Adrenal exhaustion occurs when adrenal glands have a low adrenal reserve, or in other words, they are unable to generate sufficient amounts of adrenal hormones when stressful situations arise. Phyllis A. Balch, a nutrition researcher, certified nutritional consultant and author of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," states that common indications of adrenal exhaustion include reduced strength, persistent tiredness and abnormalities in your blood glucose levels. Talk to your doctor about herbs for low adrenal function before using them.
Adrenal Exhaustion
The term adrenal exhaustion was first coined by Canadian endocrinologist Hans Selye in his 1956 book "The Stress of Life." According to Selye, adrenal exhaustion is the final stage in stress-induced adrenal dysfunction, which is preceded by adrenal alarm and adrenal resistance. Some of the most common signs and symptoms of this condition include aches throughout your body, anxiety, depression, significantly reduced stress tolerance, increased abdominal fat, increased vulnerability to infections and problems with your digestive tract.
The Best Herbs
In his book "Plant Medicine in Practice," naturopathic physician and herbalist William A. Mitchell states that some of the best herbs for adrenal exhaustion may include borage, Siberian ginseng and licorice root. Borage helps increase the strength of your adrenal glands, while Siberian ginseng stimulates your adrenal cortex, or the outer portion of your adrenal glands. Licorice root helps modulate your adrenal gland function. Other beneficial herbs for treating adrenal exhaustion may include ashwagandha, kava kava and astragalus.
A Popular Remedy
Borage is one of the most popular herbal remedies in the treatment of adrenal exhaustion. According to Balch, the seeds and leaves of the borage plant act as both an adrenal tonic and adrenal gland balancer. Borage seeds and leaves contain important minerals and essential fatty acids, both of which are required for healthy cardiovascular system function. Significant phytochemicals contained in borage include tannin, silicic acid, beta-carotene and rosmarinic acid. Borage also contains calcium and choline.
Additional Information
Adrenal exhaustion may be caused by many factors. In many cases, lifestyle factors -- poor diet, home and workplace stress, long-term sedentary living -- play a significant role in the development of adrenal exhaustion. Adrenal exhaustion may best be treated using several therapeutic modalities, instead of herbs alone. Herbs are a natural method of treating adrenal exhaustion, but they should be used with great caution and under the guidance of a qualified health care professional.
References
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis A. Balch, CNC; 2010
- "The Stress of Life"; Hans Selye, M.D.; 1956
- "Plant Medicine in Practice"; William A. Mitchell Jr., N.D.; 2003
