Adrenal Dysfunction

Your adrenal glands play a central role in your endocrine system when it comes to regulating and reacting to your body’s stress levels. When they are functioning properly, you are able to effectively accommodate and react to the day-to-day stresses that you encounter.

The Adrenal gland is part of the HPA-Axis (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal). The hypothalamus is the part of your brain that senses and recognizes stress. When stressed your hypothalamus that signals the pituitary gland, and with both of them triggered, it “turns on” the adrenal stress response signaling your stress hormones. The adrenal glands secrete more than 50 hormones including cortisol and adrenaline, and will become over activated during times of increased stress.

Underlying many chronic illnesses, including Autoimmune, thyroid, diabetes, cardiovascular, chronic pain, etc.. is a broken stress response caused by an impaired limbic system.

The limbic system, sometimes referred to as the “feeling and reactive brain”, is made up of a series of structures within the brain including the hippocampus, hypothalamus, and amygdala. It is this system that controls our internal, physiological and emotional reactions to the stressful stimuli that we encounter every day.

When impaired – often as a result of trauma, prolonged stress, or infection – the limbic system can cause us to become overly anxious, overly irritated and to just generally overreact to everything around us. Not only does this take a toll on us emotionally, the limbic system influences the immune system, the endocrine system (responsible for our hormones), and the autonomic nervous system, leaving us in a state of perpetual, emotional and physiological stress that affects our immunity and impedes healing.

What Causes Limbic System Impairment?

  • Long or intense periods of stress
  • Viruses
  • Emotional trauma
  • Chronic infection
  • Inflammation
  • Exposure to chemicals
  • Toxic mold

What Are the Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue?

  • Anxiety and depression
  • Over reactive stress response
  • Feeling overly emotional and/or experiencing more negative feelings than usual
  • Fatigue/low energy
  • Brain fog
  • Altered sensory perception
  • Impaired cognition
  • Poor memory
  • Inflammation
  • Decreased ability to detoxify
  • Increased sensitivities to food, chemicals

It is no coincidence that many of these symptoms overlap with the symptoms of impaired immune system, chronic disease patterns, autoimmunity, etc…

In addition to overactivated adrenal and limbic stress response, a great deal of stress affecting Adrenals and HPA-Axis also comes from invisible and internal factors such as:

  • Blood sugar imbalances
  • A diet high in sugars and starches
  • Systemic inflammation
  • Autoimmunity
  • Food intolerances
  • Exposure to environmental toxins
  • Emotional conflict
  • Chronic pain

Understanding The Systemic Effect of The Stress Response

When this fight or flight state becomes chronic due to our chronic, prolonged exposure to stress this constant state of high cortisol damages tissues in the body and the brain and is linked to:

  • Suppressed immunity
  • Depression
  • Insomnia
  • Increased belly fat
  • Insulin resistance and diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • Low energy
  • Heart problems
  • More health issues

Helping The Body To Reverse The Stress Response, Restore HPA-Axis and Adrenal Health, Build-Up Strong Immune Resilience.

1. Adrenal adaptogens to support stress response:

  • Rhodiola is an adaptogenic plant that has demonstrated central nervous system enhancement, and antidepressant properties. Rhoiola has also shown to enhance cognitive function and reduce mental fatigue, as well as support immune function.
  • Ashwagandha is also known as withania somnifera. It is a popular herbal adaptogen in Ayurvedic medicine. It has adaptogens – like glucocorticoid activity – which makes it so helpful in adrenal stress syndromes.
  • Holy Basil Leaf Extract is an adaptogen that supports an increased sense of well-being. Studies have shown that holy basil prevents the increase of plasma level of cortisol induced exposure to both chronic and acute stresses, supports normal blood sugar levels, modulates HPA activity, and immunomodulatory activities.
  • Pantethine (B5) and B Vitamins. They are vital cofactors in the manufacturing of adrenal hormones. Specifically pantethine has been shown to tone down excess release of cortisol in times of stress and enhance the function of cortisol. People in adrenal stress tend to have a greater loss of B vitamins.

2. Mindfulness

3. Adequate amount of sleep

4. Exercise

5. Journaling

6. Heartmath to shift to a state of coherence

7. Grounding

Our Method of Healing

We Find The Root Causes For True Healing

Chronic illness can present with different symptoms and challenges so there is no “cookie-cutter” treatment that works for everyone. Instead, our personalized protocols are individualized with a person’s specific focus. This way we are able to address each person’s unique root cause through our functional medicine approach.

If You Are Tired Of Getting The Run Around, And You Are Ready To Commit To Your Best Life- Let’s Connect!

schedule your no-obligation discovery call by applying through the button below

Apply For A Free Discovery Consultation