SHINE is an acronym I use to summarize five key health guidelines I recommend addressing when treating people for low energy levels. I developed this treatment approach after 30 years of clinical experience treating chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, and I have found that the approach is successful in the vast majority of patients.

SHINE stands for Sleep, Hormonal support, Infections, Nutritional Support and Exercise.

Sleep. Make time for seven to eight hours of sleep a night. Begin by cutting those things out of your life that give you the least pleasure (the evening news, meetings, social gatherings you hate, etc). If you have trouble sleeping, herbal remedies can be very helpful.

Hormonal support. Consider the possibility of an underactive thyroid, even if your blood tests are normal.

Infections. Some people will have chronic bladder, prostate, or other infections. Chronic sinusitis and spastic colon are especially common and problematic.

Nutritional support. A simple morning energy drink using a good multivitamin and nutrient powder along with a special healthy sugar called "ribose" can give outstanding nutritional support and turbo charge energy production. In fact, in one study, ribose increased energy an average of 60 percent after just three weeks.

Exercise. Preferably out in the sunshine

For many, simply getting the simple nutritional support above and a 20 to 30 minute walk each day, along with a bit more sleep (aim for eight hours, but get at least seven) will make all the difference.

Those with the combination of both severe exhaustion and severe insomnia often have chronic fatigue syndrome