Adrenal Fatigue (a.k.a. Adrenal Exhaustion)

Adrenal fatigue (a.k.a. adrenal exhaustion) has become a very common problem today.  Between the stress of our fast-paced lives and environmental issues, poor eating habits and lack of nutritive value in even our best foods, we often place more adaptive demands upon the adrenals than they can possibly meet.  They try as hard as they can for as long as they can; but at some point, they reach their limit and start stumbling through their day (oh, wait; that's us who stumble.  Oh well, … you get the idea).  With all of the demands placed on them, it's no wonder that our adrenal glands cry out for help.

Adreneal fatigue can also come along with other medical problems.  I've struggled with this problem since childhood, when I had a bout with atypical polio (known today as Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue Immunodeficiency Syndrome). 

In terms of its impact on your life, adrenal exhaustion can be anything from an annoyance to totally debilitating.  It's symptoms can include:

• Fatigue, ranging from just feeling a bit "off" to being unable to get out of bed.
• Headaches.
• Immune deficiency.
• Difficulty concentrating.
• Inability to deal adequately with stress.  (What I tend to do is either simply shut down or kick into overdrive, and run at high speed until I crash.)
• Nervousness and/or irritability.
• Craving salt or sugar (or both).
• Feelings of faintness, shakiness or nausea under stressful situations (which might not seem stressful to others).
• Very low energy reserves, making you tire quickly under normal daily activities.
• A tendancy toward gut yeast infections (candida overgrowth).

Adrenal exhaustion can make daily life a real struggle.  Even the simplest things can take on monumental proportions.  But, there are some simple things you can do to support the adrenals and minimize the load they carry.  Here are a few ideas.

What you can do to beat adrenal fatigue — naturally

Unburdening the adrenal glands:

First off, in order to really beat adrenal fatiuge, you have to do whatever you can to lighten the load on the adrenal glands.  They cannot heal if you keep tearing them down.  Here are some things that should be helpful for this.

• Learn stress-handling techniques.  (I've found tai chi / xigong to be very helpful).
• Avoid overly-strenuous exercise.  Exercise (like walking or tai chi) is good, but overdoing it can have debilitating effects. 
• Avoid processed or fast foods.  They are essentially void of food value and are loaded with things that tax the adrenal glands.
• Avoid coffee, tea, soft drinks or energy drinks (anything with caffeine).  They may give a temporary lift, but they have a long-term drag on the adrenals.
• Avoid sugar, in all its many (often hidden) forms.  Even overly-sweet fruits or fruit juices can be a problem.
• Avoid bad salts.  Most processed foods and fast foods are loaded with sodium.  But, not all sodium is equal.  What you need to pay special attention to are "regular" table salt and sodium compounds in processed or fast foods.
• Eliminate your exposure to environmental toxins to the fullest extent possible.  These can place a heavy load on your system, aggravating already taxed adrenals.  Choose non-toxic cleaners, laundry soap, personal care products and toiletries, and be careful of the clothing you wear.  Synthetic fibers are really bad for you, since the petro-chemicals in them react with your perspiration; but, good old cotton can be a problem, as well, since it is normally laced with very toxic agricultural chemicals.  And, of course, be sure to wash whatever garments you buy to get rid of the formaldehyde that is used to keep them fresh and crisp on the store shelves.
• Neutralize EMF radiation.  Electromagnetic fields can place a great deal of stress on the system.  Using devices that reduce this load can have profound effects on your overall sense of well-being.  I use Scalar Resonator and Scalar Home Protection System from EarthCalm.com.  They have made a lot of difference for me.

 

Actively support the adrenal glands:

Secondly, do things that will actively support the adrenal glands.  Most of these things are just good common sense.  But, with compromised adrenal glands, you need to give them some added attention.  Here are a few ideas.

• Eat a diet rich in whole foods (organic, if possible).  Greens can be especially helpful.  If you can't get fresh greens, a couple of good alternatives would be Vitality Super Greens, from Body Ecology, or Perfect Food, from Garden of Life.  What I like to do is mix some greens with a little mixture of cayenne pepper and turmeric SuperSeed, stir well and drink it down.
• Get the right salt.  Many people with adrenal issues are deficient in salt.  But, not all salts are the same.  (A trip to McDonald's will not meet your sodium requirements; it will just throw everything else off balance.)  You particularly want to avoid regular table salt (like Morton's, which is bleached and can be up to 25% sugar and anti-caking agents).  Sodium compounds, such as MSG are also poison.  Some health experts recommend sea salt.  That is getting closer (depending on how it's processed), but I've found the mercury content in the sea salts I've tried to be counter-productive to a pursuit of health.  What I would recommend is either Redmonds Real Salt® or Himalayan Crystal Salt.  Some experts recommend taking some Sole (pronounced so-lay) every day.  I just put a few chunks of Himalayan Crystal Salt in my water jug, give it a shake and drink it as I would regular water.
• Get the right supplementation.  The adrenals are especially needy of pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), so supplementing with a good B-Complex would be a good start, then add some B5.  Vitamin C is also very important (and, the Garden of Life Living Vitamin C™ has many important added benefits).  But, all of this would work the best, you need to start with a good foundational dietary supplement. 
• Get sufficient rest.  Be sure to sleep enough hours at night on a regular basis; and, if you need to rest during the day, do it.  This is something that you can't make up any other way.
• Get the proper exercise.  Learn the amount and type of exercise that is right for you.  As noted above, I've found tai chi to be very helpful.  So is walking.  Something else I do is work out on the Total Gym.  I do a light workout, something that is better for toning than building bulk, and I do it in short sessions.  If you can afford it, I also recommend very highly the PowerPlate.  It give you an amazing workout in a very short period of time.

 

Dietary and other natural support for the adrenal glands:

Now, even with all of this, it's sometimes necessary to give the adrenal glands some added support.  One of the best things I've found for this is Atrium's Supra-Renal 220.  Besides 220 mg of raw adrenal tissue (bovine source), it contains 15 mg of raw pituitary and other nutritional factors important for healthy adrenal function.  Atrium also has other adrenal products, but I'd recommend going with Supra-Renal 220.  A good MSM supplement would also be helpful.

There are other powerful options available to you, as well. 

• Homeopathic support can be very effective.  AdrenaPar, from Energique, Inc, has been very helpful for me.
• Liquefied herbals can also be of great benefit.  I've used AdrenaCom with good success; but I've had especially good results from mixing LicroCom with Licorice.
• Therapeutic-grade essential oils can also have amazing results.  One of the primary oils to use would be rosemary.  Inhalation is good, but it would be better to apply over the adrenal glands, either with a compress or using the Vita-Flex Technique.  Doing Vita-Flex on the bottom of the feet (at the instep, where the adrenal points are located) would also be very good.

Other essential oils that would be good to use would be nutmeg and clove.  I've also been using some geranium with some impressive results.

 

Other considerations: It's not just the adrenals

Another matter to remember, when dealing with adrenal exhaustion, is that it's not just the adrenals that need attention.  To effectively treat the adrenals, you need to also support the thyroid and pituitary glands.  Let's start with the pituitary, since that's where it all begins.

Few things support the pituitary gland better than therapeutic-grade essential oils.  They are naturally detoxifying and oxygenating to the center brain region, especially the oils that are higher in sesquiterpenes (such as sandalwood, frankincense, myrrh and vetiver).  Lavender and peppermint oils can also be very helpful.  Both direct inhalation and topical application can do wonders.

Atrium also has a glandular supplement, Pituitary, Whole, that could be helpful, and Energique offers some homeopathic remedies, such as PituiStat and AnpituiPar.

Besides the pituitary, in order to effectively support the adrenal glands, you also have to support the thyroid.  Atrium has a glandular supplement called T-Gland that could offer some support.  Besides this, the essential oils of lemongrass, peppermint, myrrh and clove can be helpful (just dilute with fractionated coconut oil and apply over the thyroid gland).  Energique, Inc also has several products that you would find helpful.  KelpCom and/or Thyrodine support the thyroid with critical iodine.  ThyroPar, ThyroStat and Thyroid HP offer addes homeopathic support.

One product, however, that I've found as effective than any of these is fücoTHIN® from Garden of Life.  Essentially a brown seaweed concentrate with pomegranate oil, it does an amazing job at boosting thyroid function.  Best still, it does this without stressing out the central nervous system or the adrenals.  However, you may find as much benefit from Ocean Plant Extract from Body Ecology.

I'm not a doctor, and every case is individualized to you, but I feel that if you follow these steps, you can overcome most effects of adrenal exhaustion.  You can beat it and take back your life.