If you’re reading this article, it’s likely you either suffer from adrenal exhaustion yourself, or you know someone else who does.
That’s because it’s a modern-day epidemic, despite the fact most doctors don’t believe it’s real. However, if you visit a holistic healer, it’s highly likely you’ll be diagnosed with this condition.
I’ve been told on two separate occasions, years apart, that I have adrenal fatigue. It appears as if I recovered, but then I neglected to take care of myself. My diet was terrible. My stress level was off the charts. So, it’s not too surprising I ran into problems again.
My second battle with adrenal fatigue was much worse. In addition to physical tiredness, mental fogginess and sleep problems, I had excruciating nerve pain. The practitioner who diagnosed me said this was caused by low adrenal output.
Best Supplements for Adrenal Exhaustion
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Even though I’ve pretty much recovered, I need to work at keeping my inflammation under control with a good diet and natural herbal anti-inflammatory supplements. (Adrenal fatigue can also cause chronic inflammation.)
Zyflamend was my “go-to” anti-inflammatory when I was at my worst. I took it for months on end, but finally stopped when my body sort of “told” me it was time.
It seemed to work for me, when I needed it.
But is it the best supplement to take for adrenal exhaustion?
Unfortunately, I can’t really answer that question. Everyone is different, with an individual response to any particular remedy. That’s why it’s impossible to pick the “best” adrenal product. What’s good for one person may not help someone else.
Typically, these formulas are made with one or more adaptogens. This is a term that refers to a plant that buffers your body from physical and emotional stress. I’ll probably have to take various adaptogens for the rest of my life.
Then, there are glandular supplements. These are made from ground bovine adrenal. Both practitioners I saw recommended grandular adrenal support capsules, which I took for a limited time, in order to “feed” my adrenal glands.
Glandulars are sold over the counter. But, if you do decide to go this route, I strongly encourage you to only do this while working with a health care professional and on a very short-term basis. The idea is to get your own adrenals working again, and not to circumvent the process with a substitute.
This is also a good time to mention that I’m not a doctor myself. So I can’t give medical advice or make a diagnosis. Please discuss any health concerns with a licensed professional. I’m a wife, mother and health reporter, and all I’m doing is sharing my own story of bouncing back from adrenal fatigue.
Best Supplements For Adrenal Fatigue
The herbal anti-inflammatory formula I now take is not designed specifically for adrenal fatigue. But it contains adaptogenic herbs often suggested for this condition. Among them is holy basil, considered the “Queen or Herbs” in traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine. I take this to help manage my adrenal fatigue.
I don’t take this formula every day. Just when I feel like I need to take the edge off.
You can also find a number of other formulas (as well as single herbs) specifically designed to bolster sluggish adrenals. Out of the single herbs, Rhodiola rosea is probably the best known as a natural adrenal remedy.
Supplements For Adrenal Health
I need to tell you that even the best supplements in the world probably won’t work miracles, in and of themselves. That’s because, according to various holistic health experts, adrenal fatigue develops in response to chronic low-level stress.
This isn’t the type of stress that happens, for instance, if you see a car headed in your direction, and you quickly jump to the side of the road, in order to get out of the way. Instead, it’s pressure that builds slowly, until your adrenals stop functioning well. One scenario that springs to mind is working with a bully boss. Your life is not in immediate danger. But your body still sends out those fight or flight signals.
In my own life, I know I didn’t do enough to address one particular situation. It had spun out of control. Nor did I eat right. Oftentimes, I wouldn’t consume anything green for days. I continued to drink a lot of coffee and eat a lot of sugar.
I knew a little about genetically modified food, and I assumed it wasn’t a good thing. But I didn’t realize (or care) that the reason certain seeds are tampered with is to make them resistant to a controversial herbicide now linked to cancer. My diet is now pretty much GMO free, unless I go to a restaurant. (Very few establishments offer a totally GMO free menu.)
Can You Recover From Adrenal Fatigue?
Looking back on this situation, I’m not too surprised that I developed adrenal fatigue. Actually, my body was pretty resilient. This condition to years to develop, and it also took time to bring it under control. You can read about my recovery here.
Anyway, I’m now eating organic food. I pay more attention to stress. If a particular situation doesn’t feel right, I try to change it. If that’s not possible, I simply remove myself from it.
Also, I’ve used a variety of different healing methods. These include herbs, homeopathy, chiropractic care and essential oils for adrenal support.
Best Diet For Adrenal Fatigue
For the rest of my life, I plan to stick to a basic diet comprised of real food I cook myself. This doesn’t mean that I can go on vacation or go to a restaurant. (I didn’t do this early in my recovery though.) But it does mean I can’t eat the Standard American Diet, day in and day out.
Clean eating isn’t as hard as it sounds, once you get used to it. Right now, For me, I don’t miss the junk food I used to crave. Plus, I feel so much better.
If you do need help with healthy menu planning, I highly recommend looking into Real Plans, a service that can potentially save you time and money as it teaches you how to shop for and cook delicious whole food meals. Click on the picture below for details.
Disclaimer
These statements have not been approved by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use herbal remedies unless directed to do so by a healthcare professional.
