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How To Heal Thyroid And Adrenal Fatigue

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What Is The Thyroid Gland

How to Heal Thyroid and Adrenal Fatigue

The thyroid gland is located at the base of the neck in front of the windpipe. Its shaped like a small butterfly and is only about 2 inches wide. Despite this small size, the thyroid performs a number of essential tasks in your body.

Hormone creation is the most important thyroid gland function. This small organ makes several hormones that are vital to growth, development, and metabolism. This is why thyroid health is absolutely vital in childhood, and its still important in adults.

The hormones created by the thyroid are known as thyroxine and triiodothyronine . These hormones are critical to human health at all stages of life. In infants, they help with the development of the skeleton and the brain. In children, they stimulate the production of proteins in tissues to aid with growth and development. And in both adults and children, thyroid hormones perform a number of tasks including helping with the regulation of the metabolism.

The Most Important Thyroid Gland Function

In adults and in children, the most important thyroid gland function involves the hormones that regulate your metabolism as well as growth and development. T3 and T4 are essential hormones that help regulate:

  • Body weight
  • Energy use
  • The central nervous system

Thats why its so important that the thyroid stays healthy, so that these hormones can continue to maintain all these key functions.

Fight/flight And Adrenal Fatigue

When you live in the fight/flight mode all the time and youre constantly stressed out, youre setting yourself up for Adrenal Fatigue, because your adrenals been in overdrive for a long period of time and theyre been flooding your body with cortisol until they cant keep up with the constant demand for more stress hormones. Now, your adrenals cannot produce enough stress hormones and/or theyre producing the wrong types of hormones at the incorrect times.

In a healthy person, your cortisol is high in the morning, which wakes you up, and then the cortisol levels start to decrease throughout the day and into the night until theyre so low that you fall asleep.

Now, when youve got Adrenal Fatigue, like I had for probably about 30 years , you could wake up feeling like you got hit by a car and you have to drag yourself through your day. Then bedtime comes and youre wired and cant fall asleep and you have insomnia. Sound like you?

There are millions of people dealing with this and Western M.D.s do not address Adrenal Fatigue treatment so its really sad to know that so many people are not getting the help they need. When I had Adrenal Fatigue, I felt depleted and wired and on edge and by body was so out of whack. It was awful.

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What Are The Adrenals

The adrenals are two small glands, located on top of each kidney, that release hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. These stress hormones impact many important functions throughout the body. They help establish your stress tolerance, tame inflammation, regulate blood sugar and body fat, control potassium and sodium levels , and influence sex drive and anti-aging among other things.

You may have heard that the stress hormone cortisol is bad. This is misleading while high levels of cortisol are problematic, what could be equally or more problematic is having low levels of cortisol, especially when it comes to having an autoimmune disease and fatigue.

Cortisol is a hormone that is required for life we could not live without it, and it is an important anti-inflammatory hormone. In fact, it gets released whenever we have inflammation, to cool things down.

I have found that the majority of people with Hashimotos have low levels of cortisol.

Take Care Of Nutrition

Pin by Amy Smith on taking care of myself

Whether for your adrenals or your thyroid, nutrition is the first and most vital step to take towards feeling better. The kind of diet that supports one will support the other.

Here are some suggestions:

  • Eat healthy fats and clean proteins
  • Check for food sensitivities and weed out the allergens from your diet
  • Consider going gluten-free
  • Avoid foods that disrupt hormonal balance in the body, such as soy

If you are unsure how to balance your diet so that you can support both your adrenals and your thyroid, one option is getting nutritional coaching from an expert on both.

It may seem overwhelming at first, but if you take diet changes one step at a time, soon you will have a new lifestyle that does not feel like a restrictive diet, but a supportive nutritional plan.

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What Do The Adrenals Do

The adrenal glands are the bodys emergency system. When the body is under chronic stress, the adrenals will send out cortisol into the bloodstream. Over time, chronic cortisol output can weaken the endocrine system, immune system, liver, digestive system, and brain. It can also cause the thyroid to slow down and in some rare cases, it will speed up . So, if you are wanting to reduce your thyroid symptoms, start with healthy adrenal glands.

Get Vitamin D Levels Into A Healthy Range

Spending more time outside in the sun also helps boost levels of vitamin D, because your body manufactures this important vitamin/hormone when it senses the sun on your skin. Vitamin D is responsible for regulating over 200 genetic pathways, so make sure your levels are high enough. I recommend an optimal range of around 60 to 80 ng/ml. Ask your doctor about a simple blood test to help you keep track.

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What Causes Adrenal Fatigue

Integrative physicians theorize that when you have a preexisting endocrine dysfunction like hypothyroidism and are also exposed to chronic physical and/or emotional stress, your adrenal glands can become less able to produce enough cortisol, resulting in a chronic state of adrenal fatigue. Some doctors refer to this situation as non-Addison’s hypoadrenia, subclinical hypoadrenia, hypoadrenalism, or neurasthenia.

About Dr Josh Redd Chiropractic Physician Utah Nevada Arizona Idaho And New Mexico Functional Medicine

Heal Your Thyroid and Adrenals – The Adrenal Thyroid Connection

Dr. Joshua J. Redd, DC, MS, DABFM, DAAIM, author of The Truth About Low Thyroid: Stories of Hope and Healing for Those Suffering With Hashimotos Low Thyroid Disease, is a chiropractic physician and the founder of RedRiver Health and Wellness Center with practices in Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. He sees patients from around the world who suffer from challenging thyroid disorders, Hashimotos disease, and other autoimmune conditions. In addition to his chiropractic degree, Dr. Redd has a BS in Health and Wellness, a BS in Anatomy, and a MS in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine. He speaks across the nation, teaching physicians about functional blood chemistry, low thyroid, Hashimotos, and autoimmunity. You can join his Facebook page here.

All Locations Currently Offering Telehealth Appointments.We are pleased to offer consultations to new patients.

To request an appointment please complete the form below

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Solution: Treat Adrenal Fatigue For Hypothyroidism & Other Issues

If you suspect thyroid problems, assess the adrenals properly. Get the appropriate preliminary testing for thyroid function. Treat the Adrenal Fatigue first for a minimum of 3-6 months.

You want to heal from the ground up. This means:

  • Not chasing symptoms without identifying their root causes.
  • Paying attention to subtle changes in bloodwork with an eye toward trends and dysfunction.
  • Treating dysfunction before it becomes full-fledged disease.
  • Controlling your symptoms while focusing on healing the dysfunction at its root.

Reduced T4 To T3 Conversion

Stress hormones affect the enzymes that convert T4 to T3. Remember that Free T3 is the active form of the hormone that I like to think of as the gas. Reverse T3 is the inactive form of the hormone that I like to think of as the brakes. When stress is high we convert more of our T3 into RT3 rather than FT3. This imbalance essentially puts the brakes on all of your metabolic processes, slowing them down and causing hypothyroid symptoms.

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What Is The Outlook

Most people with adrenal fatigue will recover quite quickly but severe symptoms may take some months to recover, or even longer. The time for recovery will vary enormously from person to person and will also depend on the cause of stress and the severity of symptoms. Following a good treatment plan, as described above, will help you to recover more quickly.

Slowed Thyroid Hormone Production

How to heal your thyroid and adrenal glands. The thyroid ...

Cortisol functions in a negative feedback loop with the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. Once it enters your bloodstream, its presence signals to your hypothalamus and pituitary gland to slow down so that they dont trigger any additional stress hormones. These organs also regulate thyroid hormone production, so that slows down as well.

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Why Dr Childs Recommends It

Thyroid Adrenal Reset Complex was designed to target the thyroid-adrenal axis. The same axis that is involved in helping to regulate and control your energy levels.

Because of the interaction between the thyroid gland and the adrenal glands, almost every patient that has a problem with one will have a problem with the other. Thyroid Adrenal Reset Complex helps to fix both problems at once.

Ask Your Doctor About Diagnostic Labs

Because adrenal fatigue symptoms are so non-specific and could be indicative of other diseases such as depression, sleep apnea, fibromyalgia, and certain autoimmune diseases, it can be hard to make a medical diagnosis. Seeing a medical professional or endocrinologist to establish a baseline of whats going on in the body is the first step to overcoming adrenal fatigue. In addition to conventional blood labs, I recommend:

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How Is Adrenal Fatigue Diagnosed

Typically, in addition to a clinical exam and history of your symptoms, integrative or complementary practitioners run a 24-hour saliva cortisol/DHEA test. This test gets one DHEA measurement, along with up to six cortisol levels usually in the morning, midday, afternoon, dinnertime, bedtime, and middle of the night to map your cortisol curve and identify any imbalances in your cortisol levels.

The Thyroid And Adrenal Connection

Ashwagandha Proven to Heal Thyroid and Adrenals

The thyroid and adrenal glands are intimately connected, and the thyroid takes its cues from the adrenals. Think of the thyroid as the bodys engine. It produces the hormones that drive your energy and your metabolism. Your adrenals are your oil and gas. They produce other hormones that your body cant function without.

If your oil and gas are running low from a chronically overworked stress response, your body slows down the engine so that it doesnt burn out. This is your body looking out for you, optimizing for survival.

Addressing Adrenal Fatigue will heal the underlying thyroid disorder for good.

In healthy conditions, the thyroid steadily produces hormones that are distributed throughout your body to support your metabolism and repair tissue. Low thyroid levels indicate that your body has used up what thyroid hormones youve produced in other words, your thyroid cant or isnt keeping up with your bodys demand.

Your hypothalamus should perceive those low thyroid hormone levels and then tell the pituitary gland to tell the thyroid to produce more thyroid hormones. But the excess cortisol produced by the adrenal glands during the bodys stress response may stunt the thyroids regular production.

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How Can The Adrenal Fatigue Solution Help You

The Adrenal Fatigue Solution contains everything you need to start treating your Adrenal Fatigue. We have included lots of information on the lifestyle changes that you should be making, along with complete lists of the vitamins, minerals and supplements that you should be discussing with your doctor. The eBook is written in simple, easy-to-understand terms, and is the perfect starting point for your treatment.

  • The 9 causes of Adrenal Fatigue, including poor diet, sedentary lifestyles, hormonal decline, physical trauma and much more.
  • A full explanation of the organs, systems, hormones and neurotransmitters involved in Adrenal Fatigue
  • Detailed information on the lab tests that can diagnose your Adrenal Fatigue, including cortisol testing, thyroid testing, and several integrative lab tests that your doctor has probably never even heard of
  • Simple dietary principles that will help to restore your depleted adrenal glands
  • Lists of foods to eat and avoid, including a list of ‘wonder foods’ that are particularly helpful for those suffering from adrenal exhaustion

Causes Signs Symptoms Treatments And Controversy

With James L. Wilson, PhD

Excess stress causes the adrenal glands to increase cortisol production.

If you’re feeling tired and fried, chances are you’ve probably heard of adrenal fatigue and wondered if it may be the source of your constant exhaustion. But what exactly is it, and how do you know if it’s what’s causing your lack of oomph? Let’s investigate.

Adrenal fatigue is an increasingly common yet sometimes controversial diagnosis used to indicate depletion of the adrenal glands. Cortisol is a hormone released by the adrenals for use in the regulation of blood pressure. In response to stress, the adrenals release greater amounts of cortisol. Adrenal fatigue is thought to occur when the adrenals have become overtaxed by excess cortisol release and can no longer produce levels of cortisol necessary for optimal body function.

James L. Wilson, PhD, who coined the term adrenal fatigue in his book Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Syndrome, describes the adrenals as two little glands that sit over your kidneys and are about the size of two large grapes and weigh about five-to-eight grams.

According to Wilson, The adrenals put out over fifty hormones. We often only hear about DHA and cortisol, but forty percent of womens estrogen or progesterone are made in the adrenal glands and about forty percent of testosterone in males is made in the adrenal glands.

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Adrenal Fatigue And Thyroid Issues

This is important if you have thyroid issues, because taking medications right off the bat without first checking if your adrenals are a causal factor overlooks the possibility of a weakening in the adrenals. This may eventually cause more and more problems and an inability to feel better no matter what kind of medication or other natural thyroid remedies you follow.

If your thyroid is in a weak state, make sure you support your adrenal glands as well. You can do this by implementing a dietary program, practicing adrenal exercises appropriate for your current state, using select vitamins and supplements, and getting better sleep. Youll be surprised how well this can give your thyroid the gentle, nurturing support it needs. This is where to begin.

As with any natural thyroid remedies or medical health plans in general, you should talk to your doctor first. Trying to figure out how to balance adrenal and thyroid hormones alone is not a good idea. Malfunctions of one gland affects the other, and a vicious cycle may ensue.

The recommendations here are to be used with care.

What Are The Symptoms Of Adrenal Fatigue

Whatâs Really Behind Thyroid Fatigue?

In addition to fatigue and exhaustion, some symptoms of adrenal fatigue include:

  • Feeling tired but wired
  • Morning fatigue, feeling tired after sufficient sleep
  • Feeling unable to cope with stress
  • Cravings for sweet and salty foods
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Being most energetic at night, waking in the middle of the night
  • Low tolerance for and recovery from exercise
  • Brain fog, difficulty concentrating

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Build Resilience With Supplements

While supplements often need to be individualized for people depending on their level of adrenal dysfunction , I have found that most people with Hashimotos feel better when they utilize the ABCs of adrenal supplements.

The ABCs are: Adrenal Adaptogens, B Vitamins, and Vitamin C.

Adaptogenic herbs are any natural herb products that supplement the bodys ability to deal with stressors. In order to be considered an adaptogen, an herb must possess three main qualities. First, the herb must be non-toxic to the patient at normal doses. Secondly, the herb should help the entire body to cope with stress. Finally, the herb should help the body to return to normal regardless of how stress is currently affecting the persons functioning. In other words, an adaptogenic herb needs to be able to both tone down overactive systems and boost underactive systems in the body. Adaptogens are thought to normalize the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

Adaptogenic herbs include: Ashwagandha, astragalus, reishi mushroom, dang shen, eleuthero, ginseng, jiaogulan, licorice, maca, schizandra, spikenard, and suma. These are examples of herbs that may increase the bodys ability to resist stress, and have been helpful in relieving adrenal dysfunction when used in combination with vitamins and minerals.

Vitamin C and B vitamins become depleted during high cortisol production.

Rootcology Adrenal Support

Alternative ABC Blend

Additional Supportive Nutrients

The Adrenal/thyroid Restoration Blend

  • Rhodiola Rhodiola is a powerful adrenal adaptogen which means that it supports cortisol levels and cortisol receptor sensitivity in the body. Several scientific studies have shown that it is helpful in improving mood, reducing your stress response, and improving your resilience.
  • Adrenal Gland Adrenal gland serves as one of the most powerful ways to naturally support cortisol levels in the body. Taking adrenal glandulars is very helpful for patients with adrenal fatigue and suboptimal serum cortisol levels. Adrenal glandulars work synergistically with adrenal adaptogens like Rhodiola.
  • L-Tyrosine L-Tyrosine is required for proper thyroid hormone production in your body. It serves as a precursor, which when combined with iodine, helps create thyroid hormone. Using L-tyrosine can improve thyroid status in the body if you have deficient levels.
  • Zinc Zinc is a trace element but acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory agent in the body. Zinc also naturally helps to boost T4 to T3 conversion. Taking zinc will help improve thyroid conversion and thyroid status in the body and compliments other adrenal boosting effects listed above.

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