Tired, Stress, Fatigue
"The era of the Adrenal glands."
Ever wonder why no matter how much sleep you get, you still seem to be tired? Or why after having children your energy levels do not return to your pre-child rearing state? Or maybe you have gone through a prolonged period of stress, and even though it is over, your body is still worn out, and you feel a fatigue beyond what's normal.
"Welcome to the 21st century and what I am calling the age of adrenal exhaustion."
Your energy, your body's ability to stave off fatigue is centred around a tiny elf-capped shaped organ sitting above the kidneys- the adrenal glands. Apart from producing well known substances like adrenalin, it functions each day to produce energy hormones in response to your needs.
Think of these hormones as small messengers that are sent out to wander the body via the bloodstream. Their role is to pull proteins, fats and glucose out of storage. Once out of storage they enter the cells of your body and are converted into energy. In an ideal world with plenty of sleep, recreation, laughter, love, friends, work, diets rich in plants and fruits the adrenals chug away in the background of your body chemistry keeping your energy levels up.
However, there is a biological catch. For the adrenals to function at optimum they need time to replenish. Energy drinks, coffee, caffeinated soft drinks, alcohol, and smoking, all appear to give a boost of energy, but they work by stimulating the adrenal glands and over time can deplete them to the point that no amount of stimulants seem to work. Your adrenal glands replenish when your body is at rest. No rest and, overtime the adrenal glands may subtly become less and less effective. Understand, I am not writing about an obviously stressful situation. Soldiers returning from the Vietnam War suffering from Post Traumatic Syndrome were burnt out and displayed major symptoms of adrenal fatigue.
What I am writing about is more insidious. Bills, traffic, weather, the economy, ongoing family situations, workloads, 7 day a week opening hours, growing children needing more and more attention, minor chronic health concerns, marital spats, prices, instant messaging, increased pace of life- all mean your brain and body chemistry is responding more than ever before, and are needing more and more energy. And guess what takes the brunt of this? Yes, the adrenal gland.
So given it's a challenge in todays environment to grab a day or two, switch off, and just let yourself be rejuvenated, what can you do?
- Be honest with how you are and your true energy levels. A person at optimum health should have plenty of energy most of the time, with the odd day here or there feeling like they want to stay in bed. If you don't, chances are your adrenals are struggling to replenish themselves.
- What is draining you? Your work and relationships should pick you up not tear you down.
- Relax: Turn the TV off, read for the sheer enjoyment, take more beach walks, walk to work once a week, don't read the newspaper for a few days, switch off your cell phone
- Supplements: Consider using herbal adaptogens along with supplemental vitamins and minerals. 50 years ago researches noted that certain plants staved off the effects of stress and prolonged the body's ability to produce energy. India and China have used plants such as Gotu kola, Withania and Rehmania to increase what they termed 'chi', or energy. And while they never discovered the adrenal glands, they knew these plants worked on an energy centre located on the kidneys to keep a person refreshed and full of energy.
- By Shane A Mason - ND. Dip Herb Med.- Get in touch with Shane