Welcome to Dr. James Wilson's Adrenal Fatigue Blog

School Yourself on Back to School Stress

Posted on August 23, 2012 by Dr. Lise Naugle
back to school stress by Flickr user Avolore

Do you feel crumpled up by the stress of school? Image credit: Flickr user Avolore

It’s back to school time, and the hope of free time springs eternal in parents’ souls. Then, splat! oatmeal lands on the Cocker Spaniel’s head, bringing buckets of laughter from your 5 year old and tear-filled yelps from your toddler. You wipe the dog down, console the toddler and urge the kindergartener to remember to turn in his permission slip as you usher him through the door and grab your presentation for your 9:00 meeting as you go. The reality of juggling a nine to five job with the increased demands of kids’ schedules doesn’t leave much free time.

Studies on cortisol, the body’s chief stress hormone, reflect what working mothers already know: being a working mom is stressful. In one study, working women with children secreted significantly more cortisol than working women without children, regardless of income, marital status or social support. These moms also reported more strain at homethan did women with no children. In another study, working mothers who reported higher levels of parenting stress had higher average morning cortisol levels on workdays than they did on weekends. What’s more: the mothers who reported high job strain, in addition to high parenting stress, not only had higher cortisol levels on weekdays, but they also had steeper increases in their cortisol levels on workday mornings than they did on weekends.

are you under stress by Flickr user stopherjones

Being a working parent can spike your stress. Image credit: Flickr user stopherjones

Cortisol is one of the primary hormones secreted by the adrenal glands, and it helps your body adapt to stress. If you have a healthy stress response, the amount of cortisol

circulating in your body will increase as the demands on you increase. That rise in cortisol allows your body to meet the challenge. In addition, cortisol levels have a daily rhythm, with morning levels typically the highest of the day. How high the hormone levels rise in the morning is thought to be indicative of the perceived challenges for the day.

If you have an impaired stress response or adrenal fatigue, recognize that parenting, although rewarding, can be demanding and that back to school time may add some additional challenges. The return of the school year can bring increased purchases for clothing and school supplies and subsequent financial strain; issues with separation or fitting in for your children; increased schedule and “chauffeur” demands on you and your time; and simply an adjustment to a new routine.

During the fall rush, take time to do those things that support you and your ability to handle stress:

B-R-E-A-T-H-E. Even though it may feel like it (or your child insists that it is), most matters aren’t life or death. When confronted with a challenging situation, take a breath, put the situation in perspective, and deal with it accordingly.

Rejuvenate and restore your body and mood: exercise, read, spend time alone in nature, or play and laugh with your kids.

dog relaxing by Flickr user Gianluca Neri

Wouldn't it be nice to be this stress-free? Image credit: Flickr user Gianluca Neri

Eat nutritious foods and avoid the temptation to seek solace in sugar or fat which, happens under stress.

Use supplements designed to support your adrenals/stress response system and your immune system (for all those germs your kids generously share with you).

Ask for help when you need it. Despite what the tapes in your head may tell you, you don’t have to be superwoman.

Make sleep a priority. Getting too little sleep can disrupt the normal cortisol rhythm and impair your ability to manage stress.

Spend time with “grown up” friends and get the social support and interaction you need.

Working can be hard. Being a parent can be hard. Doing both can, at times, feel almost impossible. Usher in the new school year with a little more understanding of the stress you’re under; a little more compassion for yourself and your body; and a few more tools to help you cope. Oh, and make it a great year.

About the Author:

Dr. Lise NaugleDr. Lise Naugle is an associate of Dr. James L. Wilson. She assists healthcare professionals with clinical assessment and treatment protocols related to adrenal dysfunction and stress, and questions regarding the use of Doctor Wilson’s Original Formulations supplements. With eleven years in private practice and a focus on stress, adrenals, hormonal balance and mind-body connection, she offers both clinical astuteness and a wealth of practical knowledge. Dr. Naugle also maintains updated information about the latest scientific research on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function, endocrine balance and nutritional support for stress and develops educational materials about stress and health for clinicians and their patients.

References:

Hibel LC, Mercado E, Trumbell JM. Parenting Stressors and Morning Cortisol in a Sample of Working Mothers. J Fam Psychol. 2012 Aug 6.

Luecken LJ, Suarez EC, Kuhn CM, Barefoot JC, Blumenthal JA, Siegler IC, Williams RB. Stress in employed women: impact of marital status and children at home on neurohormone output and home strain. Psychosom Med. 1997 Jul-Aug;59(4):352-9.

 

Share and Enjoy

No Comments: Click here to write one

Tags: , , , , , , |

Exercising for stress relief? Have fun!

Posted on August 15, 2012 by Dr. Lise Naugle

If your stress response system is compromised, either reacting too much or too little, it is important to tailor the amount of exercise to a level your body can handle. This is because high intensity exercise or exercise of an extended duration tends to elicit a greater stress response. Adrenaline is secreted when exercise intensity is greater than 60% of your maximum and cortisol increases when exercise intensity rises above 85% or when you exercise for more than an hour. Here are some tips on exercising with adrenal fatigue:

  • Exercise should not grueling, debilitating or highly competitive
  • Pick something enjoyable! Remember: you’re working to bring back pleasure
  • On days you’re just not feeling it, start slow and ease into it
  • To avoid procrastination, set a routine time to exercise
  • Don’t overdo it! If you feel worse after a workout, take it easier next time
  • Exercise at your own pace – as stamina increases, so can your workout

bowl of self esteem by Flickr user JamiesrabbitsPhysical activity has a number of benefits, including promoting stress reduction, reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, and improving self-esteem. However, stress (either physical or mental) can actually influence the degree of benefit that exercise has on your body. Not only that, but stress can affect your perception and interpretation of both the difficulty and enjoyment of exercise.

Any kind of stress, including exercise, can elicit a stress response—a group of physiological adaptations that enable you to manage that stress. Hormones like adrenaline promote the “fight or flight” reaction. You have probably felt the effects of this if you’ve ever been competitive in your sport; poised and ready, your heart pounds and your muscles tense as you wait for the whistle, the gun or the pitch. At the same time, your pupils dilate while blood, fuel and nutrients are rushed to your skeletal muscles so that you can run, throw, swing a bat, or kick quickly and powerfully. Another stress hormone, cortisol, moves stored energy into your muscles to allow them you continue to perform even after you get tired. Your body’s ability to increase these chemicals to adapt to stress and then return to normal levels after the stress is over is not only helpful in a game, match, or race, but beneficial to survival.

stressed firefighter by Flickr user Oberazzi

Stressful occupations can make it hard for the stress response to turn off. Image credit: Flickr user Oberazzi

Sometimes this response gets out of balance. If you are subject to frequent extreme mental and physical stress, such as a police officer or firefighter might be, your body may have difficulty turning the stress response off and allowing you to recover. Having stress hormones circulating continually can actually increase some of the risks you were trying to reduce. If your stress has continued to the point that your stress response system can no longer respond appropriately, such as in the case of adrenal fatigue, you may have difficulty even secreting enough hormones to feel energized and able to handle day to day stressors, much less a vigorous athletic event.

Mental stress, even a relatively minor one—such as performing math problems—can dramatically increase your body’s stress response to exercise. Heart rate, breathing rate, and stress hormone levels (including cortisol) increase more when mental stress is added to physical exercise. If even a small mental stress exacerbates the cardiovascular, respiratory and stress responses of exercise, imagine the difference a larger stress can make. People who exercise when a mental stress is present perceive greater anxiety and report greater overall effort than they do with the same degree of physical exertion without the mental stress.

cat streching by Flickr user notanartist

Stretching is a great way to get some physical activity in. Image credit: Flickr user notanartist

These findings have important implications for training. If you have a diminished stress response or adrenal fatigue, you are probably more likely to benefit from an enjoyable, low stress form of moderate exercise for less than an hour than from highly competitive exercise, high intensity exercise, or exercise that lasts for more than an hour.  Longer, more intense or more mentally stressful exercise can put additional demands on your stress response system. Have fun, take it easy, and listen to your body to get the benefits you want from exercise, both physically and psychologically.

About the Author

Dr. Lise NaugleDr. Lise Naugle is an associate of Dr. James L. Wilson. She assists healthcare professionals with clinical assessment and treatment protocols related to adrenal dysfunction and stress, and questions regarding the use of Doctor Wilson’s Original Formulations supplements. With eleven years in private practice and a focus on stress, adrenals, hormonal balance and mind-body connection, she offers both clinical astuteness and a wealth of practical knowledge. Dr. Naugle also maintains updated information about the latest scientific research on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function, endocrine balance and nutritional support for stress and develops educational materials about stress and health for clinicians and their patients.

References

Webb HE, Weldy ML, Fabianke-Kadue EC, Orndorff GR, Kamimori GH, Acevedo EO. Psychological stress during exercise: cardiorespiratory and hormonal responses. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2008 Dec;104(6):973-81. Epub 2008 Sep 2.

Share and Enjoy

4 Comments: Click here to read/write comments

Tags: , , , , , |

Travel Stress Affects Those Staying Behind

Posted on July 24, 2012 by Dr. Lise Naugle

It’s easy to appreciate how stressful traveling can be on the traveler: long drives in rental cars, racing to make flight connections, foraging for something healthier than a miniature bag of pretzels for sustenance and overcoming the ennui of jet lag. However, travel can be just as stressful, if not more so, for the person who remains at home while his or her significant other is out of town.

Stress research reiterates again and again that partnered people experience less morbidity, mortality, and distress than their single counterparts. This is believed to be an effect of the social support, feelings of belonging, and attachment that occur in such a relationship and help the members of the couple deal with day to day challenges and stressors.

i miss you by Flickr user Joseph Cote

Image credit: Flickr user Joseph Cote

One group of researchers wanted to discover what happens to couples when this support is temporarily taken away. They investigated the effect of a short-term separation (such as that brought about by work-related travel) on mood, behavior, and the stress response system in travelers and their home-bound partners before, during and after a 4-7 day separation. In addition, they explored how these responses vary between people with different attachment styles. An attachment style reflects the way an individual reacts in an interpersonal relationship. People with an avoidant attachment style have a fear of intimacy, tend to mistrust others and keep their distance to some degree. People with an anxious attachment style have a fear of abandonment and tend to require a great deal of reassurance from their partners.

The researchers illuminated some interesting results:

Mood

Positive mood decreased during the separation and recovered during reunion for both members of the couple, but there was a more dramatic decline for the homebound partner. Female homebound partners actually reported an increase in negative mood during the separation. (This was the only place in the study in which there was a gender difference). Interestingly, longer phone calls -but not number of phone calls, emails, or messages- helped to alleviate some of the decline in positive mood.

Sleep

Both the partner traveling and the homebound partner experienced more sleeping problems during the separation.

Cortisol secretion

Cortisol is the primary hormone involved in the body’s stress response system, and its secretion is increased under conditions of real or perceived stress. The study showed that homebound partners who had high levels of attachment anxiety had increased cortisol secretion every day that their partner was gone, illustrating that the absence of their partner was a significant stress for them emotionally and physiologically. Individuals with low levels of attachment anxiety did not experience the same increase in cortisol.

bad mood by Flickr user Frank Wuestefeld

A traveling mate can put your mood in the dumps. Image credit: Flickr user Frank Wuestefeld

The take home message is that travel is stressful, not only for the individuals who are actually heading into the wild blue yonder, but even—and maybe especially—for their partners who are staying behind. If you are already dealing with excessive stress or adrenal fatigue or know that you have some degree of attachment anxiety, recognize that if your partner travels, the time that he or she is away may be a more taxing time for you. Give yourself extra support through rest; stress relief such as yoga or moderate exercise; social and emotional support from friends; participation in enjoyable recreational activities; and the use of supplements which support your stress response system. In addition, give yourself permission to spend a little more time on the phone with your significant other while he or she is away; doing so may have the power to boost your mood and alleviate some stress until they return.

About the author:

Dr. Lise NaugleDr. Lise Naugle is an associate of Dr. James L. Wilson. She assists healthcare professionals with clinical assessment and treatment protocols related to adrenal dysfunction and stress, and questions regarding the use of Doctor Wilson’s Original Formulations supplements. With eleven years in private practice and a focus on stress, adrenals, hormonal balance and mind-body connection, she offers both clinical astuteness and a wealth of practical knowledge. Dr. Naugle also maintains updated information about the latest scientific research on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function, endocrine balance and nutritional support for stress and develops educational materials about stress and health for clinicians and their patients.

References:

Horwitz AV. McLaughlin J, White HR. How the negative and positive aspects of partner relationships affect the mental health of young married people. Journal of Health and Social Behavior. 1998; 39 (124-136).

Verbrugge LM. Marital status and health. Jrnl of marriage and the family. 1979; May (41):267-85.

Diamond LM, Hicks AM, Otter-Henderson KD. Every time you go away: changes in affect, behavior, and physiology associated with travel-related separations from romantic partners. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2008; Aug;95(2):385-403.

Share and Enjoy

1 Comment: Click here to read/write comment

Tags: , , , |

De-stressing your vacation part 2: Avoiding travel related illness

Posted on July 16, 2012 by Dr. Lise Naugle

De-stressing your vacation part 2: Avoiding travel related illness

view from plane on city by Flickr user Hyougushi

Image credit: Flickr user Hyougushi

You’ve been planning your vacation for months. Finally, you step onto the sand, gaze across the waves and breathe in the fresh salty air—then erupt in a coughing fit. Travel can compromise your immune system. In fact, up to 20% of passengers may develop symptoms of a cold within a week after flying.1 Decreased air pressure, and the associated stress, can cause a transient increase in markers of inflammation and impaired immune regulation.2  One study even showed that changes in healthy people’s cellular immune system after a long distance flight were similar to changes seen in the immune systems of patients with stage 2 HIV (human immunodeficiency virus).3

Travel can also bring exposure—to new experiences and new cultures, yes—but also to illness. The arm rest you grab or the luggage you lift from the carousel may have just been touched by someone with cold or flu germs on their fingers, or you may have spent the last 5 hours of your life crammed into a compartment beside someone constantly coughing and sneezing.

Fortunately, there are things you can do to decrease your odds of bringing home something other than a t-shirt from your next vacation destination:

  1. washing your hands by Flickr user a cLiL to cLiMB

    Image credit: Flickr user a cLiL to cLiMB

    Get enough rest. Sleep supports both the stress system and the immune system. Going into a trip rested and healthy increases your ability to withstand the stressors encountered along the way.

  2. Wash your hands frequently. This is still one of the best ways to prevent the spread of disease.
  3. Drink plenty of water. This keeps the mucus membranes in your nose and throat hydrated and able to resist bacteria and viruses.
  4. Eat healthy foods. Don’t use vacation as an excuse to eat sugary junk, which also impairs your immune system.
  5. Travel with immune support. Herbs like echinacea, oregano and thyme can aid an immune system under attack.
  6. Learn to roll with the punches. Travel invariably brings unknowns and surprises. By accepting these changes as part of the adventure rather than trying to control every detail, you keep your stress hormones—and the resulting immune changes—to a minimum.

Read part one to learn about jet lag and how to support your body through changing time zones.

About the author:

Dr. Lise NaugleDr. Lise Naugle is an associate of Dr. James L. Wilson. She assists healthcare professionals with clinical assessment and treatment protocols related to adrenal dysfunction and stress, and questions regarding the use of Doctor Wilson’s Original Formulations supplements. With eleven years in private practice and a focus on stress, adrenals, hormonal balance and mind-body connection, she offers both clinical astuteness and a wealth of practical knowledge. Dr. Naugle also maintains updated information about the latest scientific research on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function, endocrine balance and nutritional support for stress and develops educational materials about stress and health for clinicians and their patients.

References:

  1. Zitter JN, Mazonson PD, Miller DP, Hulley SB, Balmes JR. Aircraft cabin air recirculation and symptoms of the common cold. JAMA. 2002 Jul 24-31;288(4):483-6.
  2. Wilder-Smith A, Mustafa FB, Peng CM, Earnest A, Koh D, Lin G, Hossain I, MacAry PA. Transient immune impairment after a simulated long-haul flight. Aviat Space Environ Med. 2012 Apr;83(4):418-23.
  3. Rose DM, Jung D, Tamm W, Keth A, Loos AH. Changes in cellular proliferation rate of lymphocytes after long-distance flights as a possible risk for patients with HIV-infection. Eur J Med Res. 2000 Sep 18;5(9):411-4.

Share and Enjoy

No Comments: Click here to write one

Tags: , , , , , |

De-stressing Your Vacation Part 1 – Overcoming Jet Lag

Posted on July 9, 2012 by Dr. Lise Naugle

De-stressing Your Vacation, Part 1 – Overcoming Jet Lag

the jetlag society by Flickr user Paul Keller

Are you a member? Image credit: Flickr user Paul Keller

You’ve likely experienced that compilation of symptoms that hits us like a hammer to the head as we step from the plane onto the exit ramp: fatigue, grogginess, decreased coordination, insomnia, and maybe even a little mild depression. Jet lag is a result of the body’s internal circadian (daily) rhythms being out of sync with external time, and it happens as a result of traveling across time zones. (A similar thing happens with changing shift work schedules.) Hormones such as cortisol (an adrenal hormone that controls the stress response) and melatonin (a hormone from the pineal gland that affects sleep) rise and fall at certain times of the day or night. When the external light-dark cycle changes abruptly, these daily rhythms get out of sync and can send our bodies into a tailspin.

A recent study showed that the adrenal clock is critical in these circadian rhythms, and that it is the timing of adrenal hormone release that regulates resynchronization after transmeridian (across time zone) travel. The researchers found that when the adrenals are compromised, it takes longer for the body to reset its internal clock. 1

departures by Flickr user Raymond June

Crossing time zones can leave you feeling zoned out. Image credit: Flickr user Raymond June

Another group of researchers looked at the effect of stress on the ability to adapt to circadian rhythm changes. They found that it took an average of 20-30% longer for stressed animals to recover from a light-dark shift change than non-stressed animals.2 Together, these studies illustrate the importance of adrenal hormones on responding to the challenges of traveling across time zones. Either compromised adrenals or stress on healthy adrenals can hamper the body’s ability to adapt to time zone changes.  By supporting the adrenals and stress response system before and during travel, you may be able to reduce the symptoms and duration of jet lag.

Some things you can do to overcome jet lag:

  1. Get plenty of rest before you begin your travels. Rest and restorative sleep are some of the best ways to support your adrenals and stress response system.
  2. A few days before you leave, begin shifting your bed time and wake up time closer to those of your destination.
  3. Consider exposure to a light box or natural light when you wake to reset your internal clock.
  4. Support your adrenals throughout the trip, especially first thing in the morning when your natural production of cortisol is highest. Nutrients like magnesium, B vitamins, vitamin C and E help produce the hormones you need to handle stress, while herbs such as ashwagandha, eleutherococcus, and maca support your body during stress.
  5. Keep your blood sugar stable by eating moderate portions of healthy foods frequently. Letting your blood sugar drop requires the body to secrete a great deal of the stress hormone cortisol to bring your blood sugar back into balance.
  6. Have fun and let go of perfection. Allowing yourself to adapt to whatever the trip might bring instead of insisting it go a certain way reduces your stress and supports your stress response system.
  7. Go play! Moderate activity is a great stress release. Just remember to listen to your body and don’t overdo with a “weekend warrior” type attitude.

Continue to part 2 – Avoiding Travel-related Illness

About the Author

Dr. Lise NaugleDr. Lise Naugle is an associate of Dr. James L. Wilson. She assists healthcare professionals with clinical assessment and treatment protocols related to adrenal dysfunction and stress, and questions regarding the use of Doctor Wilson’s Original Formulations supplements. With eleven years in private practice and a focus on stress, adrenals, hormonal balance and mind-body connection, she offers both clinical astuteness and a wealth of practical knowledge. Dr. Naugle also maintains updated information about the latest scientific research on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function, endocrine balance and nutritional support for stress and develops educational materials about stress and health for clinicians and their patients.

References:

  1. Kiessling S, Eichele G, Oster H. Adrenal glucocorticoids have a key role in circadian resynchronization in a mouse model of jet lag. J Clin Invest. 2010 Jul;120(7):2600-9. doi: 10.1172/JCI41192. Epub 2010 Jun 23.
  2. Mohawk JA, Lee TM. Restraint stress delays reentrainment in male and female diurnal and nocturnal rodents. J Biol Rhythms. 2005 Jun;20(3):245-56.

Share and Enjoy

No Comments: Click here to write one

Tags: , , , , |

Adrenal Fatigue and Lifestyle: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Posted on July 2, 2012 by Dr. James L. Wilson

Separating the Good from the Bad and the Ugly

It is important to be able to distinguish which things in your life are contributing to your health and which things are detracting from it. A good first step in helping yourself obtain a lifestyle you love is to make a list of all the things that are helping and hurting your life and health. To help you get clear on this I use the following very simple but informative exercise:

Here's an example of a Good for Me / Bad for Me chart

Here's an example of a Good for Me / Bad for Me chart (click chart for larger view)

1. Take a piece of paper, date it and draw a vertical line down the center. At the top of the left column put “good for me” and at the top of the right column put a “bad for me.” In the “good” column list all the things that you feel contribute to your health and well-being. These can be physical or leisure activities, exercises, relationships, work, family, attitudes and anything else that makes you feel good and contributes to your sense of well-being. Note: Do not list things that “should” be good for you, or which you do not really find pleasurable or beneficial. Do not idealize and put what ought to be good for you.

2. In the “bad” column, list everything that seems detrimental to your health and well-being. Again, they can be anything you are doing or are involved with that is not good for you. If some aspects of a situation are good and some bad, separate them out. For example: you may have a job that you love, but the grueling hours and the fast pace are exhausting. In this case you put your job in the “good” column and the excess hours and high pressure demands in the “bad” column.

Use as many sheets of paper as you need. Take as much time as necessary. You may have to do this in 2 or 3 sessions. There is no maximum or minimum number of items to put in either column. Keep in mind there is no pass or fail, no right or wrong answers. The more forthcoming you can be with information, the more you can help yourself.

Repeating the Good and Eliminating the Bad (and the Ugly)

check mark and x mark3. Now, review each column and then circle the five most significant entries in each column. Rank each of those five from 1 to 5, with 1 being the most important and 5 being the least.

4. Now go back to the top 5 in the “bad” column. Identify exactly what about these items is so hard on you. Select the worst one from the “Bad” column (the one you ranked #1), and commit to eliminating this item from your life. Devise a plan for accomplishing this and the date by which it will be done.

5. After you have eliminated its negative influence on you, go to #2 on your “Bad” list and do the same. Continue until the first 5 have been eliminated or rendered powerless in your life. If you get stuck, stay focused and try different approaches. If you find it’s something you truly cannot eliminate from your life, “reframe” the item and think of how you can use it to your advantage.

6. Now go to the “Good” column. Note the five things you have circled.

See how you can do more of the five things you have circled, or things similar to them. The idea is to have more and more good things in your life as you eliminate or render powerless the negative ones, tipping the balance in favor of a life you love to live.

Share and Enjoy

2 Comments: Click here to read/write comments

Tags: , , , , , |

How Dr. Wilson’s Supplement Quartet Helps Support Adrenal Fatigue and Stress

Posted on June 28, 2012 by Dr. Wilson's Adrenal Fatigue Team

The adrenal glands must respond to every stress by producing hormones that enable the body to react to the stressor and maintain homeostasis. Hormones released by the adrenal glands affect every cell and system in the body. Healthy adrenals and adrenal hormone production are essential to overall good health, as well as the ability to handle stress. The four expertly formulated supplements in Dr. Wilson’s Adrenal Fatigue Quartet provide nutrients, plant extracts and natural building blocks that support optimal adrenal structure and function.

Each of these four products enhances different aspects of adrenal health. When taken together, they provide comprehensive adrenal support when taken together according to the guidelines in Dr. Wilson’s Program for Adrenal Fatigue.

Adrenal RebuilderAdrenal Rebuilder® is the cornerstone supplement of Dr. Wilson’s program. The Rebuilder contains a balanced blend of glandular tissue concentrates from glands involved in the stress response. These concentrates are in their natural form but processed to remove hormones, providing fundamental support to a stress-depleted body, and help fortify and revitalize healthy structure and function in the adrenals and other endocrine glands affected by stress.

Super Adrenal Stress FormulaSuper Adrenal Stress Formula® contains the specific vitamins and minerals necessary for healthy hormone production. These nutrients are released in an integrated sustained release format that allows them to be gradually absorbed for maximum absorption. Super Adrenal Stress Formula provides a precise combination of nutrients your adrenal glands need to help promote normal adrenal hormone production and adrenal function so you can stay energized and healthy, even when stress is chomping at your heels.

Herbal Adrenal Support FormulaHerbal Adrenal Support Formula® is a liquid herbal composed of four organically grown herbs known as adaptogens (natural, non-toxic substances that act in the body to support normal function). These herbs work together to support adrenal gland function and mechanisms that control the stress response. Optimum function of the adrenals and HPA (hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal) axis promotes sound sleep, steady energy levels and sense of calm, and helps maintain hormone levels during and after menopause.

Adrenal C FormulaAdrenal C Formula® is designed to meet the increased needs for vitamin C during stress or adrenal fatigue. Stress rapidly uses up vitamin C, especially in the adrenal glands. This unique complex provides high quality nutrition to optimize vitamin C activity and support adrenal health, plus specific minerals that buffer and reduce the acidity of vitamin C, making it gentle on sensitive digestive systems. The sustained release format allows the ingredients to be gradually absorbed to optimize absorption and minimize loss through excretion.

Share and Enjoy

4 Comments: Click here to read/write comments

Tags: , , , , , |

Effects of hysterectomy on adrenal glands & Handling stress through rotating shifts and travel

Posted on June 25, 2012 by Dr. Lise Naugle

letter QWhat’s the effect on the adrenal glands when a woman has a total hysterectomy and the ovaries are removed? I am asking specifically about women after menopause.

A total hysterectomy is the removal of the entire uterus, as opposed to a partial letter Ahysterectomy which is the removal of only a portion of the uterus. In either case, the ovaries remain intact and continue to function and produce estrogen. An oophorectomy is the removal of the ovaries (the glands which produce estrogen in a woman’s body) and is sometimes, but not always, done at the same time as a hysterectomy.

In the case of either natural menopause or an oophorectomy (“surgical menopause”), the ovaries no longer make estrogen, but small amounts continue to be produced by the adrenal glands and the fat cells. In addition, the adrenals produce other hormones which can be converted by fat, muscle, and breast tissue into estrogens. However, the amount of estrogens circulating in a woman’s body after menopause is much lower than the amount circulating in her body prior to menopause.

letter QDo you have any advice for someone who works rotating shifts? I am a police officer and we rotate days/nights every 2 months. I NEVER feel good. and Can you travel through different timezones when you have adrenal fatigue? If yes, how do you prepare?

letter Afemale cop by Flickr user MikeSchinkelRotating shifts and traveling through different time zones are hard on the body because many hormones have daily cyclical patterns that are related to light and dark and affect the sleep/wake cycle. For example: cortisol, one of the primary adrenal hormones, typically reaches its highest level during early morning, then falls throughout the rest of the day to reach its lowest level in the middle of the night. In contrast, melatonin—a hormone secreted by the pineal gland that assists sleep—rises at night. However, changing shifts and time zones disrupt the normal rhythms of these hormones.  This is why it takes most people a few days to adjust. If your adrenals and/or stress response system are compromised, it will be significantly more difficult to adapt to these types of changes. In addition, these time changes are stressors themselves and put increased demand on your stress response system.

Some of the best things you can do to help your body adapt to the change are the things we’ve mentioned over and over to support your nervous system and adrenals:

-Get enough rest
-Eat nutritious foods
-Keep your blood sugar stable by avoiding sugary foods or skipping meals
-Avoid stimulants
-Get the proper nutrients such as B vitamins, vitamin C, and magnesium
-Use adaptogens—herbs which help the body deal with stress and adapt to change—such as ashwaganda, maca, and eleutherococcus

In addition to this, there are some specific things you can do to help your body adapt to the new sleep schedule:

downward dog yoga pose•Begin to relax and do quiet activities about an hour before bed to trigger the parasympathetic nervous system (the part of the nervous system that helps you relax) using things like warm baths, massage, or yoga.

•Avoid television and computers for at least an hour before bedtime and keep your sleeping area very dark. Light (especially light shining directly in your eyes) shuts off the body’s production of melatonin.

•Keep your sleeping area comfortably cool. Sleep is associated with a lowered body temperature.

•Consider sitting under a full spectrum light for 30 minutes when you wake. This helps to reset the circadian (daily) rhythm.

•Keep a note pad by your bed. If your brain has difficulty turning off at your new bedtime and bombards you with concerns and “to dos,” you can write them down to deal with later and allow your mind to relax.

About the Author

Dr. Lise NaugleDr. Lise Naugle is an associate of Dr. James L. Wilson. She assists healthcare professionals with clinical assessment and treatment protocols related to adrenal dysfunction and stress, and questions regarding the use of Doctor Wilson’s Original Formulations supplements. With eleven years in private practice and a focus on stress, adrenals, hormonal balance and mind-body connection, she offers both clinical astuteness and a wealth of practical knowledge. Dr. Naugle also maintains updated information about the latest scientific research on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function, endocrine balance and nutritional support for stress and develops educational materials about stress and health for clinicians and their patients.

Share and Enjoy

No Comments: Click here to write one

Tags: , , , , , , |

Is Taking Cortisol a Safe Way to Treat Adrenal Fatigue?

Posted on June 19, 2012 by Dr. Lise Naugle

letter QIs Isocort a safe way to treat my adrenal fatigue? I have been self-treating for over a year now, and I get ahead and then life issues, (surgery, stress, job stress) kick me back down. I have not wanted to treat with any kind of cortisol for fear of making my adrenals shut down, but I don’t feel that I am getting anywhere with supplements. I am on Dr. Wilson’s tincture of ashwagandha, Siberian ginseng, maca and licorice right now. I think I am allergic to one of the ingredients because I had an itchy rash while taking it, and when I went off, it went away. I would appreciate any suggestions on safely treating with Isocort, or other form of cortisol. 

letter AThere are some cases in which giving cortisol temporarily and then weaning off of it appropriately may help adrenal fatigue if given in conjunction with supplements which support your body’s stress response system. It is important to note this should be done under the watchful care of a healthcare professional. However, I do not recommend using cortisol alone (either plant based or synthetic), and I recommend extreme caution in using it at all, especially if you are not under the care and supervision of a medical professional.

thermostat by Flickr user super-structureThe body has a very complex system of checks and balances to maintain appropriate hormone levels. One way it does this is through a signaling process called negative feedback. Negative feedback occurs when an optimal level of hormone is reached and the hormone “feeds back” this information to the brain to turn off production. It works sort of like a thermostat that turns off the heater once a certain temperature is reached. If you take hormones, they can send this negative feedback signal to turn off the body’s own production and can eventually shut down the glands’ ability to produce hormone at all. (This is why men’s testes can shrink when they take anabolic steroids).

Taking cortisol may increase your energy and make you feel better in the short term, but that doesn’t mean that it is helping your body heal. (Many people feel better and more energized taking amphetamines, but I don’t think that provides a good medical rationale to take speed.) Taking cortisol alone does nothing to support the adrenal glands to make their own cortisol or to heal. A healthier approach is to give the adrenals the building blocks they need to regenerate, the nutrients they need to synthesize hormones, herbs to help support the body during stress, and antioxidants to protect the adrenals from damage as they produce the hormones. The herbal tincture you mentioned does one part of that (helping the body adapt to stress). You may be able to find the herbs individually and eliminate the one that is causing your problems.

In treating adrenal fatigue, I recommend a complete lifestyle and treatment approach: eliminating sources of stress and learning healthy ways of dealing with it, eating regular nutrient dense meals to prevent blood sugar fluctuations, getting sufficient rest and moderate exercise, and nutritionally supporting the body and the adrenals in their recovery rather than simply taking a hormone which could make you feel better temporarily but has the potential to create more problems in the future.

About the Author

Dr. Lise NaugleDr. Lise Naugle is an associate of Dr. James L. Wilson. She assists healthcare professionals with clinical assessment and treatment protocols related to adrenal dysfunction and stress, and questions regarding the use of Doctor Wilson’s Original Formulations supplements. With eleven years in private practice and a focus on stress, adrenals, hormonal balance and mind-body connection, she offers both clinical astuteness and a wealth of practical knowledge. Dr. Naugle also maintains updated information about the latest scientific research on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function, endocrine balance and nutritional support for stress and develops educational materials about stress and health for clinicians and their patients.

Image credit: Thermostat by Flickr user super-structure

Share and Enjoy

4 Comments: Click here to read/write comments

Tags: , , , , |

Why Does Adrenal Fatigue Give Me a Racing Feeling?

Posted on June 18, 2012 by Dr. Lise Naugle

Q: My cortisol levels are finally normal after several years of being quite low. However, it’s taking my body much longer to regain strength and i still “race” inside all the time. What exactly is going on physiologically when i race? It increases with stress, being overtired and food reactions?

A: To answer your question I need to explain a little bit about the anatomy and physiology of the adrenal glands. The adrenals are two small glands that secrete a large number of hormones, most of which are designed to help the body meet the demands of stress in one way or another. Stress is a broad term and may be mental or physical, including such things as illness, food sensitivities, extreme physical exertion, being overly tired or overly hungry, or feeling emotionally “stressed out.”

racing terriers by Flickr user garryknight

Does adrenal fatigue and stress give you that racing feeling?

The adrenal glands have two primary layers: an outer layer, called the cortex; and an inner layer, the medulla. Each layer is responsible for secreting different hormones. Cortisol, the primary hormone responsible for the body’s stress response, is one of the hormones secreted by the cortex. Adrenal fatigue is characterized by the inability to secrete enough cortisol to meet demand when the body is under stress.

The medulla, or inner portion of the adrenal glands, secretes other hormones, including epinephrine and norepinephrine (also called adrenaline and noradrenaline). These are secreted under stress as well and help create the familiar “fight or flight” response in which heart rate increases, airways open, and blood is shunted to skeletal muscles.

If a person has adrenal fatigue and cannot secrete sufficient cortisol levels under stress (which can occur even after cortisol levels have returned to normal levels at rest), the body will still secrete more epinephrine and norepinephrine (sometimes in even greater quantities), inducing the familiar racing heart and associated symptoms.

About the Author

Dr. Lise NaugleDr. Lise Naugle is an associate of Dr. James L. Wilson. She assists healthcare professionals with clinical assessment and treatment protocols related to adrenal dysfunction and stress, and questions regarding the use of Doctor Wilson’s Original Formulations supplements. With eleven years in private practice and a focus on stress, adrenals, hormonal balance and mind-body connection, she offers both clinical astuteness and a wealth of practical knowledge. Dr. Naugle also maintains updated information about the latest scientific research on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function, endocrine balance and nutritional support for stress and develops educational materials about stress and health for clinicians and their patients.

Image credit: Racing terriers by Flickr user garryknight

Share and Enjoy

1 Comment: Click here to read/write comment

Tags: , , , |