Sick And Tired Of Being Sick And Tired?

Are You Sick And Tired,
Of Being Sick And Tired?

man covering face with both hands while sitting on bench

The Adrenals' Roll In Exhaustion

Many of us live what we consider a “normal” life. With this life and the natural progression of change, comes happiness, sadness, excitement, and STRESS. The stress can come from a normal day at work, school, traffic, fights or arguments with others, oneself, etc. Wherever the stress comes from, the bottom line is that it is the adrenal glands regulating and taking most of the toll that stress takes on us. And if you experience lots of stress daily, you can be sure your adrenals are taking a hit.

  The adrenal glands are delicate glands that sit atop the kidneys. Though they may be small, they are powerful regulators of stress and blood sugar by producing/excreting hormones called cortisol and aldosterone. The adrenals also regulate blood pressure and will reflect the state of health they are in by where our energy levels are at. That being said, if we have no energy and always feel exhausted, there’s a good chance it could be from adrenal exhaustion. Once the adrenals are exhausted, it is the heart that will pick up the slack and start working much harder than it needs to in order for our bodies to keep going. Long term adrenal-fatigue can actually lead to heart problems or other disturbances in the body, so it is important to take care of them and reduce stress.

If the adrenals are in bad shape, this is usually due to lack of nutrition, little exercise, or poor diet.  Luckily we all have something called DNA (our genetic blueprint) from which the body grows. With this cellular DNA memory contained within our each and every cell, the body has a map and knows how to repair itself to an original state when given enough of the right “tools” to do its’ job of rebuilding.

5 Herbs For Top-Knotch Adrenal Glands

sliced lemon fruit


ASHWAGANDHA 

One of the best “tools” for exhausted, tired, stressed, over-worked adrenal glands is Ashwagandha. Also known by its’ botanical name, Withania somnifera, it has proven to be a powerful tool in many clinical studies. Its’ anti-stress properties were confirmed in a study using adult albino rats and a cold water swimming stress test. The results indicated that the animals given Ashwagandha showed better stress tolerance and endurance. (1) In another Chronic-Stress study, Ashwagandha extract was tested for its’ ability to attenuate some effects of Chronic-Stress (CS). The extract able to decrease the number and severity of CS-induced ulcers, reverse CS-induced inhibition of male sexual behavior, and inhibit the adverse effects of CS on retention of learned tasks. Ashwagandha was shown to also reverse CS-induced immunosuppression. (2) Ashwagandha is traditionally consumed in its’ liquid tincture or extract form as well as in softgels/capsules.


LICORICE ROOT

Another great tool for adrenal health and stress management is Licorice Root. The steroidal (cortisone-like substance) content of Licorice aids in the restoration of the adrenal glands. Glycyrrhizin has a similar chemical structure to corticosteroids released by the adrenals, which helps to stimulate the excretion of cortin hormones by the adrenal cortex. Without the excretion of these hormones, we would be unable to eat, metabolize food, regulate stress, or be alive. Licorice root is traditionally consumed by tea, liquid extract, or capsules. Some even chew on pieces of the dried root throughout the day for its’ many benefits and sweet taste!


ASTRAGALUS ROOT

Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus) has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years. It was often combined with other herbs to strengthen the body against disease. Astragalus is called an adaptogen, meaning it helps protect the body against various stresses, including physical, mental, or emotional stress. When used in a study, a formula containing astragalus as a major ingredient significantly reduced fatigue in athletes (3) This root is traditionally used by consuming a tea made from it that also includes marshmallow root for added soothing nourishment and digestion. It can also be found as a liquid tincture or extract and even as capsules containing the dried root within.


ELEUTHERO ROOT

Sometimes called “Siberian ginseng”, Eleuthero has traditionally been used to  increase energy, longevity, and vitality. It has similar properties to that of other true ginseng species in which it is an adaptogen/stress regulator. It has been shown to effectively reduce chronic stress in military personnel suffering from major trauma and PTSD. (4) Eleuthero is usually taken in its’ liquid extract or tincture form.


HOLY BASIL

Holy Basil (also know as Tulsi) is recognized as gentle and safe herb for medicinal use. It has been used for thousands of years. The overall botanical blueprint of Holy Basil makes it a choice herb for improving resilience to stress, recovery from chronic stress, and prevention of physical/mental changes caused by stress. It provides support for the endocrine system and glycemic control. (5) Its’ stress relieving properties were proven in one study involving mice. Holy Basil demonstrated the lowering of high stress-induced cortisol and glucose level through the use of its’ botanical extract. (6) The traditional consumption of holy basil is through tea, liquid tincture/extract, or capsule form.

 (All of these herbs can be found at your local health shop or where supplements are sold. If you do not have a shop in your area that sells any of these, I recommend buying them online from MountainRoseHerbs.com because they have the highest quality organic and wildcrafted herbs)

Water! Water! Water!

splash of water in drinking glass with sliced lemon

It may seem cliche that I’m mentioning to drink plenty of water… However, when consuming medicine (both botanical and pharmaceutical), it’s super important to make sure our body has enough fresh water to absorb the medicine and carry it where it needs to go. If we are dehydrated or don’t enough have water in us, that automatically sets us up for poor digestion and absorption of medicinals. The various bodily fluids that allow our organs to function, carry nutrients to cells, and  remove waste are ALL comprised of WATER. When our bodies have plenty of water, this ensures that nutrients get to the cells that need them and that waste is properly removed. Distilled water is the most efficient of any water to carry/absorb the maximum percentage of any medicinals we are taking. Because distilled water is pure H2O with no other added minerals present, it is called a “hungry water”-meaning it is ready to absorb whatever it touches first because it is empty. Empty water is important because that means the water is not already full or busy holding other minerals. Distilled AKA empty water allows for not only purer extracts/tea but also an average of 30% more efficiency and absorption of anything. It is also 30% more efficient in removing waste and toxins throughout the whole body! 

No Quick Fix

No one will tell you that there is a quick fix or way to completely delete stress from reality. Whether we like it or not, stress of many kinds is part of every day life and there is nothing we can do about it. What we can do is change how we relate to it or even help our body deal with it. The herbals mentioned above are just a couple aids. Remember once again, herbs are not a quick fix or magic pill. It took time for our bodies to break down and it will also take time for it them to build back up. So have patience with the process and yourself! In combination with a wholesome diet, regular exercise, laughter, sunshine, and quality sleep/meditation, you can finally start to feel relaxed, rejuvanated, and refreshed! 

References

  1.  Anti-stressor effect of Withania somnifera: Archana R, Namasivayam A.Department of Physiology, Dr ALM PG. Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani, India. J Ethnopharmacol. 1999 Jan;64(1):91-3.
  2. ​​Bone K. Clinical Applications of Ayurvedic and Chinese Herbs. Monographs for the Western Herbal Practitioner. Australia: Phytotherapy Press; 1996:137-141.
  3. ​Chen KT, Su CH, Hsin LH, et al. Reducing fatigue of athletes following oral administration of huangqi jianzhong tang. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2002 Aug;23(8):757-61
  4. ​Yehuda R, Brand S, Yang RK Plasma neuropeptide Y concentrations in combat exposed veterans: relationship to trauma exposure, recovery from PTSD, and coping . Biol Psychiatry. (2006)
  5. ​R., R., P., M., V., P., K. (2011, October 3). Efficacy of an Extract of Ocimum tenuiflorum (OciBest) in the Management of General Stress: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health. Retrieved June 15, 2016, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3185238/
  6. Gholap, S. and Kar, A. Hypoglycaemic effects of some plant extracts are possibly mediated through inhibition in corticosteroid concentration. Pharmazie 2004;59(11):876-878.

​Disclaimer:
 The information on ThirdEyeHerbals.weebly.com provided by Jenavieve Hawks M.H. is intended exclusively for educational purposes and should not be construed as legal or medical advice. In no way shape or form is this information to replace that of a medical doctor.  

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