Worn out, exhausted, not feeling like yourself and lab results still read as ‘normal’? You could be experiencing adrenal concerns, or more specifically a sub-clinical condition called adrenal fatigue.
Fatigue, body aches, unexplained weight loss, low blood pressure, light-headedness, loss of body hair, low libido, among others are common symptoms of adrenal fatigue. According to Dr. James Wilson, N.D., D.C., Ph. D., “it is estimated that up to 80% of adult Americans suffer some level of adrenal fatigue.” In fact, adrenal fatigue may be a precursor to a host of other hormonal imbalances in your body, including thyroid malfunction.
With levels this predominant we feel the need to explore how the adrenals affect holistic health, why imbalances are so common and ways to restore their proper functioning.
What are the adrenal glands?
Your adrenals are triangular shaped glands located above the kidneys (they have been referred to as kidney hats!). They produce hormones that regulate metabolism, blood pressure, stress response and immune function.
The key hormones produced by the adrenal glands include:
- Cortisol (a stress hormone)
- Aldosterone (regulates blood pressure and balances electrolyte levels of sodium and potassium)
- DHEA (a precursor hormone that converts into other hormones such as estrogen and testosterone)
- Epinephrine (adrenaline)
- Noreprinephrine (noradrenaline)
Types of Adrenal Diseases
Adrenal disorders are the result of the glands producing too much or not enough of certain hormones. Adrenal imbalances affect the way your body functions. There are different conditions related to adrenal glands. Some of the most common include:
- Addison’s Disease – also called adrenal insufficiency. In this disorder, you don’t produce enough cortisol and/or aldosterone.
- Cushing’s Syndrome – in this disorder, levels of cortisol are too high.
- Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia – a genetic condition where the glands do not produce cortisol well.
- Hyperaldosteronism – in this condition, the body produces too much aldosterone.
This article focuses on adrenal insufficiency at various stages including the subclinical level of adrenal fatigue, which we see quite commonly in our clients.
Adrenals and Stress
The adrenal glands produce hormones, such as cortisol, that are responsible for the stress response. During times of acute stress, this response can help people respond appropriately in order to stay safe. However, long term chronic stress causes this response to stay activated for a prolonged period of time, disrupting the body and causing serious impacts on health.
- Chronic elevations of cortisol secretion can alter immune-system responses and lead to depression, anxiety or fear states, a loss of memory and altered executive (prefrontal cortex) functioning.
Ayurvedic Understanding of Adrenal Insufficiency
Adrenal insufficiency affects tissues throughout the entire body. It results in low Ojas, or compromised strength, vitality and immunity. From an Ayurvedic perspective, there are two types of adrenal insufficiency: air-type (vata) and air/fire-type (vata/pitta).
Air-Type (Vata)
Air element, or vata dosha, governs the nervous and endocrine systems, hence it plays the biggest role with the adrenal glands. The air element is cold, light, dry, mobile and erratic. Air has been in excess when adrenal fatigue is present and increases with excessive amounts of dry, cold foods, lifestyle of excessive travel and irregular habits along with stress and anxiety. Chronic moderate stress or sudden acute stress can result in severe exhaustion.
Air/Fire-Type (Vata/Pitta)
Air element will have the greatest impact on the adrenal glands. However, it can and often does mix with the fire element, or inflammation. Fire is hot, sharp, penetrating, intense and pungent. Inflammatory diet and lifestyle habits are often at the root of this condition and, from an Ayurvedic perspective, excess fire is also caused by too much spicy food and a tendency toward anger or rage. Air/fire-type adrenal fatigue is a condition of burn out.
Ayurvedic Approach to Treatment
Air-Type (Vata)
To bring balance to the air element we want to increase its opposite qualities through each of the five senses. As noted the air element is cold, light, dry, mobile and erratic. Therefore we want to increase the qualities of warm, heavy, moist, grounding, nutritive, slow and stable.
Lifestyle
- True rest is the most important part of treating adrenal insufficiency. Rest allows the body to recover maximum functioning of the adrenal gland.
- Reduce media, computers, cell phones and other devices that stimulate the senses. Mobile radiofrequency can significantly affect the functioning of the adrenals and production of stress hormones.
- Increase calming and grounding activities like tai chi, gentle walks in nature and grounding yoga poses.
- Quiet the mind with meditation.
- Balancing pranayama, or breath practices, when practiced regularly and consistently can significantly impact the positive function of your adrenals. Try our Alternate Nostril Breath practice.
- Learn proper sleep rhythms for your body type.
- Address dehydration with demulcent foods and teas that help to build rasa dhatu, or the waters of the body, in addition to drinking warm filtered water throughout the day.
- Prioritize self care by intentionally slowing down, learning to harness your energy, practicing Abhyanga and administering a daily Nasya oil.
Nutrition
- Implement an ojas-building diet.
- Eat whole fresh foods and eliminate processed sugars and processed foods.
- Eat small meals regularly to avoid hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) reactions.
- Reduce or eliminate caffeine.
- Naturally-occurring probiotics can aid in digestion and proper absorption of nutrients into the body. Try this Healing Miso Soup recipe!
Herbs
- Digestive herbs can help to regulate digestive fire and increase absorption of nutrients – a key factor in hormonal imbalance and your body’s optimal functioning! Helpful warming herbs that best suit air-types include: cumin, cinnamon, cloves, fenugreek and fresh ginger.
- Once digestive fire is stronger, rejuvenative herbs with adaptogenic properties can significantly help to restore your system: ashwagandha, shatavari, amalaki, haratiki, licorice, astragalus and oatstraw. Always consult an Ayurvedic practitioner to determine which herbs or herbal combination is best for you as some may have contraindications for your health needs.
Air/Fire-Type (Vata/Pitta)
The main difference in treating an air-type adrenal imbalance and an air/fire-type adrenal imbalance is to cool things down to help tame the flames of inflammation. Qualities to focus on include cool, heavy, stable, dense, moderate and slow.
Lifestyle
- In addition to true rest, explore new ways to approach life with less intensity and competition. This can involve cultivating compassion and gratitude through journaling and/or meditation.
- Spending time in nature reduces intensity and is grounding.
- Unstructured time-providing space where you are not expected to do anything balances an aggravated fire element. Because it can be difficult for a highly-productive and busy air/fire-type to slow down and disconnect, start in small time increments first (eg. 2 hours one morning or on a weekend). Then, slowly expand your capacity to be at peace and rest without distractions until you can spend days at a time without stimulation or self-sabotaging productivity.
Nutrition
- Follow the nutrition recommendations for air-types above but focus instead on cooling foods and spices. Try a Roasted Coconut Sesame Oatmeal that cools and calms the nerves, stimulates energy, builds stamina, relaxes the mind and is grounding.
Herbs
- Emphasize cooling spices such as coriander, fennel, mint, cilantro and cardamom.
- Once digestive fire is balanced, cooling tonic herbs can include shatavari, licorice, brahmi gotu kola, St. John’s Wort, gokshura and purnarnava. Always consult an Ayurvedic practitioner to determine which herbs or herbal combination is best for you as some may have contraindications for your health needs.
Seek Support
The endocrine system is a highly complex yet potentially easy-to-maintain web of interconnections, communication and homeostatic productivity. Generalized advice can help you get started on a path to recovery but the best and most effective treatments are custom-tailored to your unique you. Ayurvedic medicine is an individualized approach to health and wellbeing and there is no substitute for the personalized guidance of a trained and certified practitioner.
Article authored by Chloe Chaput, who is dedicated to her role as a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist (CAS) to work with women’s health, male and female fertility challenges, parents/caregivers, and children to address a variety of clinical health concerns at the root of their cause. Contact Path Wellbeing today to set up your appointment with Chloe Chaput, CAS.
The information contained within this article is for educational purposes only and should not replace the direct advice of a doctor or other qualified healthcare professional. Always consult a medical or other professional healthcare provider when considering a new health regime.
