Adrenal Health - Herbal Remedies For High Cortisol Levels, Stress and Anxiety

The definition of stress is the strain felt by somebody: mental, emotional, or physical strain caused by anxiety or overwork. It may cause such symptoms as raised blood pressure or depression. Stress has become an everyday part of our daily lives. The high school student stresses over exams and competing for the best college scholarships. Their parents stress over getting ahead at work so they can afford to send their child to college, plus how their parents are going to be able to manage once they retire. The grandparents stress over not wanting to be dependent on anyone once they do retire. There's gridlock traffic to and from work which often leads to road rage. It's where we work, where we go to school and where we play. We are a society under constant stress; struggling to cope.

Stress and the adrenal gland is directly related. The glands main purpose is to allow you to handle the stress your body is subjected to every day. It produces cortisol, also called "the stress hormone", which is produced when we are in a stressful situation, need sudden energy, or are experiencing illness. Because we live with chronic stress, the adrenal gland supplies constant cortisol. Too much cortisol can cause serious medical problems such as muscle and bone loss, poor healing and digestion, metabolism and mental function and weakened immune system. When it continues to be overworked, production of DHEA is slowed. We need DHEA to moderate the balance of hormones in our body. Lack of DHEA causes fatigue, bone and muscle loss, depression and aching joints. Elixirs to detoxify the body also aid in digestion and boosting the immune system. One such elixir contains the earths crystals which promote vitality and support the adrenal gland.

Anxiety is a condition which may begin suddenly or progress slowly over a period of years. It is commonly associated with phobias which are defined as "persistent or irrational fears. The symptoms of anxiety, as with stress, can cause fatigue. In fact, an anxiety disorder can be a chronic condition which leads to continued high stress levels. A common anxiety disorder is one which has no focus. There is constant worry and a feeling of fear without knowing why or having the ability to control or explain them. This can interfere with a persons daily activity and lead to many serious illnesses such as chronic sleep disorders. Keeping at your fingertips an herbal inhaler which has peppermint, chamomile, lavender and other herbs will allow you to calm yourself throughout the day whenever the need arises.

Fatigue can result from a low functioning adrenal gland. Many disorders have chronic fatigue associated with them, such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Depression, Sleep Disorders and Burnout. Other conditions that cause the adrenal gland to work overtime are allergies, chronic infections, dental problems, adult onset diabetes, herpes, HIV, Hepatitis C, Hypoglycemia and Rheumatoid Arthritis. Many of these conditions are accompanied with considerable pain which, again, triggers the adrenal gland to respond. Because we are in a constant state of stress, our adrenal gland never gets a chance to rest. Relaxing with a hot cup of herbal tea tends to relax us. When taken to the next level, it becomes a detoxification for your body. Herbal teas with dandelion root, senna leaves, goldenseal root, Echinacea and a blend of other herbs great
natural healing properties.

There are many natural things that can be done to protect and/or restore your adrenal gland. Begin by changing your diet, include fatty acids from fish oil. Next work on reducing and managing the stress in your life, learn to count to 10. Become more organized. This will increase the time you have which will, in turn reduce your stress. If your position calls for it, learn to delegate. Commit to getting a full night's sleep each night. Research and develop the natural herbal program that will best fit your particular health issues. Use a pure product that doesn't have any animal byproducts like most commercial products.

Additional herbs that have been identified as beneficial to adrenal health are Borage seed for improving hormone metabolism and lean muscle mass and red ginseng for memory. Other ingredients of basil, sarsaparilla and licorice root are combined to help improve the function of the adrenal gland. Recognizing your condition and being pro-active can help lead you back on the path to a healthier, happier life.