How long has it been since you have gotten up in the morning feeling refreshed and ready to take on the challenges of a new day? For most of us, this is the norm, but for some fatigue that is not relieved by sleep and dragging through the day is their reality. Adrenal fatigue results when the adrenal glands become tired and worn out after intense or prolonged stress. We have all heard of adrenaline or have experienced an 'adrenal rush'. This is a basic or primary response of the body to help us deal with stress. The adrenal response is referred to as 'the fight or flight' response. When there is real physical danger, a strong sympathetic nervous system response is triggered or initiated by the adrenal glands. These small triangular cap-shaped glands (weighing less than a grape) sit atop each kidney secrete hormones such as cortisol into the bloodstream. Changes in chemistry and physiology occur instantaneously causing the heart rate to increase, blood flow increases to your arms and legs (so that you can engage in battle or run away), pupils dilate increasing your visual focus, mental acuity sharpens, and the liver releases sugar to be burned as energy. The whole body sharpens and focuses to deal with the stress or conflict at hand. This is a powerful and necessary physiologic response designed to ensure our survival.

However, we are not designed to cope with intense stress continually. Imagine for a moment that you are walking through the forest. Suddenly you catch a glimpse of a mountain lion. Soon you realize that you are being stalked. You go into a full blown sympathetic adrenaline response. You raise your pack above your head (making you looker larger than you are) and begin shouting aggressive threatening tones as you carefully make it back to your car. Once you are safe, your heart begins to settle down, but you are exhausted and justifiably so. You notice something interesting though. As you recount your adventure to friends, you find your heart again begins to pound and the adrenaline begins to flow. Retelling your tale is exhausting. While few of us experience threatening episodes with mountain lions, we do experience stress. Whether the stress is a real physical danger, a perceived threat or something imagined, the body responds the same. You may be working with a supervisor or with deadlines that your body interprets the same as physical danger. Couple your daily stress with inadequate sleep, a poor diet and then a few episodes of intense or prolonged stress or an illness and your adrenal glands can become fatigued or exhausted. The paramount symptom is fatigue that is not relieved by sleep. You may look and act relatively normal with Adrenal Fatigue, yet you live with a general sense of unwellness, tiredness or 'gray' feelings. People suffering from Adrenal Fatigue often have to use coffee, colas and other stimulants to get going in the morning and to prop themselves up during the day.

Adrenal fatigue can wreak havoc with your life. Adrenal Fatigue can lead to conditions such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Fibromyalgia but often begins as a growing sense of tiredness or lack of enthusiasm for life. With each increment of reduction in adrenal function, every organ and system in your body is more profoundly affected. Changes occur in your carbohydrates, proteins and fat metabolism, fluid and electrolyte balance, heart and cardiovascular system, and even your sex drive. Your body does its best to make up for under-functioning adrenal glands, but it does so at a price.

The main purpose of the adrenal glands is to enable your body to deal with stress from every possible source, ranging from injury and disease to work and relationship problems. These glands largely determine the energy of your body's responses to every change in your internal or external environment. Whether they signal attack, retreat or surrender, every cell responds accordingly, and you feel the results. It is through the actions of the adrenal hormones that your body is able to mobilize its resources to escape or fight off danger (stress) and survive. In a more primitive society, that could mean being able to run away quickly, fight or pursue an enemy or game, endure long periods of physical challenge and deprivation. In modern society, these same responses are triggered by such circumstances such as a difficult boss, air pollution, family quarrels, financial problems, too little sleep, illness or overindulgence in or sensitivities to food or drugs.

If your adrenal function is low, your body cannot respond and adapt properly to these stresses, which leads to a variety of physical and psychological health problems. And sadly our current system of medical healthcare is designed more to treat and manage symptoms, rather than rebuild and correct the underlying problems. Adrenal fatigue is often at the beginning of a domino effect of health issues and leads to;

• hypothyroidism,
  
• weight gain,
  
• constipation
  
• digestive problems, 
  
• chronic candida yeast infections.

The adrenal glands secrete many hormones that affect how we use carbohydrates, fats and proteins in our diet. Often the person with adrenal fatigue will store fat rather than burn it. Blood sugar regulation will be off resulting in hypoglycemia. Heart and digestive problems can result from low adrenal hormone output. The adrenal glands become the primary source of sex hormones after mid-life in men and women, as such, adrenal fatigue often results in a diminished sex drive. Weight gain and a under active thyroid are very often the secondary result of Adrenal Fatigue.

Signs of Adrenal Fatigue

• Fatigue that is not relieved by sleep
• Tired for no reason
• Trouble getting up in the morning even when you go to bed at a reasonable hour.
• Feeling rundown or overwhelmed
• Can't bounce back from stress or illness
• Crave salty and sweet snacks
• Need coffee, cola, sweets or salty snacks to get moving or keep going
• Trouble sleeping
• Feeling best only after 6 PM
• Oscillating Pupil - shine a flashlight in your eye (in a mirror). The pupil should constrict. If it constricts but then dilates (while the light is still in the eye). Constricts - dilates - constricts - dilates. This is a sign of adrenal fatigue.
• Blood pressure dropping slightly when compared from sitting to standing. Take it sitting and then immediately as you stand (don't remove the cuff). This is why you may get dizzy or lightheaded if to stand up quickly.

Adrenal Fatigue affects 80% of Americans at some point in their lives. Sometimes it is temporary and lasts only a few days. At other times it can be debilitating and last for years. The key to recovery is to focus on supporting, strengthening and rebuilding the body and the adrenal glands rather than further stimulating the body and trying to manage your symptoms. The good news is that by supporting and rebuilding, we can dramatically improve your tiredness and fatigue as you are restored to health.

Recommendations for Adrenal Recovery

Diet/Nutrition:

Avoid:

• All processed foods. - Foods with chemical sounding names on the label
• Foods high is carbohydrates (sweets, treats - anything with white sugar or white flour)
• Foods containing hydrogenated fats - avoid soy oil, canola oil and any other processed oil.
• Caffeine (coffee, black tea, cocoa, chocolate, soft drinks)

Emphasize:

• Fresh and fermented vegetables and fruits
• Raw local honey
• Celtic Sea Salt
• Organic healthy meats and Fish
• Organic dairy products (milk, yogurt, cheese) - preferably fermented like yogurt or kefir
• Organic butter and cream - These healthy fats are necessary for rebuilding adrenal function
• Organic free-range eggs

Your diet must be nutrient dense and free from toxins and impurities. Your weight will stabilize by eating nutrient dense fats such as butter, coconut oil, olive oil, and organic eggs. Always purchase the best quality organic foods from local sources, if you can. This is the time to nourish your body and stay off of deprivation, nutrient restrictive diets. Now is not the time to adhere to a strict vegetarian diet.

Using Essential Oils For Immediate relief:

Apply the following topically over the kidney area (lower back on each side of the spine):

•  Blend 1 - 2 drops Clove with 1 drop Rosemary with a carrier oil such as olive oil.

•  Or also consider - Pine, Cypress, or Geranium

 •  Drive in the oils by applying a warm compress and allow it to warm the area for a period of time

Stress reducing oils:

·    Citrus oils; Lemon, Orange, Grapefruit, Tangerine, - Ylang Ylang, Roman Chamomile, Frankincense, Lavender.

·    Also we suggest Sandalwood and a combination that has been found very powerful for stress reduction is; - Bergamot, Roman Chamomile, and Frankincense that mixed together give a very pleasing aroma.  Using 1 drop of each mixed together apply to the bottoms of the feet, the back of the neck, the temples and/or inhale the aroma.  This blend has been found will reduce stress immediately.

Supplements:

• Jurassic Green  - by Dr. Christopher's Original Formulas   This special blend of certified organic Alfalfa, Barley and Kamut is packed full of phyto-nutrients. Our live and active human bodies require and thrive on live and active whole foods and whole food dietary supplements
  
• Adrenal Formula - Used historically to help promote the overall health of the adrenal glands and other assisting glandular systems. Also, this formula consists of a synergistic blend of herbs to help promote homeostasis of the adrenal system which benefits the whole body.
  
• Raw Adrenal  .
  
• Fisol® Fish Oil by Natures Way-For Omega 3 Fatty Acids and Vitamins A, D & E - Carlson Norwegian Cod Liver Oil is the best in both taste and quality.
• Lypo-Spheric™ Vitamin C - gently slip across the intestinal wall and into the blood. That's because they are able to completely bypass a very restrictive nutrient transport system that radically limits the bioavailability of all non-liposome encapsulated forms of vitamin C.
• Celtic Sea Salt - one good healthy pinch in water daily for mineral/electrolyte support
• Glandular Adrenal Supplement - take 6 tablets daily divided into 2 or 3 doses. This will provide your adrenal glands with real adrenal tissue to use to rebuild your own adrenals. We like using Drenatrophin PMG by Standard Process.

Support for Associated Conditions that are often secondary to Adrenal Fatigue:

Hypothyroidism (under active Thyroid gland)

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