Adrenal fatigue is a bit of a phenomenon where your adrenals are overtaxed and can no longer provide optimal service to your body. The adrenal glands, sitting atop your kidneys, are the powerhouses of your hormones and the key element to coordinating nearly every hormone in your body, which is essential in keeping your body happy and healthy.

In terms of prescription medications to help heal your adrenals, the options are fairly limited. If certain levels of hormones produced by your adrenal glands are too low, like really low, on blood tests, your prescriber may put you on some sort of hormone replacement like an oral steroid (i.e. prednisone or hydrocortisone). Bioidentical hormones may be another option. Steroids or bioidentical hormones are hardly solving the problem though, they’re just masking it!.

Following is a list of lifestyle changes mixed with natural supplements, vitamins, minerals or herbs that can help your adrenals heal, leading to restored energy, balanced emotions, and a decrease in adrenal fatigue symptoms. You may not want to take every herb, supplement, or vitamin listed, but at least you have some options to take to your prescriber, naturopath, or holistic doctor so together you can come up with a fabulous adrenal healing regimen for you.

Here ya go!

1. Learn to say no to things that don’t feel good to do. This will decrease stress in your life, which is a major cause of adrenal fatigue.
2. Don’t watch the news, it only leads to fear and stress which tax the adrenal glands.
3. Go to bed before 11PM. Staying up later than that leads to a surge of cortisol, which can cause further sleep disruption. Lack of sleep =more stress!
4. Increase water intake. It’s possible your body is not adequately retaining enough water when your adrenals are not working sufficiently. Taking a multi trace mineral supplement to help your cells absorb the water better may be a good idea.
5. Increase salt intake. We’re talking Himalayan Sea Salt or Celtic salt, not regular table salt, for the same reason above –your body may not be retaining it well enough. Add an extra dash or two of salt to your food or water throughout your day. Do so especially if you crave salt. Listen to your body to see what feels best!
6. Licorice –Take 200-400mg of this herb (especially in the form of an extract) to help slow down the breakdown of adrenal hormones, which keeps them at healthy levels. **Do not take licorice if you have high blood pressure level.**
7. Load up on B Vitamins, especially b5 (pantothenic acid; 100-150mg daily) and b6 (pyridoxine) –They are food for the adrenals! Vitamin b12 is also great for increasing energy levels.
8. Decrease inflammation in the body – take omega-3 fatty acids, curcumin, and vitamin C if inflammation in the body is an issue. The highest levels of vitamin C in the body are found in the adrenal glands (and the brain) and it is crazy essential for healthy adrenal function. Take at least 1,000mg of vitamin C daily -3,000mg daily is cool too! J Also, figure out which foods you’re sensitive to and cut them out of your diet.
9. Supplement with important nutrients –Vitamin D, selenium, zinc, and magnesium (150mg-500mg at night) are all vital to proper adrenal function.
10. Cut out excess sugar from your diet.
11. Use adaptogenic herbs –These help balance the efforts of the adrenal glands so they don’t have to work so hard and gives them a chance to recharge. Examples of these herbs are Rhodiola, Eleutherococcus, Holy Basil, and Ashwagandha.
12. Identify adrenal stressors and remove them from your life –Processed foods, pollutants (i.e. toxic cleaners), medications, fake light (start your day with natural sunlight!), and on and on.
13. Reduce stress by building rest into your day. Maybe take a restorative yoga class, meditate, or at least set aside some time to just be with yourself and breath.
14. Take adrenal glandulars –this is a type of supplement or extract that comes from the adrenal glands of pigs, cows, and sheep. The hope is the extract will work just like your body’s adrenal glands do. Clearly this is not an option for vegetarian, vegan, or probably even Kosher patients!
15. Change your perspective –whatever that means to you! For me, it means to lighten up and not take life so seriously. I could probably do my body good by not trying to be perfect in everything I do…it’s stressful!

Various combination formulas containing many of the vitamins, minerals and herbs above are available on the market to help heal your adrenals. I have not tried any of them personally, so I can’t give you my personal feedback on any of them, but if you ask your holistic doctor or naturopath about a formula that could work for you, I bet they can help you out!

I know the above list may be a little bit of mish-mash for you, so if you want me to be more specific about any of the items above or if you have any questions at all, feel free to use the comments section below or use this submit a question form to contact me.

Time to heal those adrenals!

Talk soon,

Cate