It is no secret that many people struggle with low energy and feel as though they are burning the candle at both ends. There are many things that can contribute to this, including our modern-day lifestyle that encourages constant stimulation and work. If you have been feeling particularly fatigued as of late, you may be struggling with something called adrenal fatigue.
Keep reading to find out what adrenal fatigue is, the risk factors involved, and the natural treatment options available.
What Is Adrenal Fatigue?
Alternative health practitioners use the term adrenal fatigue to describe the symptoms related to long-term exposure to stressful situations. The adrenal glands sit on top of your kidneys and produce adrenal and noradrenaline hormones. These are hormones that help to prepare your body with your fight-or-flight response.
It is important to understand that adrenal fatigue is a lay term that is applied to a collection of non-specific symptoms. It is not recognized as an actual medical diagnosis but rather a term to label a collection of symptoms.
Adrenal Fatigue Risk Factors
A lot more research is needed to fully understand adrenal fatigue and how it develops in each individual. However, it is believed that this can happen when the adrenal glands are chronically overused. This can often occur when someone is in a state of emotional, mental, or physical stress for long periods of time.
Because of the risk factors related to adrenal fatigue, there are many people who may be at risk of developing this condition. For example, those who work high-stress jobs or have stressful mental health conditions may be at a higher risk of developing adrenal fatigue.
It is also important to check for underlying health issues if you suspect that you have adrenal fatigue. For instance, iron deficiency and hyperthyroidism can both present themselves as adrenal fatigue since they cause chronic tiredness.
You also want to be aware of adrenal insufficiency, which is also called Addison's disease. This is a very serious medical condition, and many believe that adrenal fatigue is a mild form of adrenal insufficiency.
Is Adrenal Fatigue a Serious Condition?
If you believe you have adrenal fatigue, you may be worried about what this means for your health. The good news is that adrenal fatigue on its own is not considered to be a serious health condition. This is a collection of symptoms that usually contribute to feeling chronically tired and generally unwell.
Every person's health is different, so you may be affected by adrenal fatigue in different ways, resulting in slightly different symptoms. Even though adrenal fatigue is not serious or life-threatening, it can have a significant impact on your quality of life.
Those with adrenal fatigue may struggle to work traditional working hours or maintain social connections. It can also be emotionally taxing since many people do not take adrenal fatigue seriously and may brush off your symptoms.
Adrenal Fatigue Symptoms
Because adrenal fatigue is not a firm medical condition, it is usually diagnosed through a collection of symptoms. The main sign of adrenal fatigue is general tiredness that does not go away even if you are resting enough. Some other symptoms include:
● Trouble falling asleep
● Difficulty getting up in the morning
● Weight gain
● Salt and sugar cravings
● Dizziness when moving too quickly
● Moodiness and irritability
● Afternoon headaches
To accurately understand whether or not you have adrenal fatigue, you need to make sure you are getting adequate sleep. Adrenal fatigue is only a concern if no amount of rest or sleep improves your energy or fatigue.
Herbal Treatments For Adrenal Fatigue
Aside from resting and trying to reduce your stress levels, there are herbal treatments you can use to treat adrenal fatigue. There is no one-size-fits-all solution since everyone will react differently, which is why you may have to do a bit of experimenting. Here are some examples of the most popular adrenal herbs you can use:
Eleuthero
A fantastic adaptogenic herb to try for adrenal fatigue includes eleuthero. This herb has stimulating qualities that help to boost your energy levels and balance the nervous system. It can also help improve physical performance and support the adrenal gland function for better adrenal health.
Ashwagandha
One of the main herbs many people use to treat the symptoms of adrenal fatigue is Ashwagandha, which is an adaptogenic herb. This herb helps to reduce cortisol levels that are directly related to stress and anxiety.
Keep in mind that this is not an herb for everyone since some people do experience unpleasant side effects. You also want to be careful when combining it with any type of medication, which is a rule you should apply to any kind of herbal treatment.
Holy Basil
Much like Ashwagandha, holy basil is an adaptogenic herb that can help to rebalance your cortisol levels. It also supports healthy inflammation levels, which helps to rebalance hormones that can contribute to adrenal fatigue.
Licorice Root
Licorice root is another herbal remedy that plays a vital role in balancing cortisol levels. It is a common option for supporting the adrenal glands, whether you want to prevent adrenal fatigue or treat it.
Lifestyle Changes For Adrenal Fatigue
Aside from using herbal treatments for adrenal fatigue, you can also make certain lifestyle changes to see positive results. This includes making sure you are adequately hydrated throughout the day by drinking plenty of water or herbal tea. Limit any caffeinated drinks since these have the opposite effect and also work as a diuretic.
It is also important to make sure you are eating a clean and healthy diet to support your adrenal gland function. Many symptoms are directly related to what you are putting in your body, so you want to prioritize clean and nutritious foods that include a variety of vegetables, grains, and fruit.
Adrenal Fatigue Tinctures
Treating adrenal fatigue with herbal remedies can feel overwhelming if you don't know where to start. That is where tinctures come in, as these are easy to use and provide a concentrated solution.
At Walnut Creek Botanicals, we provide an Adrenal Support Tincture that is perfect for those who have adrenal fatigue or want to protect against it. It contains a combination of adrenal-supporting herbs such as Eleuthero root, Fresh Milky Oat seed, Schisandra berry, Sarsaparilla root, Licorice root, Fresh Holy Basil herb, Ginger root.
If you are interested in getting into tincture-making yourself, we also provide an Adrenal Formula Kit that allows you to craft your own adrenal support tincture. This includes Hawthorn berries, Licorice root, Ginger root, Cayenne fruit, Eleuthrococcus root, Lobelia leaf, Gotu Kola. Both options are great if you want to support your adrenal glands in a natural and gentle way.
Before taking any kind of herbal remedy, make sure you do your research on each individual herb to make sure you understand the side effects and any medication interactions they have.