Healing Adrenal Fatigue: Deep Healing Tips

 

















​There's a good chance you have suffered from adrenal fatigue during a time of illness or increased stress.  If you haven't, you probably will.  Adrenal fatigue is the result of ongoing physical, emotional, or nutritional stress. ​ We've all been there, and for many, adrenal fatigue takes a significant toll on your well being.  

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Healing adrenal fatigue takes time and a commitment to self care.  Healing the adrenals may require a shift in habits and priorities. This is often the biggest challenge of the adrenal fatigue sufferer as lack of self care, or insufficient rest, is how we develop adrenal fatigue in the first place.  A combination of diet, lifestyle, essentials oils, and emotional clearing, can help restore you to health.

​Symptoms of adrenal fatigue include:

Exhaustion and heaviness in the morning
Cravings sugary or salty foods
Afternoon fatigue
Getting a “second wind” in the evening
Trouble staying asleep, may include frequent or prolonged night waking
Dizziness when standing up quickly
Blood sugar imbalances
Low libido
Chronic inflammation and increased food sensitivities
Thinner, weaker nails
Moodiness, irritability
Difficulty losing or gaining weight
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Use the tips below to bring your body back to state of fullness and wellness!  If practiced daily, you’ll see a difference quickly and significant improvement over time.

1. Follow a healing diet:

Enjoy a whole food and easy to digest diet.  The goal is to get your fatigued body the nutrients it needs, as easily as possible, without using a lot of extra energy to digest.  The body needs healthy fats, protein, fiber and lots of minerals! A daily whole food multi-vitamin and mineral, Vitamin D3, Vitamin B12, Probiotic, and Fish Oil can be a great way to support your healing diet.

Foods to Avoid:

• Sugar
• Processed foods
• Caffeine
• Alcohol
• Excess Dairy, consider using only aged/ fermented dairy or none at all
• Gluten
• Soy
• Most grains, feel free to add sprouted quinoa or rice once per day
• Starchy carbs, add potatoes and sweet potatoes back in as your blood sugar regulates
• Processed meats
• Hydrogenated oils

Food to enjoy:

• Coconut
• Olives
• Root vegetables and squashes
• Leafy greens
• Some fruit, especially berries
• Avocado and other healthy fats
• Cruciferous vegetables (cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, etc.)
• Fatty fish (e.g., wild-caught salmon)
• Free-range chicken and turkey
• Bone broth
• Fresh pressed green and fruit juices
• Nuts, such as walnuts and almonds, preferably sprouted
• Seeds, such as pumpkin, chia and flax
• Kelp and seaweed
• Celtic or Himalayan sea salt
• Fermented foods rich in probiotics
• Chaga and cordyceps medicinal mushrooms

2. Sleep and Rest: 

Do your best to get 8 hours of sleep every night.  This can be very hard for adrenal fatigue sufferers.  Use essential oils or herbs to help you relax and to help you get back to sleep. See below for more details! Stick to a regular sleep schedule. Go to bed and get up as close to the same time as possible every day.  Consider resting or napping in the afternoon. If napping makes you feel worse, take an hour to do a laying healing meditation in your bed. People love this meditation.

2. Lifestyle:

It’s time to take it easy, listen to your body, and nourish yourself!  If you're suffering from adrenal fatigue, your body is giving you a clear message that you need to rest and do less. Let go of all unnecessary commitments. You’ll find that you will be able to get back to some things as you get well. Avoid excessive screens especially in the evening. Laugh and play everyday.  If it’s warm, sit or lay on the earth. Many people find the grounding energy of the earth to make all the difference in adrenal health. 

3. Exercise:

Do exercise, but not too much.  Strenuous exercise is a physical stress that further stresses the adrenals.  Gentle exercise helps move energy in the body, boost the immune system, and improve mood.  Increase exercise as tolerated. If you feel worse after exercising, you did too much! Work towards gentle exercise like walking, light hiking, or gentle yoga five days a week.  Back off if needed!

4. Essential Oils and Herbs:

Essential oils are a great way to support the adrenals, decrease stress and anxiety, and improve mood.  The most common oils for providing direct support to the adrenals are:

• Rosemary, Clove, Peppermint (avoid using in the evening or during the night), Lavender

Essential oils to help manage stress and anxiety include:

• Lavender, Rose, Vetiver, Ylang Ylang, Bergamot, Chamomile, Frankincense, Cedarwood, Sandalwood, Lime

 
Adaptogenic Herbs: Herbs can help to nourish the adrenals directly, but also to calm and nourish the nervous system. Remember that herbs are not one size fits all and the person picture and herbal energetics should be considered be using herbs to treat illness. Common herbs for adrenal support include:

• Ashwaganda, Ginseng, Reishi, Cordyceps, Maca, Lemon Balm, Passionflower, and so many more.

5. Healing on Every Level:

Healing happens when we access our wellness on all levels.  Take time to tune into your inner voice. Learn to listen to what you body is telling you.  Illness can be an opportunity to uncover emotional or spiritual blocks, such as fear, that may be causing your nervous system to always be on high alert.  By doing this, you release yourself from old memories or thoughts that are no longer useful and causing fatigue. This is also an opportunity to practice self love and deepen self care. Here are a few affirmations that can help you re-write your internal messaging from one of fatigue and anxiety, to that of wholeness and wellness.  Use affirmations when you are feeling particularly exhausted or vulnerable or just a few times a day. You’ll be amazed at what a difference this can make!

-My hormones are being restored to their natural perfect state
-I am healthy, I am well, I am learning and growing always
-I am confident in my full recovery
-I love and approve of myself.  
-It is safe for me to care for myself


6. Consider Testing, Supplements, or other care:  The above tips often resolve adrenal fatigue and other health concerns.  If you’re not improving, you may want to follow up with testing, supplements, and other treatment like acupuncture, chiropractic and energy work.  Trust your body and your intuition, both to heal, and to let you know if you need additional care. 

Sending you loads of energy, joy and wellness!!!


The content on the blog Journey to Wellness is for educational and informational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice. I, the author of Journey to Wellness, am not a medical professional and the information contained on this blog should not be used to diagnose, treat or prevent any disease or health illness. Please consult with a qualified health care professional before acting on any information presented here. Any statements or claims about the possible health benefits conferred by any foods, supplements, essential oils, or lifestyle changes have not been evaluated by medical professional or the Food & Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. I, the author of Journey to Wellness will not accept responsibility for the actions or consequential results of any action taken by any reader.