Are you suffering from adrenal fatigue?

The most recognised form of adrenal fatigue is Addison’s Diesease which is not surprising given this is the most extreme form. However low hormone levels caused by depleted adrenal glands can result in a huge range of everyday symptoms and holistic therapies can help to relieve these.

What are the adrenal glands?

The adrenal glands are two small glands that sit on top of the kidneys. They produce two essential hormones: cortisol and aldosterone.

Source: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Addisons-disease/Pages/Introduction.aspx

The stresses of day to day life put strain on the adrenal glands and tired parents can often relate to the common symptoms of adrenal fatigue particularly at the end of the six weeks holidays.

Emotional worry, fear, lack of sleep, too much caffiene, too much sugar and a diet high in carbohydrate heavy convinience foods combined with the constant rushing around that modern day lifestyles are often about all put strain on the adrenal glands and over time they can’t produce enough of the ‘stress’ hormone cortisol to cope.

What are the common symptoms of adrenal fatigue?

Unfortunately there is no clear test to diagnose adrenal fatigue, but there are some common symptoms to look for:

1. Tiredness – not just feeling a little tired – but feeling tired all the time even after a good nights sleep
2. Feeling stressed and anxious most of the time
3. Craving salty or sweet foods
4. Frequent colds
5. Feeling dizzy or light headed when getting up from sitting
6. Feeling spaced out or foggy – possible memory loss
7. Hormonal imbalances
8. Extreme uncharacteristic mood swings

Please be aware that not all of these symptoms are as a result of adrenal fatigue and if you are at all concerned about new or worsening symptoms you should always talk to your holistic therapist or a GP.

So what can you do to help to refuel your adrenals?

Start slowly and don’t make too many big changes at once – your adrenals need time to adjust but you can begin to nurture and refuel them by introducing small nutritional and lifestyle changes:

• Get plenty of sleep – at least 8 hours a night
• Avoid junk food and start to introduce more organic natural foods to your diet
• Take regular gentle exercise
• Eat regularly to keep blood sugar balanced
• Add high quality sea salt to your diet
• Reduce your caffiene intake
• Try to reduce your day to day stresses
• Take time out for you with regular holistic treatments ie reflexology which may maintain cortisol levels

By taking care of yourself now with these small changes you can begin to reverse the effects of adrenal fatigue and bring yourself back to health.

Here at the Hut we can determine and treat adrenal fatigue through kinesiology, it’s a very common aliment seen in clinic and very treatable.

Please get in touch if you feel that you may be affected by adrenal fatigue.