Adrenal Health and Electrical Acupuncture
(TL:DR - E-stim over the adrenals boosts GABA, which helps your body relax and regulate. Adaptogenic herbs help your body deal with ongoing stress. Drink water and take Vitamin C. Xiao Yao San wins the day as usual )
Adrenal health is crucial for maintaining the body's response to stress, energy production, and hormonal balance, as the adrenal glands produce essential hormones like cortisol, adrenaline, and aldosterone. Supporting adrenal function helps regulate metabolism, immune response, and overall resilience, promoting long-term vitality and well-being.
The adrenals can become drained from excessive stimulants like caffeine, constant sympathetic nervous system activation, or experiences of shock and trauma.
Sympathetic nervous system activation is the body's ‘fight or flight’ response. Chronic activation of the sympathetic nervous system occurs when this fight or flight response remains consistently engaged, leading to prolonged stress, increased heart rate, and tension. This state impairs the body's ability to return to balance, delaying healing, weakening the immune system, and disrupting restorative processes like sleep and digestion, ultimately straining both physical and mental health.
Good news: it can be treated! And somewhat easily with electro-acupuncture. You can also take supplements and herbs.
Herbs:
Adaptogenic herbs are a category of herbs that help the body adapt to stress by balancing cortisol levels and supporting adrenal function. They enhance resilience, reduce fatigue, and promote steady energy without overstimulation, preventing adrenal burnout while improving overall well-being.
Some recommended adaptogenic herbs:
Ashwagandha – A very soothing adaptogenic herb, helps regulate cortisol levels, reduce stress, and improve energy. It can also help improve the quality of your sleep. Great for wired and tired folks.
Dose: 3-6 grams of the dried herb in capsule form daily or 1-4 mL (20-80 drops) of tincture, in water, 3 times per day
Delicious Recipe: You can use powdered ashwagandha in an evening herbal only (non caffeinated) latte-style warm milk drink: into 1 cup milk of choice add ½ tsp ground ashwagandha, ½ tsp ground reishi or chaga, ¼ tsp of ground cinnamon, ⅛ tsp of ground cardamom, ¼ tsp of ground turmeric powder. Blend and warm, sweetener with honey or maple syrup.
Rhodiola – Enhances resilience to stress, supports stamina, and reduces fatigue. It supports adrenal function by balancing cortisol levels and boosting energy without overstimulation, making it especially useful for combating burnout. This one is great for folks needing to improve their mental focus. I like the TEECINO brand teas with rhodiola mixed in (you can get at Natural Grocer)
Dose: You can drink the tea throughout the day or 200-400 mg in capsules/tablets daily or 2-3 mL (40-60 drops) of tincture, in water, 2-3 times daily.
Tulsi – Tulsi ( aka Holy Basil) is a revered adaptogenic herb in Ayurvedic medicine, known for its ability to reduce stress, balance cortisol levels, and support adrenal function. It has calming properties that help regulate the nervous system while also enhancing mental clarity, immune function, and energy levels. Organic India brand tea has great tulsi flavored teas! Tulsi is a great replacement for caffeine.
Dose: You can just drink the tea throughout the day or if you prefer a tincture, 2-3 mL (40–60 drops) of tincture, in water, three times daily.
Other herbs:
Licorice Root - Has been traditionally used to support adrenal function and manage stress. Its active compound, glycyrrhizin, inhibits the enzyme which breaks down cortisol. This inhibition can lead to prolonged cortisol activity, potentially benefiting individuals with adrenal insufficiency by enhancing the body's stress response. This can be an option for folks with very low blood pressure. For this reason, Licorice root is absolutely contraindicated in folks with hypertension.
TCM formulas:
Liu Wei Di Huan Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill), Ingredients: rehmannia root, cornus fruit, Chinese yam, poria, peony bark, water plantain root.
A foundational TCM formula used to nourish Kidney Yin, addressing adrenal fatigue characterized by exhaustion, chronic stress, and burnout. By replenishing the Kidney energy and balancing Yin, this formula helps restore the body's resilience, enhance vitality, and support the adrenals in managing stress and maintaining overall health.
For folks who are dragging all the time from burnout.
Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi), Ingredients: astragalus root, codonopsis root, atractylodis rhizome, honey fried licorice, Chinese angelica root, citrus peel, black cohosh rhizome, buplureum root, ginger, jujube
This formula strengthens Spleen Qi and Yang energy, helping combat chronic fatigue and low energy. Studies suggest it enhances physical endurance and immune function, which may indirectly support adrenal health. Research has shown improvements in fatigue symptoms, making it a potential aid for adrenal resilience.
For folks who have really low energy and maybe get sick often, or maybe have poor digestion.
Xiao Yao San (Free and Easy Wanderer) Ingredients: buplureum, chinese angelica root, white peony root, atractylodis rhizome, poria, honey fried licorice, field mint, ginger, immature bitter orange
One of the most popular TCM formulas, it helps alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression, which may indirectly support adrenal health by reducing cortisol overload. Studies suggest it can modulate corticosterone levels and promote stress resilience. Its neuroprotective effects may further contribute to overall well-being.
For folks who are stressed out most of the time. This one is stocked in clinic in tea bag form from Botanical Biohacking, Read more on another blog post here.
Supplements:
Vitamin C is crucial for adrenal health because the adrenal glands use it extensively to produce stress-regulating hormones like cortisol. It also acts as a powerful antioxidant, protecting the adrenal glands from oxidative stress caused by prolonged hormone production during periods of chronic stress. Maintaining adequate Vitamin C levels supports adrenal function, reduces fatigue, and helps the body adapt to stress more effectively.
Take 2000mg a day of Vitamin C divided into 2 doses. Be sure to take a buffered form such as sodium ascorbate which provides a gentle, effective source of vitamin C that supports adrenal function.
A simple supplement protocol to support your adrenals:
Vitamin C: Essential for adrenaline production and immune support.
B Vitamins: Aid in stress response and energy production.
Magnesium: Helps reduce adrenal fatigue and regulate energy levels.
You can check out my recommendations and purchase high quality supplements and herbs through my full script account: https://us.fullscript.com/plans/strzaska-adrenal-support
Water Intake:
Ensure you are well-hydrated. Dehydration, common in many folks, can strain adrenal function by reducing the production of aldosterone, a hormone critical for maintaining electrolyte balance and blood pressure.
The Mayo Clinic guidelines for water consumption suggests about 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids a day for men and about 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids a day for women. Most healthy people can stay hydrated by drinking water and other fluids whenever they feel thirsty.
Your fluid intake is probably adequate if you rarely feel thirsty and if your urine is colorless or light yellow.
Electro-acupuncture:
Located just above the kidneys, the adrenal glands are essential for regulating stress response, energy production, and metabolism, playing a key role in maintaining overall vitality. The adrenal glands are closely connected to the sympathetic nervous system through the T12-L1 spinal nerves, enabling a rapid response to stress when needed.
Electroacupuncture is applied to acu-points along the spine at the T12-L1 level to regulate adrenal activity. This helps calm sympathetic overstimulation and restores adrenal balance. The frequency used during treatments is specific to stimulate GABA production, which is a neurotransmitter that calms the nervous system, reducing stress, anxiety, and adrenal overactivity. Increasing GABA levels promotes relaxation, improves sleep, and helps regulate the body's stress response, making it essential for adrenal balance and overall well-being.
A note about Blood Pressure readings.
Many of us have low blood pressure. For those not on hypertensive medications, if the top number <120 this can indicate low cortisol production. If the bottom number <80 this can suggest insufficient adrenaline.
A note about mental consumption.
We all know a healthy diet includes greens, whole grains, healthy fats, and moderate consumption of animal products with sparing amounts of processed foods. But what about what you are consuming mentally?
Chronic social media exposure and scrolling on the phone rewires the brain circuits linked to emotional regulation, leading to higher anxiety. Short form media contact (scrolling on your phone or computer) decreases our working memory and focus. Stress and brain fog, sounds like adrenal fatigue to me. Please be mindful about how we utilize these amazing tools of the modern world.
Take care of yourselves, and as always, email me with any questions!