Adrenal Fatigue Updated Part II

Part II

Healing the adrenals

Healing the adrenals can be a daunting task, or at least it may seem that way. Understand that healing the adrenals, or balancing any hormones, can take time; it is not a quick fix. After all, it took you some time to unbalance them, so you’ll have to hang in there with some trial and error to rebalance them. Again I must stress the importance of working in all realms – the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual to experience a complete rebalancing of anything in your body. We are multidimensional beings who require work in every dimension. This means your lifestyle will probably need to change.

But what is necessary for healing the physical body? Often a vicious cycle is created with the adrenal situation. If the adrenals are tired they don’t allow other systems in the body to work well, like digestion. If digestion is impaired, then constipation, lack of assimilation of nutrients, and weight gain can ensue. The weight gain can occur due to the lack of digestion which causes undigested food particles to enter the blood stream and deposit in undesirable places in the body. (those unwanted pounds!) Or, if digestion is not working efficiently, that very thing can weaken the adrenals and become a stressor for them. So you can see how easy it is to set up a vicious cycle that is hard to break. Digestive enzymes are in order as part of the adrenal restoration process.

Salt is vital for restoring adrenals to proper function. Now I’m not talking about table salt, which is simply sodium chloride, a chemical, which can cause high blood pressure among other things and offers nothing good for your body. You might think I’m referring to sea salt, but that isn’t the case either. Sea salt, taken from our polluted oceans, is still processed and does not include the necessary nutrients. But Himalayan salt, sometimes referred to as pink salt, includes all 84 nutrients that your body needs every day. It is taken directly from the Himalayan salt mines and is the purest salt in the world. A ½ to 1 teaspoon every day is recommended to help keep your fluid levels balanced and provide you with the nutrients and minerals your body needs. Some individuals crave salt when the adrenals are significantly depleted. For some, when their adrenals are very low functioning, taking ½ to 1 teaspoon of Himalayan salt in lukewarm water in the morning before eating anything can help raise their cortisol levels. Remember, cortisol needs to be at its highest level in the morning so you have energy throughout the day.

The B vitamins are an absolute if you wish to repair your adrenals. B’s are anti-stress for one thing, and are required for all healing, digestion, energy and restoration anywhere in the body. The B vitamins are best ingested in a liquid form since digestion is impaired with adrenal fatigue. Also note that tablets seldom break down enough to be utilized by the body, and many capsules have fillers and binders that can actually inhibit absorption into the body. Make sure you include liquid B’s in your daily healing protocol.

Sleep is a necessity for repair of the adrenals, and anything in the body for that matter, for during sleep the repair process takes place. So without sufficient sleep restoration is halted. Many individuals complain about fitful sleep or waking up throughout the night, leaving them tired and sluggish for the day. Five consecutive hours of sleep are what is required every night for adrenal repair, and if you are not able to do this, natural measures should be taken to help you sleep. Relaxant herbal combinations may be helpful. Some find benefit from 5HTP. The cycle of insomnia that is often created when hormones are out of balance can usually be eliminated once hormones become balanced, but using some aids such as mentioned above are certainly in order to help achieve sleep faster. Sleep is vital for repair.

One of the main factors in adrenal fatigue is stress, so changing your response to stressors is a must if healing is to occur. Reducing and eventually eliminating stress will help the insomnia issue as well. You might think this is impossible since everyone experiences stressors in their life, but I can assure you it is possible because I have accomplished this. Here are the facts. Of course you will experience stressful situations in your life through health challenges, financial issues, relationships, work situations, and many other happenings. In addition there is your diet to consider, structural issues, your beliefs and attitudes, and what you think about constantly. Don’t go there! I know what you’re thinking – that this is too hard and you’ll probably never be able to get well, right? Like I said, don’t go there. It is possible to heal with the right and perfect tools because I have accomplished this!

The secret to overcoming stress is in how you respond to the stressors. If you allow them to take over your life and focus on them continually, worrying, becoming anxious or angry, you create an environment for adrenal burnout because these responses are negative. If, on the other hand, you understand that everything that comes your way is there for a reason and has merit in your life, perhaps as a learning tool, then it becomes a positive experience at some point and is not a stressor. If you want to learn more about living without stress in your life, go to www.drcarolynporter.com, sign up for my free monthly E-newsletter, and receive my free E-book called Stress Free Living. It really does work!

Using adrenal and/or thyroid nutrient boosters can be quite beneficial in supporting the restoration of these glands and their hormones. But beware, for many health practitioners recommend animal glandulars or supplements with chemical constituents. You are a high vibrational being. Animals and chemicals resonate at a lower vibration. Therefore, if you consume products from these sources they can never raise you to vibrant health because the vibrations cannot match yours. Doesn’t it make sense to put only products into your body that can resonate on the same vibrational level as you, and therefore promote and sustain hormone balance and great health? I have found that the products from PR Labs have this high vibration. Only pure plants are used in synergistic blends, and their hormone supplements are precursors to help your body produce what is needed rather than simply giving the body a supplemental hormone or product. Helping your body produce what it needs is always the best way to go for restoration whenever possible.

Take it slow

In my previous article on adrenal fatigue I mentioned some suggested supplements and lifestyle changes that have been noted as important for adrenal restoration. Understand that when adrenals are worn out, it is not advantageous to ingest large quantities of supplements. Earlier I referenced the digestion impairment when adrenals are dysfunctional, so taking large quantities of supplements only adds more toxic buildup to your body. Instead, opt for a few high energy supplements that your body can benefit from. Better yet, have a health practitioner test your body with the suggested products through applied kinesiology, or muscle testing. Although not a 100% accurate, it is many times better than simply guessing.

Each of us are individuals, unique in our own way. There are multiple paths to healing, and what works for one may not hold true for the next person. You can read many articles or books on hormone balance and receive various protocols to follow. Listen to your body. Go with what feels right, and have someone test you with kinesiology or similar methods. Do your own research as well and become educated with beneficial information. Many people do not want to take the time to investigate their health issues, but would rather allow someone else to control what goes into their body and tell them what to do. To me, health is a top priority and therefore requires due diligence of my time to keep my body functioning optimally with vibrancy. Although what I’ve shared in this article has proven good for many people, some of it may not work for you. So go into your healing process with an open mind and willing heart to listen, learn and then act when it feels right.

Other important supplements that may be beneficial to use

In my first article on adrenal fatigue, I mentioned a few supplements that seem to be important for most people to implement according to leading health practitioners. They include:

♦ Magnesium
♦ Vitamin C
♦ Extra B5 in addition to the B complex
♦ Natural progesterone cream
♦ Vitamin E

All of these supplements appeared on lists from holistic doctors who specialize in the endocrine system and adrenal issues as needed for healing since these support and nourish the glands, particularly the adrenals. Again, go with what works for you, but this is a good starting place. Be sure to include the items mentioned in this article as well.

Exercise

Exercise is vital if you want health and vitality. Exercise allows blood to flow and be oxygenated, releases toxins from the body as you sweat, keeps your joints moving and flexible, strengthens your bones and joints (particularly when using weights), energizes your body, improves your mood, clears the cobwebs out of your brain, and above all, helps you lose those unwanted love handles. But caution! When the adrenals are fatigued, be careful not to overdo exercising. Too much further depletes the adrenals. Rule of thumb – if after exercising you are exhausted you are doing too much. Do less next time so that you feel good afterwards. If you have symptoms of hormonal imbalance, here’s another guideline. If you are exhausted after routine exercise, then you probably are experiencing significant adrenal problems. If however you feel energized after exercising, you are probably experiencing more of a thyroid deficiency. It is known that thyroid function is boosted after exercise. Simple walking is usually beneficial for everyone. So get moving!
With rare exception, exercise is highly beneficial for everyone! You might try yoga too!

Emotional factors

Every human being is multidimensional and requires repair in all “bodies” for vibrant health. I’m going to briefly mention some emotional issues that contribute to hormonal imbalance. When the pituitary gland is unbalanced, the emotional issues may be a control problem since the pituitary is the control center. With adrenal issues we may find anxiety, a feeling of being defeated, or overwhelm. Thyroid dysfunction has a core in “When is it my turn” or “I can’t do what I want.” With sex hormone imbalance we often see low self-worth, parent issues, guilt, or old unhealthy programming. These issues must be addressed in order to resolve and heal the physical imbalance.

Overview

Much information is now becoming available for this huge problem of adrenal burnout that so many people are experiencing. Some say it affects as much as 80% of our population at varying levels. Sadly, many do not know it is affecting their health. What I can see after years of researching for answers in regard to finding the core of health challenges, is that any illness will have the adrenals involved. In order to effectively create healing, the adrenals will need to be nourished and supported to achieve healing. But I also came to realize that complete healing will never occur without addressing the spiritual, emotional and mental realms. After several years of attempting to heal my body in the physical realm years ago, when I began working on releasing old beliefs about hurt, anger, guilt and shame, I then began healing very rapidly.

In the physical realm, anyone who is stressed needs help with their adrenals. Things like worry; financial problems; eating foods that aren’t good for you; no exercise or too much exercise; lack of 5 hours consecutive sleep; too much sugar, alcohol or caffeine (proven to be totally detrimental to adrenal function); chronic infections; toxicity; old beliefs that don’t serve your highest good; spinal misalignment; anger; resentment; jealousy – all of these things contribute to adrenal fatigue because they wear down your body. The adrenals are your stress indicator, and if they become worn out, other systems are affected. This creates an unfavorable environment for a healthy body. Refer to the section on adrenal roles if you’ve forgotten what they do.

So it is a combination of nourishment through supplements and diet, release of old beliefs and programming, reprogramming your thoughts and behavior, repairing the damage and changing your lifestyle that enables your body to really heal. Does this seem like too much to do? Anything worth anything takes time, effort and oftentimes money to implement. In the end, it is more than worth it. You become a stronger and more balanced individual with a whole new outlook on life. Stress is removed and enjoyment replaces it. You feel better, life looks good, your relationships improve, and your heart opens. When you enjoy life, you are living as you are meant to live. And every stressor becomes a gift for you to grow beyond. You are simply investing in your health – a top priority investment!

Wrap up

I’ve shared with you in this article what I believe is necessary to heal your body from adrenal fatigue or any hormonal imbalance. Since the endocrine system, home of your primary hormones, runs every system within your body, it only makes sense to pay attention to your hormones. Health advocates might say that toxins are the primary cause of illness. They certainly are a significant factor in any illness, but often toxic overload is due to too much or too little of one or more hormones that create other unfavorable situations within the body. Too much estrogen can cause cell proliferation leading to cancer. Improper digestion due to any imbalance of hormones can lead to toxins pouring into the blood and depositing anywhere in the body. This can lead to weight gain, colon issues and cancer, among other things. Low DHEA affects the immune system allowing for free radicals to take over and create illness. Any stressors that lower the function of the adrenals contribute to the creation of many diseases.

To sum it all up…

Balance your hormones…
Release old beliefs and patterns that are hurting you…
Heal your relationships – forgiveness heals you and the other person…
Replace old programming with positive thoughts and attitudes…
Reduce stress by changing how you respond to your stressors…
Exercise – whatever you like to do – just do it…
Reduce or eliminate sugar, alcohol and caffeine…
Enjoy life. Focus on the good in your life…
Do your own research – educate yourself…
Work on bettering your diet…
Eliminate chronic infections and toxicity.

Starting protocol for adrenal repair…

B Vitamins – liquid…
Adrenal support through synergistic blend of plants…
Thyroid nutrients that include iodine…
Natural progesterone cream…
EFA’s…
Himalayan salt…
Digestive enzymes…
Melatonin, 5HTP or herbs to help you sleep…
Reduce stress – learn how to respond differently to your stressors…
Heal your emotional core issues…
Learn positive ways to view life – use a coach, take classes, read books on this.

As a person who has traveled the path of undesirable symptoms, illness, many stressors and hormonal imbalances, I have learned, through my personal experiences, what works and what does not work for me. Although I feel what I have shared is an effective way to balance your hormones and create vibrant health, other things may need to be factored into your equation that I have not addressed. Each of you are unique with your own individual qualities and beliefs, and your lifestyle may look totally different from mine, so all of this must be taken into consideration. However, there is a basic format that must be implemented to begin the healing process, even though additional supplementation, detoxification or lifestyle shifts may be needed.

My personal passion is to use my knowledge gained through research and personal experiences to assist individuals who are suffering in life and want to heal. If I can be of service to you, I invite you to contact me. Life is meant to be enjoyed and fulfilling, and my greatest joy comes from helping someone step into their own power and begin moving into a place of vibrant health and wholeness in all dimensions. As I stated earlier, I believe healing is possible if you embrace the right and perfect tools to accomplish it. You can reach me by visiting www.drcarolynporter.com, www.wheremiracleshappen.com or by email at info@drcarolynporter.com or wheremiracles@bellsouth.net.