How to Heal Adrenal Fatigue
Adrenal fatigue is often labelled as a myth. Blood or salivary testing is sometimes offered but there is no evidence that adrenal fatigue exists or can be tested,
yet so many people are suffering from it.
The term “adrenal fatigue” was coined in 1998 by James Wilson, PhD, a chiropractor, naturepath and expert in alternative medicine.
He describes it as a “group of related signs and symptoms (a syndrome) that results when the adrenal glands function below the necessary level.”
He says it’s usually associated with intense stress and often follows chronic infections like bronchitis, flu, or pneumonia.
How does Adrenal Fatigue happen?
Your body’s immune system responds by slowing down when you’re under stress (emotional and physical).
Your adrenal glands, which are small organs above your kidneys, respond to stress by releasing hormones like cortisol.
They regulate your blood pressure and how your heart works.
According to the theory, if you have long-term stress (emotional and physical) your adrenal glands can’t continuously produce the extra cortisol you need to feel good, so adrenal fatigue sets in.
Other stressors that can lead to Adrenal Fatigue: chronic/bacterial infections, environmental issues, anger,
excessive exercise, fear and guilt, gluten intolerance, mal-absorption and mal-digestion, toxic exposure, surgery,
sleep deprivation, chronic infected root canal.
One of the most common causes of poor adrenal function is lack of minerals. Minerals are necessary not only in the manufacture of steroid hormones, but also as a cofactor in liver enzymes that digest the fats need for building blocks for those adrenal hormones.
Adrenal problems can sometimes originate in the liver for another reason, namely that a malfunctioning liver may not produce the cholesterol necessary for the adrenals to manufacture their corticosteroid hormones. This may result in imbalances in male and female hormones.
Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue:
- Excessive tiredness, even with plenty of sleep
- Always on the go
- Difficulty getting up in the morning
- Insomnia
- Trouble calming down at night
- Cravings for salt
- A rise in energy in the evening
- Feeling wired or jittery
- Dizziness upon standing up
- Lack of tolerance for stress
- Weak immune system
- Body aches
- Unexplained weight loss or weight gain (especially around the middle)
- Low blood pressure
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Poor circulation
- Low sex drive
How can we heal our Adrenals?
When it comes to healing your adrenals it is important to tackle it form all different sides.
Depending on the level of adrenal fatigue it can take from 3 months to up to 2 years to completely heal your adrenals.
Once you are on a regiment, that not only nourishes your adrenals but also help with your symptoms, you will start to feel better quickly.
In most cases people report more energy and better sleep within two weeks.
It is important to keep feeding your adrenals even though the symptoms have mostly cleared up.
Help your Adrenals with Healing:
Improve your diet
Eating healthy is one of the very important parts of your recovery from Adrenal Fatigue.
Just cutting out the junk food isn’t enough. Feed your body by eating lots of nutrient-dense, whole foods. Stay away from caffeine, sugar, and processed foods.
Don’t skip meals! Fasting is a no go when suffering from Adrenal Fatigue.
Foods to eat: low sugar fruits, vegetables, beans, whole sprouted grains, avocado, nuts and seeds.
Take adrenal supportive supplements/herbs
Supplements will not only nourish your adrenals and help them cope better, they will also have the biggest effects on your symptoms.
B Vitamins, especially B5, B6, and B12 – they play an important role in cell metabolism and cell repair, creating adrenal hormones, help with the breakdown of fats, proteins,
carbohydrates and will boost your energy levels. B Vitmains Supplement
Vitamin C, as a powerful antioxidant it is directly involved in the production of cortisol in the adrenals, besides boosting your immune system and protecting from free radicals it is an essential building block for the recovery of the adrenal glands. 1000mg is a great dosage to start on and can be gradually increased. Vitamin C Supplements
Magnesium, very important to maintain energy flow! A lack of it can result in symptoms like fatigue, insomnia, depression muscle cramping and stiffness. 400mg is a good place to start. Taking too much magnesium can result in digestive problems, so be careful with your starting dose. Magnesium spray is one of the quickest absorption ways and usually doesn’t bother the digestive system as supplements that are taken internally. Magnesium Supplements
Omega 3, invest into a good omega supplement such as Naturesage. The ratio between omega 3, 6, and 9 is important for Adrenal Fatigue. Most people are too low in Omega 3, Natursage naturally balances this out.
Omegas are anti-inflammatory so they are super helpful when stress arises. Please call to order Natursage (212-777-6645)
Probiotics, can improve our digestion and therefor help with energy and nutrient absorption. This allows our bodies to get more of the essential vitamins and minerals that we need to maintain our energy levels and produce the hormones that we need. They reduce side effects of anitbiotics, and possibly even lower stress levels. Additionally, they support our immune system and prevent regular illness from weakening our adrenals further. Zana Juice Probiotic Please call to order other probiotics.
Herbal Supplements, herbs play an important role in the recovery of adrenal fatigue and can be combined with other supplements. We can often trace the use of these herbs back for centuries in traditional cultures, where they have been used to maintain vitality and energy, exactly what a typical patient with Adrenal Fatigue needs.
Licorice root is an herb that has long been used to stimulate hormone production, maintain energy levels and increase endurance. It is a great choice for many individuals with Adrenal Fatigue, as it helps your cortisol to circulate for longer, but there is one significant drawback. Licorice root can raise your blood pressure, so you should not take it if you are experiencing high blood pressure. This is not usually a problem as most AFS sufferers tend to have low blood pressure anyway. Please call to order
Ashwagandha is known as an adaptogenic herb, ashwagandha regulates various systems in our bodies.
If cortisol is too high, it acts to lower it, and if cortisol is too low, it acts to raise it. Ashwagandha Capsules Ashwagandha Powder
Rhodiola Rosea can help with a wide variety of conditions including muscle tension, poor circulation, depression and fatigue. By improving our circulation it enables us to increase our cortisol production further when we need it. Please call to order
Maca root, research has shown maca to have beneficial effects on cortisol regulation and blood sugar. It also allows for more efficient uptake of hormones into our cells, increasing their effectiveness. If you suffer from Adrenal Fatigue and have low hormone levels, maca helps your body to make the most of those low hormone levels. Maca Supplements
Cordyceps, this medicinal mushroom helps to replenishing the adrenals and balancing cortisol levels, leading to increased energy, stamina and endurance. Please call to order
Essential Oils and the Adrenal Glands
Essential Oils work great in replenishing the adrenals and in helping with the symptoms.
Supporting Adrenal Compress
Combine 3 drops Young Living Clove
3 drops Young Living Nutmeg
5 drops Young Living Rosemary (do not use the rosemary if you have high blood pressure)
Add oils to 20 drops of massage/carrier oil such as liquid coconut oil or almond oil.
Massage over adrenal glands on back. Apply a dry cloth or towel, then apply a hot compress over the towel such as a wet towel wrung out or a hot water bottle.
Leave on for 30 to 45 mins.
EndoFlex Essential Oil is specifically formulated to support the Thyroid and Adrenal Glands Blend of: Spearmint, Sage, Geranium, Myrtle, German Chamomile, Nutmeg.
Three ways to use it:
Direct out of the bottle, onto your hands. Massage over Thyroid and Adrenals 3x’s per day especially at bedtime.
Add to an empty roller bottle. Mix with equal drops of carrier oils such as liquid coconut oil or almond oil.
Place 2 drops on your tongue followed by a sip of water. Do this 3 x’s per day. Or you can place in a gel capsule.
Call to order EndoFlex Essential Oil
More helpful tips to heal your Adrenals
Meditation, deep breathing, and light exercise
All 3 can help with lowering stress, cortisol levels, and a better night’s rest.
Sleep Hygiene
Sleep is your best friend. When recovering from Adrenal Fatigue sleep is the most important thing.
Sleep will differ depending on the stage of Adrenal Fatigue one is in.
Due to the spike in cortisol later in the evening insomnia often occurs. Therefor it is important to work on a good Sleep Hygiene, here are some important steps to look out for:
Manage your screen time – artificial light from TV and phones are suppressing the production of the sleep hormone melatonin.
Step away from any screen at least 30minutes before bed time. This way, your brain will realize that all electronic stimulus has finished once you have entered the bedroom, and it is time for true rest.
Don’t check your device during the night, exposure to a bright screen, even for a short period of time, can prevent you from going back to sleep.
Create a relaxing environment – eliminate all sources of light. Get comfortable, have sheets and pillows that feel good to you. Adjust the temperature to your liking, most people sleep better in a colder room, figure out what works for you. Good air, the quality of the air in your room is very important. Let fresh air in, if that is not possible a diffuser and Young Living’s Purification oil can do wonders.
Reduce noise, try memory foam earplugs or a white noise machine.
Bed time snack – try not to eat too close to going to bed but make sure that you eat something, if your brain will get hungry it will definitely wake you up. Cherries naturally contain melatonin, a handful can help with sleep. Bananas contain a natural muscle relaxant in their mixture of potassium and magnesium content. This combination, mixed with the carbohydrate content of the banana, is an effective way to promote sleep.
Stay away from caffeine, this includes dark chocolate, alcohol, spicy food
Sleep routine – try waking up and going to sleep at the same time every day. If you suffer from insomnia or have trouble falling asleep try being in bed by 9PM, just knowing that you have enough time to fall asleep will help. Listen to relaxing music or a meditation video.
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