Adrenal Fatigue

Ever find yourself racing around the house, late for an appointment, wondering where you put your car keys? Ever get to the bottom of a page and wonder what it was you just read? Most likely you are not a victim of TBF (temporary-brain-freeze) but rather a sufferer of adrenal fatigue.

Constant stress, especially when combined with poor nutrition, can deplete the adrenal glands, resulting in adrenal fatigue. Financial pressures, busy schedules and relationship problems all take their toll on the adrenals. Caffeine and sugar also tend to deplete the adrenal glands by over-stimulating them. Not surprisingly, adrenal weakness is very common in modern society.The adrenals are part of the endocrine or glandular system. These glands sit on top of the kidneys and produce of variety of hormones that regulate energy production, fluid balance, immune functions, and other important processes.

The adrenals also help the body deal with stressful situations by adjusting one's internal biology in response to external pressures. They create what is called the fight-or-flight response. Adrenal hormones provide the energy we need to meet life's challenges. They also reduce inflammation and regulate fluid balance.

Severely depleted adrenals cause a person to feel tired, tense, and exhausted, creating a "burned out" sensation. Specific symptoms of adrenal exhaustion include severe fatigue, difficulty relaxing or feeling peaceful, disturbing dreams and restless sleep patterns, nervousness, anxiety, heart palpitations, and a sensation of pressure in the chest that is often interpreted as a cardiac problem. Other symptoms include dryness, blood sugar imbalances, inflammation, difficulty breathing, tension headaches, and excessive allergic reactions.

Adrenal glands are extremely important to your immune function and they also help the thyroid to function properly. If you suspect you might have tired adrenals, contact me today and we can come up with a plan for you!

Natural Approaches to Treating Seasonal Allergies

If you suffer from seasonal allergies or can't understand why just when winter ends you get sick, you are definitely not alone. Symptoms typically occur from early spring through late November and can be confused with the common cold. Unfortunately, allergies are also misunderstood and inadequately treated by traditional medicine.

Allergy is the response of your immune system's reaction to pollens, grass, toxins and even certain foods and cosmetics. When our body comes in contact with any of the above, it fights back by producing an excess of inflammatory chemicals, such as histamine. This is when the familiar symptoms of runny nose, watery eyes and sneezing begin.

OTCs with antihistamine only block the action of histamine at receptor sites. Basically, they suppress the physical symptoms but do nothing to treat the underlying cause. Antihistamines also have a tendency to produce undesirable side effects, such as "spaciness", drowsiness, severe dry mouth and even depression. Sometimes steriod nasal inhalants are prescribed and even though they may be fast-acting and appear to be effective, the steroids are bound to get into other parts of the body and weaken the immune system. Don't you want to get to the root of the problem and not just cover it up?

There are a variety a dietary and environmental changes as well as herbal recommendations that can help with allergies. Here are my suggestions:


Dietary/natural health recommendations:

• Follow a low-protein diet, try to eliminate dairy and increase raw fruits and vegetables. Excessive protein can irritate the immune system and keep it in a state of overreactivity. This is especially true of the protein found in cow's milk. Bio-flavinoids can be found in fruits and vegetables and has been known to inhibit the release of histamine.


• Detoxing the kidneys and lymphs is essential for a healthy immune system. When our immune system is shot, we are more likely to develop seasonal, food and environmental allergies.


• Seasonal Defense from Nature's Sunshine helps the body defend against seasonal changes, contains andrographis to help boost the immune system and helps support mucous membrane health.


• HistaBlock from Nature's Sunshine is a powerful combination of stinging nettle, quercetin, bromelain and immature orange peel (which contains synephrine). HistaBlock provides nutritional support for the respiratory system.


• Neti pots: The practice of nasal cleansing - known as Neti - has been used by practitioners of Ayurveda and Yoga in India for thousands of years. Nasal cleansing using a saline solution is a gentle, safe, efficient way to deliver a good cleansing dose of saline to the nose.


• Ear Candling: originated centuries ago by Egyptians, spread to Greece, China and today is practiced around the world. It’s a simple, non-invasive treatment for sinuses, sore throat, ear aches and allergies.

Environmental changes:

• Dust-proof your home by eliminating wall-to-wall carpets, down-filled blankets, feather pillows and other dust catchers.


• Dust your furniture and floors with damp cloths to ensure removal.


• Consider buying an HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter, which removes particles in the air by forcing it through screens containing microscopic pores. These devices work well and aren't too expensive. Avoid air-filtering equipment that generates ozone (HEPA filters don't).