기력), 귀비탕(심리적 피로), 공진단(원기 회복) 등 검증된 처방을 환자 상태에 맞춰 가감합니다
- Autonomic Nervous System Regulation, 뇌와 몸의 긴장을 풀어 브레인포그와 수면 장애를 함께 개선합니다
Herbal medicine does not simply boost energy, butRebooting the body's systemit is a process of. Because we address multiple axes simultaneously, you will experience improvements in digestion, sleep, and pain along with the relief of fatigue.
Differentiation of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome observed in clinical practice
Fatigue also has colors. Which type do you belong to?
Spleen Qi Deficiency (脾氣虛)脾氣虛
A type characterized by extreme drowsiness after eating, weakness in the limbs, and indigestion
치법 방향: 건비익기(健脾益氣)
Liver Qi Stagnation (肝鬱氣滯)肝鬱氣滯
A type characterized by severe stress, chest tightness, and feeling sluggish even after sleep
Treatment direction: Soothe the Liver and relieve stagnation (疏肝解鬱)
Kidney Yang Deficiency (腎陽虛)腎陽虛
A type characterized by high sensitivity to cold, extreme difficulty waking up in the morning, and decreased adrenal function
Treatment direction: Warm the Kidney and supplement Yang (溫腎補陽)
Dual Deficiency of Qi and Blood (氣血兩虛)氣血兩虛
A type characterized by a pale complexion due to the depletion of both energy and nutrition from long-term illness or overwork
Treatment direction: Supplement both Qi and Blood (氣血雙補)
Dual Deficiency of Heart and Spleen (心脾兩虛)心脾兩虛
A type characterized by insomnia due to overthinking, palpitations, and constant anxiety
Treatment direction: Nourish the Blood and calm the Spirit (補血安神)
The direction of herbal medicine is determined by the patient's type, and the prescription is fine-tuned every 2 to 4 weeks based on the progress of improvement.
Progress by stage of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome treatment
Below are the changes typically seen during the course of herbal medicine treatment.
- 1개월 차, 방전된 배터리 충전
The first thing to do'Plugging the leaks'wow'Rapid charging'is.
- The heaviness felt upon waking up in the morning begins to lighten
- As sleep quality improves, you fall into a deep sleep at night
- Digestive function recovers and you begin to derive energy from food
- 2~3개월 차, 시스템 정상화
Now it is the stage where the body restores energy on its own.
- Brain fog clears and the mind feels sharper
- Physical strength that used to deplete by the afternoon is maintained until evening
- Improvement in inflammatory symptoms such as accompanying muscle pain or headaches
- 3~4개월 차, 안정화 및 재발 방지
This is the period to solidify your condition so it does not decline after treatment.
- Fatigue does not linger the next day even after routine work or exercise
- Gradually reducing the frequency of herbal medicine intake to verify the body's self-healing power
- Establishing dietary and exercise methods tailored to your constitution
The recovery speed may vary depending on the depth and state of fatigue.
Those with severe burnoutThis process may take a bit longer, but please be assured that energy filled slowly does not collapse easily.
진료를 더 구체적으로 시작하려면
만성피로증후군 진료 전에 준비하면 좋은 정보
준비된 자료가 없어도 진료를 시작할 수 있습니다. 종이 자료나 휴대전화 사진으로 보여주셔도 됩니다. 지금까지 받은 검사와 치료, 그 뒤 좋아진 점과 남은 불편을 자세히 알려주세요.첫 진료 안내 자세히 보기 →- 기존 검사·진료 자료가 있다면: 만성피로증후군과 관련해 받은 빈혈·갑상선·간·신장·혈당 등 혈액검사와 수면검사 결과, 복용약 목록
- 현재 복용 중인 약은 처방전·약 봉투·약 이름 사진 또는 복용 목록으로, 건강기능식품과 함께 정리해 주세요
- 관찰해 오면 좋은 변화: 피로가 시작된 시점과 수면·활동 후 회복, 통증·발열·체중 변화. 만성피로증후군과 관련해 느끼는 증상(천근만근인 몸, 아침에 몸이 바닥으로 꺼지는 기분이고 움직이기가 싫어요·근육통과 관절통, 특별히 운동을 안 했는데도 온몸이 두들겨 맞은 듯 쑤셔요·잦은 감기와 미열, 면역력이 떨어져 감기를 달고 살거나 목이 자주 부어요)의 빈도와 강도도 함께 적어 주세요
- 이전 치료의 반응: 치료명과 기간, 좋아진 점·남은 불편·중단한 이유·이상반응, 다시 악화된 시점을 함께 적어 주세요
이전 치료 뒤에도 불편이 남거나 다시 반복되나요? 지금까지 받은 검사·치료와 그 뒤 달라진 점을 적어 주세요. 거리가 있어 내원이 쉽지 않아도 먼저 문의하시면 의료진이 대면·비대면 중 적합한 진료 방식을 안내합니다.
Conditions often confused with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Fatigue can be a precursor to numerous diseases. Accurate differential diagnosis is the start of treatment.
Accompanied by fatigue, sensitivity to cold, weight gain, and edema. Blood tests are required to check hormone levels.
Fatigue occurs along with dizziness and shortness of breath. Women, in particular, should check their iron levels.
Symptoms are very similar to chronic fatigue, but loss of motivation and pleasure are more central. However, since chronic fatigue can lead to depression, both must be managed together.
The primary symptom is 'generalized pain' rather than fatigue. As there is significant overlap with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Korean medicine combines qi and blood circulation with pain management.
황달이나 소변 색 변화, 심한 메스꺼움이 동반됩니다. 간수치 검사로 쉽게 확인 가능하지만, 수치가 정상인데 피곤하다면 한방 치료의 영역이에요.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome treatment reviews
Frequently Asked Questions about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
만성피로증후군에 좋은 음식은 무엇인가요?
단백질·통곡물·채소를 규칙적으로 먹고 수분을 유지하되 고용량 보충제나 카페인으로 피로를 억누르지 마세요. 과식 뒤 악화되면 소량씩 나누고 활동 후 증상 악화를 고려해 에너지를 배분해야 합니다. 백록담에서는 기허·기혈양허·담습과 수면·소화를 함께 살핍니다.
What is the difference between simple fatigue and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
Simple fatigue recovers with rest, but Chronic Fatigue Syndrome lasts for more than 6 months and is characterized by not feeling refreshed even after sleep. In particular, if it is accompanied by extreme lethargy and cognitive decline (brain fog) to the extent that daily life is reduced by more than half, it should be viewed as a medical condition rather than simple fatigue.
Hospital tests say everything is normal, so why do I feel so deathly tired?
Western medical exams are specialized in finding 'structural diseases' such as hepatitis, diabetes, and cancer. However, chronic fatigue is a 'functional problem,' such as a decline in energy production mechanisms or autonomic nerve imbalance. To use a machine analogy, the parts are intact, but the battery is drained or the wires are tangled, so it doesn't show up on the tests.
I've taken nutritional supplements but they didn't work; how is herbal medicine different?
While supplements replenish specific nutrients, herbal medicine focuses on correcting imbalances in the organs to help the body produce energy on its own. We find and resolve the cause—whether it's an inability to produce energy due to a weak digestive system or an inability to use it because energy is blocked by stress—which is why those who found supplements insufficient experience a response.
How long is the expected treatment period?
Usually, about 3 months is considered the intensive treatment period. The first month is spent replenishing depleted bodily fluids, and the second and third months focus on balancing the autonomic nervous system and increasing physical strength. However, those with severe menopause or burnout may require consistent management for 6 months or more.
Can I receive a consultation and herbal medicine prescription remotely?
네, 가능해요. 백록담은 비대면 진료를 운영 중이라 전화 상담을 통해 현재 피로도와 체질을 파악하고 진료 후 처방이 결정되면 조제·수령 방법을 안내드려요. 바쁜 직장인이나 거리가 먼 분들이 많이 이용하시는 방식이에요.
Won't I go back to being tired as before once I stop taking the herbal medicine?
The goal of herbal medicine treatment is to create a 'body that can maintain itself without medicine.' It is not about forced stimulation, but about increasing the body's restorative power. If you follow the lifestyle habits we recommend after treatment, you can maintain a much healthier condition for a long time.
What is the difference between simple chronic fatigue and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)?
A state of simply accumulated fatigue and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome as a clinical disease are strictly different. CFS refers to a state where fatigue does not disappear even with sufficient rest, and extreme exhaustion persists for more than 6 months, significantly interfering with daily life. In Korean medicine, this is viewed within the categories of 'Heo-ro' or 'No-gwon-sang,' where vital energy is severely depleted, and we focus on restoring the collapsed balance of the entire body.
My body feels heavy as lead and my head feels foggy even after waking up; is this also a symptom?
Sleep disorders where you don't feel refreshed upon waking and 'brain fog,' where the head feels clouded, are representative symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. These are the cognitive decline and systemic lethargy often reported by patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis. Since these phenomena appear when internal energy is depleted and adrenal fatigue worsens, it can be helpful to reinforce energy through herbal medicine treatments.
Energy recovery disorders that can be examined alongside Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
These are disorders that must be resolved along with fatigue or are the cause of fatigue.
근거와 검토 정보
만성피로증후군 안내에 참고한 자료
아래 자료는 질환의 일반적인 정의·증상·검사·안전 기준을 확인하는 데 사용했습니다. 백록담의 진료 관점은 이 자료의 결론을 그대로 옮긴 것이 아니며, 개인에게 적용할 때는 진찰과 검사 결과를 함께 봐야 합니다.
콘텐츠 검토 기준일:
- 미국 질병통제예방센터(CDC), ME/CFS
이 자료에서 확인한 범위운동 후 권태, 회복되지 않는 수면과 인지·기립 증상
- NIH/PMC - Treatment and management of chronic fatigue syndrome
이 자료에서 확인한 범위치료·관리에 관한 연구의 설계·결과와 해석 범위를 확인하기 위한 원문
- CDC, ME/CFS 원인
이 자료에서 확인한 범위확정 원인은 아직 없으며 감염·면역·에너지 대사 등을 연구 중
- NIH/PMC - What Primary Care Practitioners Need to Know about the New NICE Guideline for ME/CFS
이 자료에서 확인한 범위치료·관리에 관한 연구의 설계·결과와 해석 범위를 확인하기 위한 원문
함께 보면 좋은 문서
다음으로 보면 좋은 자료
현재 보고 있는 문서Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
관련 주제와 진료 정보를 이어서 확인하면 이해가 더 빠릅니다.
이 페이지의 요약과 검수 정보
검수 의료진
최연승 한의사 Chief Director
페이지 요약
만성피로증후군은 휴식해도 좋아지지 않는 극심한 피로가 6개월 이상 이어져 일상생활이 어려워지는 상태입니다. 근육·관절통과 인지 저하·비회복성 수면이 동반될 수 있으며 갑상선 기능 저하증·빈혈·우울증·섬유근육통과 구분합니다.
이 페이지가 다루는 내용
- 무엇을 설명하나요
- 충분히 쉬어도 극심한 피로와 머리 멍함이 6개월 넘게 이어지면 만성피로증후군인가요?
- 어떤 상황을 다루나요
- 휴식으로 회복되지 않는 피로와 근육통·기억력 저하·비회복성 수면이 지속되는 분을 위한 내용입니다.
- 무엇을 구별해서 보나요
- 만성피로증후군은 피로와 여러 신경·신체 증상이 함께 나타나며 갑상선 기능 저하증은 추위 민감·체중 증가·부종이 두드러집니다.
- 어떻게 이해하면 되나요
- 오래 지속되는 피로는 갑상선 기능 저하·빈혈·우울증·섬유근육통 등 다른 원인을 함께 살펴야 합니다.
핵심 내용
- 만성피로증후군은 휴식해도 호전되지 않는 극심한 피로가 6개월 이상 지속되는 상태입니다.
- 전신 피로에 근육통·관절통·기억력과 집중력 저하·비회복성 수면이 동반될 수 있습니다.
- 갑상선 기능 저하증은 피로와 함께 추위 민감·체중 증가·부종이 나타날 수 있습니다.