Dr. Masha, ND

Naturopathy

anxiety disorder

Adrenal health: How does it affect everyday life?

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Adrenal hormones can affect our every day living.

Adrenals are glands that are located on the top of both kidneys. They produce many types of hormones in the body.

Adrenal hormones (cortisol, in particular) are released when we experience stress, encouraging physiologic responses that allow us to escape danger: more energy going to the muscles and away from digestive processes, the immune system, and higher brain functions.

This system is designed for short-term stress (such as running from a predator). Problems arise when we are subjected to the unrelenting stressors of modern life, where escape is not guaranteed, like prolonged insomnia, long hours at work, difficult living situations, long hours of studying, taking tests, personal relationships issues.

Continual release of stress hormones has detrimental effects on immunity (including wound healing), digestive function, the functioning of the rest of the endocrine system, mood, and mental acuity. Adrenal imbalance can also be a part (cause or effect) of other endocrine syndromes, such as Type 2 diabetes or hypothyroidism.

One of the most pronounced symptoms of adrenal imbalance is chronic fatigue. Hence, the other name used for the adrenal imbalance is adrenal fatigue. It can be thought of as if adrenals overused, overexerted its supply of stress hormones and now they are not regulated properly. This imbalance can also lower sex hormones, affect thyroid function, and decrease immunity.

How it usually happens – sluggishness in the morning with difficulty waking up, feeling awake immediately after lunch but another energy drop from 2-4 pm, best energy around 6-7 pm, and then feeling tired but with difficulty going to sleep at night, with a burst of energy at midnight.

The other symptoms can be hyperglycemia (high glucose), insulin resistance, weight gain, high blood pressure, depression, anxiety, loss of libido, increased susceptibility to illness, slow wound healing.

Naturopathic doctors (N.D.) address adrenal imbalance and fatigue by recommending basic life style changes (the same time to bed, the same time for meals daily, more time for rest, appropriate exercise routine). Diet can be very helpful in addressing adrenal fatigue. Each meal is perceived as medicine. Whole food balanced nutrition with 90% vegetable intake, high quality protein, complex carbohydrates, fruits and healthy fats. Many herbs (called adaptogens) can be used to heal adrenal glands and allow them to produce the correct amount of cortisol at the correct time (more in the morning, less in the evening, and stable throughout the day). Testing for adrenal hormones can be completed if needed.

If you have any issues with the above listed symptoms, it can be a good time to see a naturopathic doctor to address the cause of the fatigue.

 

 

Naturopathic Approach to Being Anxious

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Anxiety is one of the most common complaints in doctors’ offices.

Modern life demands a lot of energy, attention, mobility and flexibility. There is less time for sleep and rest. We are almost always thinking, planning, solving problems every minute of the day. Life puts pressure on us to achieve more: successful careers, having a family, buying a house, taking care of aging parents, etc.  We eat on the go, sleep less, and are always on electronic devices (it is hard not to  as we are surrounded by them).

Thus, being anxious becomes part of life. It may start interfering with daily activities. There are certain genetic predispositions that can lead to high anxiety states:

  • MTHFR mutations
  •  depression disorders,
  • attention deficit disorder,
  • digestive conditions (irritable bowel syndrome, irritable bowel diseases),
  • PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder),
  • metabolic syndrome,
  • endocrine imbalances (thyroid dysregulation, cortisol imbalance), and many others.

In addition, anxiety can be a side effect of pharmaceutical medications:

  • Albuterol, salmeterol and theophylline
  • Methyldopa
  • Oral contraceptives (birth control pills)
  • Benzedrine, Dexedrine, and Ritalin
  • Steroids, cortisol, dexamethasone, prednisone
  • Thyroid medications
  • Cough medications
  • Decongestants, such as phenylephrine (Sudafed PE).

To name a few.

It is not surprising that most the of population is anxious and may even develop anxiety disorders which can comprise around 3 million of cases in the USA.

How can naturopathic medicine help?

As naturopathic doctors will look at the whole person, take in-depth history and have a number of natural therapies to offer patients.

Anxiety is not always easily treated but if a patient follows the treatment plan and is open to trying different natural modalities, the results can be very promising – anxiety can be significantly diminished.

One of the principles of naturopathic medicine is to identify and remove the cause. Thus, before implementing therapies or even recommending medications, naturopathic doctors strive to pinpoint why anxiety is there in the first place. It can be challenging in some cases but through different types of testing (blood testing including) and history, naturopathic doctors with the help of patients can find the cause of chronic anxious states and reduce them.

Combination of homeopathic medicine, herbs, vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, life style changes can help patient feel less anxious on day- to- day basis.