Natural Health: My daughter is exhausted since finishing the Leaving Cert — how can I help?

Plus how to overcome travel constipation

Fri, 10 Jul, 2026 - 02:00

Megan Sheppard

My daughter is exhausted since finishing the Leaving Cert, which put her under huge pressure. She is normally upbeat and outgoing, but now wants to stay at home. Is there a remedy you could suggest?

It can take considerable time to recover after being under such enormous pressure, whether it is pressure that we put on ourselves or externally — likely a bit of both in your daughter’s case.

The fact that your daughter wants to stay at home could be a positive sign that she is listening to her body and mind rather than feeling obliged to immediately bounce back.

A significant stressful event, such as the Leaving Cert, taxes the nervous system, which can deplete the body of B vitamins.

The B vitamins work best when taken together, so make sure that you find a good B-complex for your daughter to replenish this group of nutrients.

Magnesium helps to improve sleep quality as well as support the nervous system and serotonin production. A number of foods are good sources of magnesium, including fish, artichokes, bananas, figs, grains, prunes, dairy products, nuts, beans, beet greens, broccoli, legumes, parsnip, pumpkin, spinach, fermented soy products, squash, courgette, tomatoes, and potatoes.

Some gentle herbs help to restore energy without taxing the adrenals, such as holy basil and Siberian ginseng. Both herbs have adaptogenic benefits and work to improve mental clarity and address that sense of deep fatigue. While they are often available in supplement form, I would suggest making a simple herbal infusion instead. The act of making a pot or cup of loose-leaf tea is a calming and soothing ritual in itself, and these herbs are both quite pleasant to drink.

Use one or both herbs and add a teaspoon of dried herb per cup of water, and steep for four to eight minutes. Honey can be added for sweetness if needed. Your daughter should aim to drink two to three cups daily until she feels more like her usual self again.

I get constipated whenever I travel abroad, sometimes it can last for days. What would you recommend?

Vacation constipation is quite a common issue for travellers. In some cases, it is simply due to being in unfamiliar surroundings and not feeling as relaxed in the bathroom.

It can also occur when you have to delay going while looking for local facilities, or because of changes in your diet while travelling. And, yes, it can be caused by all three factors.

Staying hydrated is critical while you are travelling, from before you even step on the plane. A product that I never leave home without when I travel is Oxy-Powder Colon Cleanser. Oxy-Powder contains complex oxides of magnesium and peroxides of magnesium stabilised with ozone and oxygen at high pressure and low temperature, to ensure oxygen is stable and non-reactive until it is ingested and slowly released in the acidic environment of the stomach. It is designed to slowly release oxygen when the citric acid combines with the hydrochloric acid already in your stomach.

This product is highly effective as an occasional solution for constipation. You will need to take four capsules about an hour or two before bedtime — make sure that it is at least an hour after food — with a pint glass of warm water containing the juice of a whole lemon.

You will need to ensure you have access to a toilet until at least lunchtime the next day after taking the capsules, but it provides a complete bowel evacuation that is both effective and painless.

In some rare cases — particularly if there is still undigested food in the stomach when you take the Oxy-Powder — you may need a second dose the following evening; you can increase the dosage by two capsules if need be.