How to self-evaluate in the face of internal fatigue
How to determine if you have internal fatigue? Dr. Shiro Kotake suggests asking yourself the following questions to self-assess:
• Do you frequently feel physical fatigue?
• Do you have rough skin and recurring pimples around your mouth?
• Do you suffer from persistent constipation or diarrhea?
• Are you prone to frequent colds?
• Do you have a loss of appetite and frequent bloating and indigestion?
• Are you tired even after getting enough sleep?
• Do you feel depressed, with brain fog or slowed mental reactions?
• Do you regularly consume cold foods and drinks?
If you answered yes to one to three of these questions, your organs may start to show signs of fatigue. If four to six signs match your situation, you already have internal fatigue. If seven or more signs apply, prompt consultation with a healthcare professional is recommended.
Improving organ function starts with breathing
Doctor Shiro Kotake suggests a breathing exercise to improve internal fatigue.
Method
1. Sit on a chair without a back, maintain an upright posture and take a deep breath.
2. Make a “peko” sound as you exhale and allow the abdomen to deepen. This contracts the diaphragm and lifts the internal organs upward.
3. Continuing to exhale, make a “poko” sound, then allow the abdomen to expand. This relaxes the diaphragm and causes the internal organs to descend.
4. Again, make a “peko” sound while using your hands to squeeze and then release the abdomen, expelling all the air.
Repeat this exercise in three sets every day.
Important note: Do not inhale until you have completely exhaled all the air.
Additionally, many people tend to slouch, which compresses the abdomen and reduces the effectiveness of diaphragmatic (abdominal) breathing. This can lead to replacing this breathing with the use of the muscles of the thorax and neck, called “thoracic breathing”, the cause of chronic pain in the shoulders and neck.
