Natural Remedies For Adrenal Fatigue

Natural Remedies For Adrenal Fatigue. Graphic © herbshealthhappiness.com. Photo sources – see foot of article

I. What Is Adrenal Fatigue?

The adrenals are essential components to your overall health status. When these glands function below the necessary level, you are suffering from adrenal fatigue, which is an increasingly prevalent medical condition that few physicians have recognized. Adrenal fatigue results from the simultaneous occurrence of smaller stresses which accumulate or become chronic and bar your adrenals from recovery. ^[1]

Adrenal fatigue is also known as non-Addison’s or subclinical hypoadrenia and has been described in medical texts since the 1800’s. However, a surprising number of members of the medical/scientific community remain oblivious to this increasing problem. This lack of awareness has been attributed to the exclusion of severe cases of adrenal malfunction from the normal range for adrenal function on standard blood and urine tests.

Humans’ stress reaction was developed in prehistoric times when our ancestors were subjected frequently to real dangers, such as crossing paths with a dangerous predator or enemy. Early humans had to flee or fight their enemies in order to survive. These “fight or flight” responses need a lot of energy, which is enabled by raising the blood-glucose levels. The adrenal glands play a vital role in raising the blood-glucose levels in stress situations that produce the hormones adrenaline and cortisol. ^[2]

This biological system of increasing blood-glucose levels and producing adrenalin and cortisol is still operational today in humans. However, the stress that modern humans experience does not always involve a life-threatening situation but is an accumulation of minor or major stress load brought upon by various physical, psychological, social, and environmental factors. This is where adrenalin fatigue comes in.

II. Symptoms Of Adrenal Fatigue

Adrenal fatigue occurs when your adrenal glands have to produce so many hormones that they have become depleted. This results in the failure of your body to stabilize blood-glucose levels which eventually will prevent the immune system to function properly. Below is a list of questions that you need to ask yourself to determine if you are afflicted with adrenal fatigue. If you answered yes to two or more, there is a high probability that you have the 21st-century stress syndrome.

Are you:

• Tired for no reason?
• Trouble getting up in the morning or going to sleep at night?
• Having trouble getting up in the morning?
• Depending on coffee or colas to keep you going?
• Feeling run down and stressed?
• Dragging through each day?
• Craving salty or sweet foods?
• Struggling to keep up with life’s daily demands?
• Unable to bounce back from stress or illness?
• Not having fun anymore?
• Experiencing decreased sex drive?
• Simply too tired to enjoy life?
• Having less accurate memory?
• Relying on caffeine and sugar to keep going?
• Finding it difficult to handle stress?
• Exerting more effort to do everyday tasks?
• Skipping meals?
• Becoming less tolerant?

III. Causes And Related Medical Conditions

According to Dr. James L. Wilson, a respected lecturer and consultant in the medical and alternative healthcare communities, the diverse roles played by adrenal hormones are a testament to the importance of adrenal fatigue as an underlying cause of such a wide range of symptoms and conditions. ^[3] These health issues are aggravated by the effect stress can have on the adrenal glands. Wilson shares the key lifestyle factors that promote adrenal fatigue:

• Insufficient sleep
• Poor food choices
• Constantly driving oneself
• Using food and drinks when tired
• Staying up late when fatigued
• Lack of enjoyable and rejuvenating activities
• Staying in no-win situations over time

The manifestations of adrenal fatigue are diverse! Some of the health conditions associated with adrenal dysfunction include frequent infections, chemical sensitivities, allergies, rheumatoid arthritis, menopause, PMS, chronic fatigue syndrome, low libido, type-2 diabetes, asthma, autoimmune disorders, alcoholism, insomnia, anxiety and mild depression.

IV. Natural Prevention And Cure

Mild cases of the disorder can be ameliorated by reducing stress, eliminating toxins, avoiding negative thinking and replenishing your body with healthy food.

1. Anti-inflammatory Diet

Build your diet around good fats, healthy fibers, and anti-oxidant phytonutrients to reduce the risk of adrenal fatigue. Good fats include coconut oil, grass fed butter, and fatty fish. ^[4][5]

2. Optimize Zinc, B Vitamins, And Magnesium Levels

Zinc and magnesium work to improve blood sugar signaling problems. Pumpkin seeds are one of the foods that are rich in these nutrients. A study published in the journal Medical Science Monitor revealed the therapeutic value of multivitamin mineral supplementation that contains zinc, B vitamins, and magnesium against chronic fatigue syndrome, which is one of the symptoms of adrenal fatigue. ^[6]

3. Hydrate Your Body Well

Water is a critical component for balancing stress hormone production. Drinking at least eight ounces of water could help your body get back into a state of rest and repair. The positive effect of hydration on hormonal response was demonstrated by a study reported in the European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology. ^[7]

4. Get Enough Sleep

In 2002, the Journal of Endocrinology published an article on the role of sleep deprivation in activating one of the body’s neuroendocrine stress systems – the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. The study found out that chronic sleep restriction could also affect the body’s subsequent response to stress. ^[8]

5. Reduce Or Eliminate Caffeine And Sugar

This is an important one. Studies have shown that caffeine and sugar could increase cortisol levels, which could result in higher levels of fatigue. A 2012 study published in the journal Endocrine affirmed the link between high cortisol levels and consumption of foods high in calories, sugar, and fat. ^[9]

6. Do Not Skip Meals

Regular eating is one way to maintain stable blood sugar levels throughout the day. This was confirmed by a study published in the online journal PLoS One in June 2012. The study looked at the effects of meal frequency on the metabolic profiles of lean healthy individuals. ^[10]

7. Consume Natural Salt

Natural salt is another way to help the adrenals recover since it contains beneficial trace minerals. Adrenal glands love salt. Good quality salts such as Celtic Sea salt, Himalayan salt, and other unprocessed salts are a must-have! A Japanese study published in The American Journal of Case Reports showed that administration of sodium chloride exerted additional therapeutic efficacy on a patient with hyponatremia caused by secondary adrenal insufficiency. ^[11]

8. Do Not Overstress The Adrenals

Too much workout, exercise or any form of physical activity could result in overstressing the adrenals. Even professional athletes take periods of rest to restore their body. In 2013, the Journal of Novel Physiotherapies highlighted the critical relationship between the dysfunction of the adrenals in over-trained and stressed athletes. ^[12]

9. Increase The Levels Of Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) Levels

The inclusion of DHEA testosterone could help you reduce the levels of cortisol in your body. Decreased cortisol could help get your endocrine system functioning properly again. The Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism reported in 2007 on the beneficial effects of prolonged DHEA treatment in adrenal fatigue. ^[13]

10. Use Essential Oils

Some essential oils work great for adrenal fatigue including lavender, vanilla, rose, lemon balm, rosemary, and chamomile. Their anti-inflammatory activity is well-documented by several studies including one that appeared in the journal Planta Medica. The study used two components of the essential oil Bupleurum fruticescens – alpha-pinene and beta-caryophyllene. ^[14]