Natural Adrenal Gland Support for a Healthy Stress Response

Posted On October 15, 2022

The adrenal glands are endocrine glands that are very important for our health and well-being.

Here we will explore what the adrenal glands are, common forms of adrenal imbalance, signs and symptoms of adrenal imbalance, and natural adrenal gland support to nurture these highly significant parts of the body.

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What Are the Adrenal Glands?

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The adrenal glands are 2 triangular shaped endocrine glands that sit on top of each of your kidneys.

The adrenal glands have very important functions within the body which include:

• Carrying out the body’s “fight or flight” stress response
• Maintaining sodium balance throughout the body
• Supporting the immune system
• Balancing blood pressure
• Balancing blood sugar
• Producing sex hormones
• Regulating metabolism

These glands are made up of 2 main parts, the adrenal medulla and the adrenal cortex.

The adrenal cortex is the outer part of the gland that produces glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, and androgens. Among these groups of hormones are cortisol (one of the body’s main stress hormones), aldosterone (helps to regulate blood pressure and maintain fluid and sodium balance), testosterone (a sex hormone), estrogen (a sex hormone), and others.

The adrenal medulla is located within the inside of the glands and this portion produces hormones that are an important part of the body’s autonomic nervous system. This is the nervous system that involves our “fight or flight” stress response.

This part of the adrenal gland produces epinephrine, also called adrenaline, and norepinephrine, also called noradrenaline.

The adrenal glands are part of what is called the HPA axis, or the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis. All of our body’s organs and systems are interconnected in some way and they all work together. This axis is an example of this.

The hypothalamus and pituitary glands are important parts of the endocrine system that are located within the brain. When we experience stress, be it physical (injury, illness, environmental toxins such as mold) or mental/emotional (trauma, challenging life situations, etc), the hypothalamus and pituitary glands initiate the body’s stress response, signaling the adrenal glands to release stress hormones.

The adrenal glands are also closely linked to the thyroid gland, which is another important endocrine gland that is located on the lower front portion of your neck. The thyroid helps to regulate metabolism and energy production, heart rate, digestion, and more.

The 2 main hormones produced by the thyroid, T3 and T4, interact with one of the main hormones produced by the adrenal glands, cortisol. Because of this link, thyroid imbalance can often lead to adrenal imbalance and vice versa.

Much more on thyroid health and the adrenal thyroid connection can be found here.

Adrenal Imbalances

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The stress response was designed to be a temporary response that mobilizes the body’s energy and resources so that it is prepared to deal with a perceived threat.

However, in many cases today, stress of many different forms becomes chronic, which has a wide variety of negative health consequences. As discussed above, these sources of stress can be physical, as in the case of chronic illness or chronic exposure to environmental toxins, or mental/emotional as in the case of a stressful job, toxic relationships, recurring traumas, and more.

A common adrenal imbalance that can arise as a result of chronic stress is referred to as adrenal fatigue or adrenal insufficiency.

This occurs when cortisol and other adrenal hormones have been produced at high levels for a sustained period of time until the adrenal glands become weakened and can no longer produce sufficient levels of these hormones.

Because the body relies on adrenal hormones for many important functions as discussed above, adrenal fatigue can lead to a variety of symptoms.

The adrenal glands are also considered to be imbalanced during the period that they are overproducing stress hormones, before adrenal fatigue sets in, which is just as taxing on the body.

Symptoms of Adrenal Imbalance

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There are many various symptoms that can arise as a result of adrenal imbalance. These can include:

• Chronic fatigue, often severe (can be more pronounced in the morning)
• Muscle weakness
• Weight gain around the midsection
• Hormone imbalances
• Menstrual irregularities
• Difficulty conceiving 
• Thyroid imbalance
• Low libido
• Hair loss
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Brain fog
• Insomnia
• Headaches and/or migraines
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Joint pain
• Sugar and salt cravings
• Digestive upset such as constipation, bloating, diarrhea, and gas
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Low blood pressure that decreases further upon standing
• Low blood sugar, blood sugar imbalance, and/or insulin resistance
• More

Natural Adrenal Gland Support

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Supporting the adrenal glands is extremely important for achieving and maintaining optimal health, especially when going through particularly stressful periods in our life.

Adrenal support is also helpful when experiencing many forms of chronic illness. This is because the body experiences illness as a form of stress, in which the stress response is mobilized. When this is sustained over long periods of time, healing can become more difficult without supporting and balancing the body’s stress response.

The following are some of the best ways to naturally support your adrenal glands:

• Limit Caffeine

Caffeine is stimulating to the adrenal glands, which can exacerbate an already overstimulated state. In order to give the adrenal glands time to rest and heal, it is very helpful to limit caffeine intake.

• Prioritize Sleep

Our bodies require sufficient amounts of sleep to maintain proper functioning. Lack of sleep is taxing on many organs and systems, including the adrenal glands.

Aiming for around 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night is ideal in order to allow the body enough time to successfully recharge and to maintain overall physiological and hormone balance.

• Consume Enough High Quality Salt

We often hear that avoiding sodium is a health conscious way to go, however the kind of salt you are consuming makes all the difference, and sodium is an imperative part of a healthy diet.

When cortisol levels are too low, the body will have a difficult time retaining sodium, this is often why one will crave salty foods when experiencing adrenal fatigue. When healing from adrenal imbalance, it is important to make up for this deficit by including sufficient amounts of good quality salt in one’s diet.

Sea salt such as pink Himalayan or Celtic sea salt are both excellent options.

• Lower Stress Levels

The autonomic nervous system consists of 3 parts: the sympathetic nervous system, the parasympathetic nervous system, and the enteric nervous system.

The sympathetic nervous system involves the “fight or flight” stress response and the parasympathetic nervous system involves the “rest and digest,” calm state of being. It is in the parasympathetic state that the body is best able to heal, digest and assimilate nutrients, and function optimally overall.

It is also in the parasympathetic state that the adrenal glands are able to rest and heal.

We cannot occupy the parasympathetic state and allow the body to heal if we are under chronic stress.

Practicing self-love, addressing possible trauma, yoga, establishing a healthy lifestyle, and utilizing natural stress supporting agents are all excellent ways to reduce chronic stress levels.

• Use Top Quality Adrenal Support Supplements

The following are all of my top recommendations for superior natural adrenal support supplements. I’ve used all of these personally for years and they have all been incredibly helpful and effective in nurturing my adrenal health while healing from severe complex chronic illness.

• • Vibrant Blue Oils Adrenal Essential Oil

Vibrant Blue Oils is a superior line of organic therapeutic essential oils that I’ve been using for many years. They are the most noticeably effective oils I’ve ever used and these will always be a staple in my wellness routine.

Vibrant Blue Oils Adrenal Oil is a blend of cinnamon, galbanum, manuka, rosemary, and thyme in a base of fractionated coconut oil. All of these ingredients have a nurturing influence on the adrenal glands.

This oil can help both overactive adrenal function such as excessive stress hormone production and it can also help an underactive adrenal state where hormone production is depleted.

Administration: apply 1-2 drops directly over the adrenal glands, which are located on the lower mid back and the upper middle abdomen below the ribs, 1 to 2 times per day. Massage the oil into the skin thoroughly.

It can also be used aromatically by holding the bottle close to the nose for 3 to 4 full breaths in and out.

Several of the conditions I have had such as Biotoxin Illness/Mold Toxicity can have an intense impact on the adrenal glands, as they catalyze a state of stress within the body. Due to this, the adrenal glands overproduce stress hormones, leading to extreme exhaustion, anxiety, and hormone imbalance, among other effects.

As a result of this, I would feel a tingling, slight burning sensation on my adrenal glands.

After several months of this sensation, I purchased Adrenal and applied the oil over my adrenal glands on the front and back of my abdomen.

The very first day that I applied the Adrenal oil, the sensation completely ceased. It was absolutely incredible and was one of the most immediate and noticeably effective experiences that I’ve had in my entire long healing journey.

Click here to check out Vibrant Blue Oils Adrenal Oil.

• • Seeking Health Adrenal Cortex

Glandulars can be used to nurture various organs throughout our body.

Seeking Health Adrenal Cortex is a superior quality freeze-dried bovine adrenal glandular that helps to support overall adrenal function.

I noticed an improvement in my energy levels about 2 weeks after starting this supplement.

Dosing: amounts are always individualized, however the standard dose for this supplement is one 50mg capsule in the morning after breakfast.

This supplement can help improve energy levels, so it is not recommended to take it within 5 hours of bedtime.

This product is also free of soy, yeast, gluten, dairy, shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, and artificial ingredients.

Click here to check out Seeking Health Adrenal Cortex.

⭐️Use code HJE10 for 10% off of your purchase at Seeking Health :)⭐️

• • Seeking Health Liposomal Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a water-soluble nutrient that is needed for proper immune system function, to make collagen for connective tissue and skin health, to recycle glutathione (the body’s master antioxidant), and it is also needed by the adrenal glands to maintain optimal function.

Seeking Health Optimal Liposomal Vitamin C is a high-potency liquid supplement that is bound to the phospholipids phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine (sunflower derived), which maximizes its absorption.

Dosing: amounts are always individualized, however the standard dose for this product is 1 teaspoon per day on an empty stomach, which delivers 1,000mg of vitamin C.

This bottle lasts me about a month.

This can be taken on its own or in a smoothie, water, or other liquid of your choice. It has a pleasant, citrus taste. I just take it by itself first thing in the morning.

It is best to only take this supplement in the morning or afternoon, avoiding use within 3 hours of bedtime, as it can help with energy.

After opening, it is best to store it in the refrigerator.

This product is also free of soy, yeast, gluten, dairy, shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, and artificial ingredients.

Click here to check Seeking Health Optimal Liposomal Vitamin C.

⭐️Use code HJE10 for 10% off of your purchase at Seeking Health :)⭐️

• • Thorne Pantethine Active Vitamin B5

Vitamin B5, or pantothenic acid, is needed in order for the adrenal glands to make hormones, particularly for cortisol production.

B complex vitamins need to be converted into their active forms within the body in order to be usable for their various physiological roles. Due to many common gene variants, the body can have a hard time doing this, so it is helpful to take the active form of the vitamin to be able to acquire all of its benefits more thoroughly.

Thorne is one of my favorite supplement lines and I’ve also been using them for years.

Thorne Pantethine Active Vitamin B5 is a great quality form of this vitamin that aids the adrenal glands in producing sufficient amounts of needed hormones.

Dosing: amounts are always individualized, however the standard dose for this supplement is one 250mg capsule, twice per day.

This is a hypoallergenic supplement that is free of all common allergens including gluten, dairy, yeast, and soy.

Click here to check out Thorne Pantethine Active Vitamin B5.

⭐️When you use the above purple links, you will automatically receive a 5% discount on your order at Thorne :)⭐️

In Closing….

As we’ve explored here, the adrenal glands are important endocrine glands that play a pivotal role in our body’s stress response.

During times of increased stress and when healing from chronic illness, it can be very beneficial to naturally support the adrenal glands so that the body is better equipped to heal and maintain a healthy response to stressors.

Disclaimer

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