Aromatherapy for Adrenal Support - Using Essential Oils to Help Adrernal Fatigue Are you feeling tired all the time? Morning esspresso not giving the same lift it used to? Getting that feeling that you've been worn thin by your busy schedule, and you're just not recovering? These may be signs of depleted adrenal glands - a syndrome known as Adrenal Fatigue. Thankfully, a few commonly-available essential oils can offer support in regenerating over-tired adrenal glands. What is the syndrome of Adrenal Fatigue? The adrenal glands are your body's most important part of the endocrine system for dealing with stress. These tiny glands, each about the size of a walnut and the weight of a grape, sit atop each kidney. These glands produce important hormones such as cortisol, a controller of your energy output, and pregnenolone, the precursor from which the body's steroid hormones are made, including DHEA, progesterone, testosterone, and the estrogens. Pregnenolone is has been shown to be a powerful memory enhancer - it will make you smarter (possibly), it also brings about feelings of well-being (hopefully) and can enhance your ability to deal with stress. Low-output adrenal function can have a variety of common health symptoms, including insomnia and depressed immune system function. Many lifestyle factors can contribute to adrenal fatigue, and generally these can be lumped into the category of too much stress. Too little sleep, poor eating habits, to little time for play and family life, surgery, illness, injury, and the excessive use of caffeine are a few common causes. Modifying these 'habits' are of critical importance for long-term regeneration of the adrenal glands and returning their hormonal output to normal levels. Thankfully, adrenal gland-supporting essential oils can be helpful in bringing balance and assisting in restoring adrenal output in mild-to-moderate cases of adrenal fatigue. Using these oils may enable 'breaking the cycle' of stimulant and sugar use that created the problem in the first place. The Essential Oils Essential oils are commonly used in aromatherapy to support adrenal gland function. Some are used specifically for adrenal gland regeneration, and others are used to give a gentle lift when needed during the healing process - again, these can be of particular help when reducing stimulant consumption. These essential oils are best diluted in a carrier oil and applied to the skin, and are not to be taken orally. Spruce Essential Oil: Spruce (and also Canadian Black Spruce) is thought by respected aromatherapists to support depleted adrenal glands, and is added to blends which can be applied to the skin over the adrenal area, or in lower dilutions in a body lotion. Pine Essential Oil: Pine oil has been called one of the most effective oils for fatigue. This oil can be blended with Black Spruce for a synergistic effect on adrenal function. Cedar Oil: Atlantic Moroccan Cedar can gently stimulate the body's metabolism without letdown. Unlike the regenerating effect of the Spruce and Pine needle essential
Misty Rae Cech, ND, has a private professional practice in the Denver/Boulder area. She untilizes essential oils in her practice, finding their wonderful properties to support her clients' healing. She is the owner of http://www.anandaaromatherapy.com and http://www.anandaapothecary.com.