Stress

     I can not tell you the number of times that I have had someone ask me for advice on herbal support for stress. In fact, even when I meet with a client for a completely different concern, they always seem to bring up their high levels of stress.Now don't get me wrong stress is not necessarily a bad thing, it causes us to react quickly to a stressor. We have all heard of the Fight or Flight response, if you see a bear in the woods you will have one of two responses: stay and fight, or flee the area. The good news is, our bodies were designed to be able to respond to these situations.
     During the Fight or Flight response the adrenal glands release hormones such as adrenaline, norardrenaline and cortisol into the body. These hormones help your body to react, putting energy into the parts of your body that need it at that moment and taking it away from the ones that are not as important for the time being. For example, blood flow will increase and the air passages will dilate, making it easier for one to run or breathe.
     Unfortunately, many people in the U.S. experiences an ongoing state of stress, causing the adrenal glands to overwork and eventually burn out. This is known as adrenal fatigue. Some common side effects to adrenal fatigue include: feeling tired for no apparent reason, difficulty getting out of bed in the morning, craving sweet or salty foods, unexplained weight gain or loss, and so on.
     The good news is that there is an amazing group of herbs called adaptogens that help the body adapt to stress by supporting the adrenal glands. These herbs can help to balance hormones and bring homeostasis to the body. The term "adaptongenic substance" was first coined in 1946, but there is evidence of these herbs being used thousands of years ago by China, Japan, Korea, Russia, and Europe for stress, fatigue and anxiety.
     If you know that you undergo large amounts of stress, or can relate to any of the symptoms of adrenal fatigue, you may want to consider talking to an herbalist about finding an adaptogen herb that is right for you.




*All information on this page is intended for educational uses only, and is not to be taken as medical advice. It is always important that you consult your health care professional before taking any herbs or natural remedies, as it may do harm to your body or conflict with medication.*