Understanding The Endocrine System – Adrenals
Having healthy adrenals may be the most crucial hormonal factor for overall health. If you struggle with fatigue, stress, anxiety, blood sugars, low blood pressure, or poor concentration, adrenal fatigue is likely a component. Strengthening the adrenals is important for ANY healing program. If you have energy, clear thinking, and can handle the stresses of life, it makes it easier to eat healthily and follow a good healing program. When the adrenals are weak, people feel like quitting or giving up.
Basic Responsibilities:
Blood Sugar Metabolism
Neurotransmitter Regulation
Controls Autonomic Nervous System (digestion, heartbeat, breathing)
Anxiety
Fear
Worry and Handling the Stress Response (fight or flight)
Mineral Utilization
Energy
Symptoms of Adrenal Weakness:
Fatigue: Often okay in the morning, but have a PM crash (3-5pm) or overwhelming fatigue
Difficulty with focus, concentration, memory, and willpower (ADD/ADHD)
Hyperactivity: Hyperactivity is actually a lack of energy because we are exhausted, and we push life to continue
Depression: As you get more tired, you start to focus on the negative
Difficulty sleeping
Difficulty handling stress/anxiety, sometimes as extreme as panic attacks
Feeling easily worried, fearful, overwhelmed, and struggling to deal with basic life situations
Major uncontrollable cravings for sugar or caffeine
Low blood pressure and low blood sugars and difficulty managing blood sugars
Abnormal cravings for salt
Weight gain around the middle
Loss of libido/sexual function
Allergies, asthma, eczema, and psoriasis due to weakened adrenals (inability to properly produce steroid hormones)
Lifestyle Factors:
Deep breathing into the diaphragm turns off the stress response
Prayer and quiet time must be a part of your life as it promotes peace
Getting to bed between 9-10pm at the latest. Sleep is crucial for the adrenals
Sunshine heals the adrenals, especially sun in the eyes. Avoid sunglasses and toxic sunscreens
Light candles after dark, avoiding electronics as much as possible
Incorporate light exercise, walking, and connecting to God through nature
Nutrition Factors:
Avoiding grains and sugars (complex sugars and starches stress the adrenals)
Choose fruit as your primary fuel source, but also ancient seed grains in moderation like quinoa, millet, amaranth, and buckwheat
Healthy fats (in moderation) help the adrenals and blood sugars such as coconut, avocado, olives, nuts, seeds, and fish
Minerals and hydration are important. Add minerals to drinking water; salt can be especially beneficial
Avoid coffee, energy drinks, sugar, and all other "stimulants" which block the adrenals from healing and cause a hyperactive nervous system response
Herbs & Supplements for the Adrenals:
Adaptogen Power Powder by Spirit of Health: An incredible formula packed with adaptogenic herbs to help your body adapt to life’s stressors
Adrenal Boost Tea by Spirit of Health: A blend of herbs to boost energy and strengthen the adrenals
Adrenal Restore PM Powder by Spirit of Health: A formula created for calming and relaxing the adrenals and the nervous system, especially before bed
Maca by Symphony Natural Health: For men (Macalibrium) and women (MacaHarmony). Maca is an amazing herb for adrenals and thyroid function. (To order this product you must create a free account in our online store or log in to your existing account.)
Himalayan Salt Crystal Stones for Sole by Symphony Natural Health: Sole method in water, take 1 teaspoon of the solution each morning upon rising.
Adrenal Fatigue Fighter by Ridgecrest: Our clients have been using this for YEARS with great success! Contains fantastic herbs for restoring the adrenals
Anxiety Free by Ridgecrest: Excellent for stress, anxiety, and panic attacks
Holy Basil by Cedar Bear: Two droppers under the tongue twice daily or more as needed). This is our FAVORITE herb for calming and relaxing. It does not make you sleepy but can change your life if stress is a concern for you
Deer Antler by Royal Velvet or Jing Herbs: Most powerful herb for energy, strength, stamina, and endurance
Great Adaptor by Jing Herbs: Filled with Chinese tonic herbs that are great for balancing the adrenals long-term
Royal Oil by Spirit of Health: Royal jelly is a great adrenal booster
Learn About Other Glands in the Endocrine System:
Pituitary Gland
Pineal
Hypothalamus
Thyroid
Parathyroid
Thymus
Ovaries & Testes