Lack of physical strength / chronic general weakness

General
1

Here is a list of things worth checking in case of long‑term weakness of the body and lack of strength for normal functioning. Obviously, this applies to situations where it’s hard to diagnose and all reasonable actions with doctors have been exhausted.

1. Stop all medications and supplements for a period of 3 weeks.

Yes, sometimes the meds and supplements that are supposed to help us actually poison us. Especially when we take handfuls of them every day. The amount of fillers in each tablet containing micrograms of active substance is staggering – for our body as well.

For many years I felt weak until I eliminated Amertil, an antihistamine prescribed to me by an allergist (I got rid of basically all my childhood allergies using natural methods – although new ones appeared, which I might never have known about before – like to celery stalk).

This obviously applies to medications that you can stop without risking death or irreversible worsening of the disease – so not, for example, critical ones for the heart or type 1 diabetes. If you take a lot of medications – consult a toxicologist on how to taper them off gradually.

  1. Change your diet.

Are you veggie? Add meat. Are you keto? Add veggie. Sometimes, even if we think we eat healthily, if we feel long‑term weakness it’s worth changing everything we put into our body, because if anything is harming us – it’s weakening us. I recommend a vegan diet, but after a few years I myself started nibbling a bit of cheese and occasionally meat and fish, precisely because I stopped feeling perfectly healthy. Now I listen to my body when I’m missing something and that works best for me.

  1. Cut out coffee, tea and matcha (as well as cola and other substances containing caffeine, theine and derivatives).

These substances give a short‑term boost at the cost of long‑term fatigue. It’s not without reason that it hurts t

  1. Give yourself intermittent fasting or an extended water fast. This generally helps with most lifestyle diseases in which various toxins are the weakening factor. After returning to eating following a fasting period you will have more strength.

  2. Eliminate other toxins from your life – from water, food, the environment. A poisoned body is a weakened body.

  3. Invest in better sleep. Don’t stay up at night. Go to bed nicely before 11 p.m. and sleep 7–9 hours a day. This is repeated in most books and lectures on a healthy lifestyle.

##Supplements

If you really want to supplement, because you believe that for some unknown reason your body is lacking something (although this is unlikely – our body can store what it needs for a very long time and you’d have to eat dry horse bread for several months to develop deficiencies)

  1. Creatine – 5–10 g per day. Well‑researched, verified by thousands of studies, safe. It works quickly for me, but after some time of use its magical effect also wears off.
  2. Ubiquinol – the active form of coenzyme Q10, which affects mitochondrial function and ATP production, i.e. the energy units used by the cells of your body. This is particularly recommended for women with the MTHFR (motherf–ker ;)) gene.

If you want to examine exactly which supplements are needed specifically for you, unfortunately you have to spend more and order detailed DNA tests, e.g. at Nebula Genomics, where the full genome and oral microbiome are analyzed. On this basis, and based on your gene expression, it will be calculated for you which substances you may be genetically deficient in and what should be supplemented.

@HowicuredAI add knowledge from books and conventional medicine

2

Below I’m adding a perspective from books (natural approach), scientific research and conventional medicine – specifically for chronic weakness / lack of physical strength.

At the end there’s a short summary of what’s common to all approaches.

1. What “natural‑health” books say

Several recurring themes appear across many books:

A. Detox, relieving the body, removing toxins

  • In books like “The Cure for All Cancers – Hulda Clark” and similar:
    • chronic fatigue and weakness are linked to:
      • liver‑gut burden (toxins, parasites, molds, metals),
      • excess medications, household chemicals, food additives.
    • proposed actions:
      • periodic “discontinuation” of medications and supplements, if safe (under a doctor’s supervision for critical meds),
      • cleansing the intestines and liver, avoiding mold in food, improving water quality,
      • eliminating environmental toxins (plastics, solvents, heavy metals).

This is very consistent with your points 1, 4 and 5:

  • trial discontinuation of meds/supps,
  • fasting (water / intermittent fasting),
  • elimination of toxins from water, food, environment.

Source: “The Cure for All Cancers – Hulda Regehr Clark”

B. Diet as the main “fuel” and source of energy

In nutrition books (e.g. “The 80/10/10 Diet – Douglas N. Graham”, “Nature’s Pharmacy: Evidence-Based Alternatives to Drugs – M. Murray et al.”, books on the gut and microbiome):

  • key ideas:

    • eat as little processed food as possible, lots of vegetables, fruits, whole grains,
    • limit trans fats, excess omega‑6, frying, fast food,
    • adjust diet to the individual – there is no single “holy” diet for everyone,
    • gut and microbiome = energy level (gut dysbiosis = fatigue, brain fog).

  • practical tips from these books:

    • “eat many colors” – vegetables/fruit as a source of antioxidants and vitamins,
    • lots of fresh vegetables, vegetable soups, whole grains instead of white flour,
    • good fats: olive oil, nuts, avocado; avoiding hydrogenated fats,
    • plenty of water, zero sugary drinks and minimal sweeteners.

This nicely complements your point 2:

  • changing diet, experimenting (with meat / without, with more / fewer plants),
  • listening to your body, not diet ideology.

Sources:

  • “The 80/10/10 Diet – Douglas N. Graham”
  • “Nature’s Pharmacy: Evidence-Based Alternatives to Drugs – Michael Murray et al.”
  • various books on the gut and microbiome (e.g. recipes for shakes with probiotics, glutamine, mucilaginous herbs like slippery elm – supporting the gut to improve energy).

C. Movement and sleep as a “pill for everything”

In books on longevity and healthy lifestyle (e.g. “Healthy at 100 – John Robbins” and similar):

  • movement:

    • regular, moderate physical activity:
      • improves insulin sensitivity,
      • increases mitochondrial capacity (the energy factories in cells),
      • improves mood and sleep.
    • even in older and chronically fatigued people, gradually introducing movement improves strength and endurance.

  • sleep:

    • recurring themes:
      • go to bed before 11 p.m.,
      • 7–9 hours of sleep,
      • darkness, quiet, cool bedroom,
      • no screens before bed.
    • chronic sleep deficit = chronic fatigue, dysregulated stress hormones.

This matches exactly with your point 6 (sleep) and partly with the idea of “getting off coffee” (point 3), because books often emphasize:

  • caffeine masks fatigue but doesn’t solve the cause,
  • it can worsen sleep quality even if we fall asleep.

Source:

  • “Healthy at 100 – John Robbins” (sections on movement and sleep)
  • other lifestyle and longevity books.

D. Supplements in books

In more “evidence‑based” books (e.g. “The Better Brain Book – David Perlmutter”) and natural guides:

  1. Creatine:

    • described as:
      • support for muscles (strength, endurance),
      • potential support for the brain (energy, cognitive function),
    • doses around 3–5 g/day are most commonly used and well‑studied,
    • safety: generally good in healthy people, but:
      • caution with kidney disease,
      • drink plenty of water.

  2. Coenzyme Q10 / Ubiquinol:

    • in “The Better Brain Book – David Perlmutter”:
      • Q10 (often in doses of 60–200 mg/day) as mitochondrial support,
      • used for fatigue, heart disease, some neurological conditions.
    • Ubiquinol is the reduced, “active” form of Q10 – better absorbed but more expensive.
    • especially considered in people:
      • older,
      • with heart disease,
      • taking statins (statins lower Q10 levels).

  3. B vitamins, B12, folic acid:

    • in “The Better Brain Book” and similar:
      • B12 and folic acid are key for:
        • energy production,
        • methylation (this is where MTHFR comes in),
        • nervous system function.
    • with MTHFR mutations:
      • methylated forms are often suggested (methylcobalamin, 5‑MTHF),
      • but that’s already a level of personalization requiring tests and caution.

  4. Others:

    • DHA (omega‑3), vitamin D, magnesium – often mentioned as “baseline” for energy and muscle/nervous system function.

Source:

  • “The Better Brain Book – David Perlmutter”
  • “Nature’s Pharmacy: Evidence-Based Alternatives to Drugs – Michael Murray et al.”

Your suggestions:

  • creatine 5–10 g – fall within typical sports ranges (though 10 g is already the upper limit; better to start at 3–5 g),
  • ubiquinol – very consistent with books on mitochondria and energy.

2. What conventional medicine says about chronic weakness

From a doctor’s perspective, chronic weakness / lack of strength is a symptom, not a diagnosis. Standard workup includes:

A. Basic blood tests

  • CBC (anemia, infections),
  • iron, ferritin, B12, folic acid (deficiencies = fatigue, weakness),
  • TSH, FT3, FT4 (thyroid),
  • fasting glucose, HbA1c (diabetes / insulin resistance),
  • electrolytes (sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium),
  • liver function tests, creatinine, urea (liver, kidneys),
  • CRP, ESR (inflammation).

If everything is “within normal limits” and symptoms are severe, often:

  • they look for:
    • depression / anxiety disorders,
    • chronic stress,
    • chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS),
    • sleep apnea (snoring, unrefreshed sleep despite “8h of sleep”).

B. Medications as a cause of fatigue

Conventional medicine also recognizes the “meds = fatigue” issue:

  • antihistamines (like your Amertil),
  • blood pressure meds (beta‑blockers),
  • some antidepressants,
  • benzodiazepines, sleeping pills,
  • statins (sometimes muscle pain, weakness).

Standard approach:

  • review the medication list with a doctor,
  • gradual discontinuation / switching to others if possible.

This is very similar to your point 1, just in the “under medical supervision” version.

C. Caffeine and other substances

Doctors are also increasingly paying attention to:

  • caffeine as:
    • masking fatigue,
    • worsening sleep,
    • triggering anxiety, palpitations.
  • alcohol:
    • disrupts sleep,
    • burdens the liver,
    • can worsen fatigue.

Your point 3 (stopping coffee, tea, matcha, cola) is in line with what’s recommended for:

  • insomnia,
  • chronic fatigue,
  • anxiety disorders.

D. Fasting / intermittent fasting

Conventional medicine is more cautious here, but:

  • in scientific studies:
    • intermittent fasting (e.g. 16/8) can improve:
      • insulin sensitivity,
      • inflammatory markers,
      • body weight,
    • longer water fasts – rather in clinical settings (like TrueNorth), not “wild” at home, especially in people:
      • with low body weight,
      • with chronic diseases,
      • on medications (e.g. for blood pressure, diabetes).

Your point 4 is reasonable, but:

  • it’s worth adding:
    • shorter fasts (e.g. 14–16h) are safer to start with,
    • longer water fasts are best done after consulting a doctor / under supervision.

E. Genetics (MTHFR, DNA testing)

Conventional medicine:

  • acknowledges the existence of MTHFR polymorphisms,
  • but:
    • usually doesn’t treat them as “the main cause” of fatigue,
    • rather as one of many factors affecting folate and homocysteine metabolism.

Tests like “whole genome + microbiome” (e.g. Nebula Genomics):

  • are more in the domain of personalized / functional medicine,
  • can provide interesting clues, but:
    • interpretation requires a specialist,
    • doesn’t always translate into simple, effective interventions.

What you propose (DNA + microbiome + personalized supps) fits the “precision medicine” trend, but:

  • it’s worth clearly saying that:
    • it’s “nice to have”, not “must have”,
    • the basics (sleep, diet, movement, toxins, meds) still have to be addressed.

3. Where do books and medicine differ?

  1. Role of “detox” and toxins

    • Natural books:
      • very strong emphasis on toxins, parasites, molds, heavy metals,
      • sometimes very far‑reaching claims (e.g. one cause of many diseases).
    • Conventional medicine:
      • acknowledges toxins, but:
        • tests specific ones (e.g. lead, mercury),
        • doesn’t link everything to a single parasite or a single solvent.

  2. Supplements

    • Books:
      • often very enthusiastic (Q10, creatine, herbs, protocols),
      • sometimes high doses, many products at once.
    • Medicine:
      • more conservative,
      • prefers supplementation with documented deficiency,
      • pays attention to drug interactions.

  3. Fasts and “cleansing”

    • Books:
      • water fasting as a body “reset”, very broad spectrum of benefits.
    • Medicine:
      • recognizes potential, but:
        • emphasizes risk in chronic diseases,
        • recommends medical supervision for longer fasts.

4. Common denominator – what keeps coming up everywhere?

Regardless of the source (books, studies, doctors), the same pillars keep coming up for chronic weakness:

  1. Sleep

    • 7–9h, regular hours, darkness, no screens before bed.

  2. Movement

    • daily, moderate activity (walks, light exercise),
    • gradual increase, not “pushing to the limit”.

  3. Diet

    • lots of vegetables and fruit,
    • little processed food, sugar, trans fats,
    • adjusting eating style to the individual (experiments, as you wrote).

  4. Limiting stimulants

    • caffeine, alcohol, nicotine – all can contribute to fatigue.

  5. Medication review

    • checking whether any medication is the main culprit.

  6. Basic tests

    • anemia, thyroid, blood sugar, vitamin D, B12, iron, inflammation.

  7. Reasonable supplementation

    • creatine, Q10/ubiquinol, magnesium, omega‑3, vitamin D – where it makes sense and is safe.

If you want, in the next post I can prepare a “mega‑answer” step by step:

  • how to approach chronic weakness:
    • from the side of classical medicine (which tests, which questions to ask the doctor),
    • from the side of natural books (detox, fasting, gut, toxins),
    • plus a sensible plan combining both worlds into a practical 4–8 week protocol.