One of the most common complaints I hear today is related to brain fog, poor memory, lack of concentration, confusion, inability to stay focused, lack of motivation or in general just a lack of mental clarity. This is frequently accompanied by fatigue, but not always. When your mind was at one time "sharp as a tack," you felt decisive, had great recollection and felt alert, and now you don't, we have to ask "why?" What happened?

Many people can identify a time period when they first noticed it - such as "it started when I started that new medication," or "it started after I had my surgery," or "it started after my baby was born." Generally they will also add that they noticed it a little before that, but that particular event accentuated it.

There are more than a dozen reasons why you can feel mentally sluggish. Discovering those reasons are frequently easy, but may also be challenging. If you have sleep deprivation, pain (especially pain necessitating medications), or know it started with the onset of a new medication, changing medications and resolving the sleep or pain issues will resolve your mental clarity. I make that sound easy, but realize those suffering would gladly resolve them, but don't know how. If medications are causing the brain fog, you need to resolve the pain or sleep issues by using natural methods such as acupuncture, chiropractic, massage and many others, thereby no longer needing the medications causing brain fog.

Some of the underlying reasons for lack of mental clarity are fairly easy to identify. Nutritional deficiencies, dehydration, blood sugar imbalance and food allergies can be identified with simple tests, and resolved with appropriate dietary changes. Sometimes these underlying issues are obvious, sometimes so subtle that you need tests to identify them for sure. It is important to seek out someone who can help you resolve them naturally.

The other reasons aren't as easy to identify. There are several systems in the endocrine system, for example that can have significant involvement in mental clarity - the thyroid, adrenals, sex hormone glands, liver and pancreas, are major players. Most of these imbalances require specialized testing to identify and need specific support. Acupuncture, dietary changes and herbal remedies are good natural corrective modalities, and some need conventional medical support as well.

Other contributors could be poor circulation to the brain, various forms of toxicity, stress, burn-out and several others.

There are numerous underlying reasons for brain fog, poor memory and lack of concentration. By identifying the specific causative factor (or frequently several factors) causing this lack of mental clarity, it can be effectively resolved, especially using natural methods.

In a two-hour health class at 7 p.m. today, March 28, Carling will be discussing the underlying factors that can result in brain fog, poor memory and lack of concentration, and what you can do to resolve these issues naturally. Fee: $10. RSVP: (208) 765-1994.

Holly Carling is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Licensed Acupuncturist, Doctor of Naturopathy, Clinical Nutritionist and Master Herbologist with more than 32 years of experience. Carling is currently accepting new patients and offers natural health care services and whole food nutritional supplements in her Coeur d'Alene clinic. Visit Carling's website at www.vitalhealthandfitness.com to learn more about Carling, view a list of upcoming health classes and read other informative articles. Carling can be reached at (208) 765-1994 and would be happy to answer any questions regarding this topic.