Adrenal fatigue: the 21st century disease
February 12, 2013
in the healthy way of life
by Holly E. Mullin
The adrenal glands are 2 round glands which sit above the kidneys, located just below the ribs, about 3-4 inches apart.
The role of these glands small but perfectly formed the most important in our relationship to our experience and our coping mechanisms when it comes to stress.
They produce a number of hormones essential to life, central nervous system and in particular the fight/flight/freeze response.
The hormones produced by the adrenal glands include: adrenaline, nor-adrenaline, cortisol, estrogen, testosterone, progesterone and DHEA.
These hormones regulate many activities of the organs and most relevant here, adrenaline and cortisol, as a branch of the sympathetic autonomic nervous system fires in our response to any threat: stress.
Physiologically, what happens during this activation to a stressful stimulus, is an increase in the production of glucose or sugar in the blood, which increases blood pressure and causes an increase in energy at the ends of the body, muscles, which initiates the system ready to flee or fight.
Symptoms of low adrenal glands are:
Extreme fatigue/exhaustion
Irritability
Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
Poor circulation
Poor digestion
Low blood pressure
Levels of sugar in the blood (hypoglycemic)
Apathy / depression
Low self asteem
Low endurance
Low libido
Muscle weakness
Aches & pains
Tendency to constipation
Weak immune system to fight infection
Extreme thirst and / or urination
And much more
The main causes of adrenal Fatigue can be:
Undue hardship: high levels of any number of recurring stress factors may have an effect exhausting on our adrenal glands. Physical stress of pollutants and chemical toxicity, especially when coupled with the poor nutrition has an effect exhausting physically on the adrenal glands. As well as mental, emotional and spiritual stress that can come from the family, relations or labour related issues. Excessive stimulation, especially for children, work hard and fast, ways of life based on fear, of high stress are also common causes. Other stress factors, living mostly in cities, can be noise, mobile phones, electromagnetic pollution, microwaves, televisions and computers which all emit strong electric fields and disrupt our own natural electromagnetic field.
Nutritional deficiencies: another common cause is malnutrition. The body needs levels much more adequate food under high levels of stress. A diet rich in carbohydrates and low in protein can have an already over worked very exhausting effect of the adrenal glands. Most plans are deficient in foods that nourish the adrenal glands. It's B-complex vitamins, vitamin A, C & E, manganese, zinc, chromium, selenium and other trace elements. The culture of food, preparation and transport that all add to the level of nutrition, keep our food. Most soils are depleted of essential trace elements and further processing and refinement of food leaves our food at once all the poor, nutritionally.
Stimulants: Stimulants are located as one of the main causes of damage to the adrenal glands. Coffee, sugar and alcohol are among the most common stimulants that literally "whip" the adrenal glands of their vital hormonal activity. Legal and recreational drugs or stimulants also play a role in forcing our adrenal to outperform at inappropriate times, day and night. Other excitable behavior such as anger, rage, arguing, disturbing, strong music and even movies with high levels of suspense or fear can affect the adrenal glands overworked negatively. Indeed, any "exciting" activity perform the exercise with sex addiction, which creates a temporary "high", can force the adrenals to overproduce and secret hormones when they should be at rest. Over time, this weakens the adrenal glands and leads to fatigue and burnout later.
Use of stimulants may also be due to adrenal exhaustion: Stimulants often look very attractive for those who are in a State of adrenal exhaustion already. These stimulants Act to lift a person in a State of exhaustion during a short period of time, allowing them to feel better temporarily. This is what adds to drug addiction and why often it can be difficult to break these habits. It is safe to say that most persons with addictive what whatsoever, including cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, sex, anger and legal recreational drug has certain degree of adrenal insufficiency.
Other causes may be:
Toxic or chemical overload
Chronic infections
A poor response to stress
If you think you suffer from all or part of the above, then you would like to know what you can do to improve this depleted state.
The first and the best step to start with a detoxification process.
A simple yang based regime (70-80% cooked veg, 15% protein, complex carbohydrates of 7-8%, 5% of material fat good. 0% simple carbohydrates - fruits, fruit juices, sugar, 0%, 0% wheat products refined/fast food)
6 or 7 mineral supplements. You might consider hair mineral analysis.
Plenty of rest
Regular relaxation and meditation daily.
Changes in your state of mind: forgiveness, letting go, positive attitude, gratitude, spirituality and prayer all greatly accelerate the healing.
http://www.breathedetox.com/
Read more about Holly Mullins Material:
http://www.breathedetox.com/
http://www.breathedetox.com/programmes/Detox-retreat-UK/