Recovering into Summer Break: Adrenal Rescue!

The top five most helpful things I swear by to recover from adrenal fatigue 

I’m on a roll with the lists of 5! 

I feel like I have a close personal relationship with my adrenals. Still, I don’t think I’ve had any formal education regarding their function. Let me Google it. 

Here is what the internet says (my 5-second education according to the Cleveland Clinic website)

Your adrenal glands are endocrine glands located on top of your kidneys. They produce many important hormones, including cortisol, aldosterone, and adrenaline. The adrenal hormones help regulate several bodily functions, including metabolism, blood pressure, and your body's response to stress. 

So, there you go! Take it or leave it. 

I’m not a doctor and this isn't medical advice. I serve this all with a grain of salt. But I would venture to guess that for those of us who have experienced trauma or feel constantly stressed out, our adrenals are probably overworked. They pump out chemicals day in and day out to help protect us, warn us of danger, and get us hyped up or shut down according to what is coming up in our environments. The issue, I believe, is that they aren’t meant to work at that level of intensity day and night.  Life isn’t meant to be lived in a constant state of stress, even though, as a society, we have largely adopted it as “normal.”

If you are a public-school educator like me, and just started summer break and you feel like shit, it could be in part that your adrenals are finally able to take a break, and when they do, the whole body responds. It’s like taking off a pair of shoes that are too small. It feels good for a moment, but the foot is still damaged. When the system finally exhales, the mind-body system and your organs suddenly say, “WTF? We are all exhausted!”

When I experience adrenal fatigue, which happens after a sustained period of being dysregulated aka stressed out, the symptoms are unmistakable. I feel a unique type of fatigue and a dip in my immune system as if I could catch a cold any minute. My eyes get a little sunken and puffy, and everything feels distended. The exhaustion is complete, yet the engine is still running and won't turn off. It’s awful! I will say, it is much better than a hangover, though, and usually, I can avoid it with lots of rest and healthy eating, etc. Sometimes it still catches up with me - and goes beyond the Friday-night-dead - and requires more attention.  The anticipation and excitement of going on summer break (revved up) while having to have several difficult conversations in my personal life (worn-down) depleted me -extra. I have figured out ways to address it pretty quickly.  Here are a few things that I swear by. I’m pretty sure these won’t be helpful to everyone because everyone’s body and way of experiencing stress are different, but maybe it will help you think about it and find and share what works for you. 

Herbal Tea

Nettle tea is my number one remedy for helping recover from adrenal fatigue. When I drink it, I feel instantly nourished and replenished. Holy Basil comes in at number two. Both of these herbal teas are magical, in my experience. If you try them and think it’s disgusting, it might not be what you need. I love it when I need it, and I think it’s gross when I don't. Of course, consult an herbalist or perhaps your doctor if you want to know more about if it's right for you. Herbal tea has been immensely helpful to me, and I like to purchase in bulk from Mountain Rose Herbs out of Eugene. You can also harvest fresh wild nettle in the spring, buy it at the farmer's market, or get it from one of your local apothecary's or herb & spice shops.  I don't recommend the type that comes in tea bags from the grocery store. In my experience it tastes like dust and the serving size is insufficient. I like it the fresher the better and strong! You can also make soup and pesto with fresh nettle. I sprinkle dried nettle on popcorn and eggs as well. 

Sleep

This is an obvious one, but the more, the better. Usually, when I feel adrenal fatigue and finally 'bottom out' or hit a wall where I can't keep going, I need at least three days of solid night's sleep and daily naps to recover. In the last year, this has happened about three times. Twice I had to call in sick for one day to work and this last time, I had to cancel a yoga class. When I first quit drinking, I felt adrenal fatigue at least monthly, if not weekly/constant and I could barely work. I wasn't practicing, let alone teaching yoga. All that to say, in my experience, my nervous system and adrenals are healing very well. If you have kids, I know it's harder this much rest might not be possible.

A hot bath 

Or 2-3 hot baths!  I don’t think any further explanation is warranted. As many baths as you need and can fit in! I like Epsom salt, mustard baths, and other DIY bath additions, but a plain bath works too. 

Adrenal Mocktail

I once read about a recipe for an adrenal mocktail that blends coconut water, coconut milk, orange juice, and sea salt. I tried it, and now I crave it when I get adrenal fatigue. It tastes kind of like a creamsicle and seems to me to have the effect of a Gatorade - it’s hydrating when water just isn’t doing the trick. I have one of those little mini magic bullet blenders that works perfect for this. 

Here are some measurements from Orange Creamsicle Adrenal Mocktail - Pure Natural Health

• 1/4 c orange juice – for vitamin C, folate and potassium.
• 1/2 c Coconut water – for potassium, magnesium, and sodium.
• 2 Tbsp Coconut milk – for healthy fats, to help with blood sugar stabilization
• 1/4 tsp Sea salt or Himalayan salt – for sodium (balance of water & minerals)

If you Google "Adrenal Mocktails" you will find others. Have a great time building your adrenal fatigue bar!

Food

Fresh dark leafy greens! Brothy Vegetable soups! Salmon! Potatoes! Kimchi! 

It’s hard to make home-cooked meals when you're fatigued, but it’s worth it. Maybe you have a nice chill partner who can cook for you! Let them.

I recently found this recipe for adrenal fatigue soup, and it was simple and delicious. Paprika & honey are the secret ingredients. 

Do You Have Adrenal Fatigue? Try This Adrenal Recovery Soup - fountainof30.com

Juice shot

Those cute little vials of juice shots that contain nourishing things like turmeric and pro-biotics seem helpful. You can find them in the 'natural food' section of grocery stores or in the refrigerated section at stores like Natural Grocers. I would just look at the ingredients and pick one that looks interesting and is organic.  

What to avoid

Honestly, the only thing I avoid is militancy. I do what I feel like and do what I can and trust I will come around. If these things sound good, try them, but if they don’t, just try different things until you notice what helps. I think it's kind of fun to create little tool kits for myself for various maladies.  I also still eat sugary and processed things and scroll on social media excessively when fatigued. It's not exactly nourishing, but I am now able to add in some of the healthier things. If I can't do it all, I certainly don't want the added stress of deprivation from trying too hard and the self-attack when I'm not doing everything perfectly. I say just do what you can and be easy on yourself - if you can.  I'd love to hear what works for you! 

Happy recovering into summer break!