Adrenal Fatigue Supplements
That Require Caution
- Avoid any form of stimulant
- Homeopathy can be risky for adrenal fatigue
Anything that makes you feel better by stimulating you will eventually make you feel worse.
It is like whipping a tired horse. The horse will go faster for a while....until it completely crashes.
In general, avoid any herb, adaptogen, amino-acid, etc. that claims it will give you more energy. Short term energy may come at a cost.
There are many adrenal fatigue supplements that contain stimulants. Unfortunately, these supplements are promoted by some adrenal fatigue doctors, or online sites that offer adrenal fatigue testing.
You may start taking these supplements and think This is awesome ! ... I feel great
.
However, this is often followed by a crash, especially if you have more advanced adrenal fatigue.
Rhodiola Rosea for Adrenal Fatigue
Rhodiola Rosea is an ingredient in many adrenal fatigue supplements. It is supposed to increase your ability to handle stress. It has both adaptogenic and stimulant properties.
Rhodiola Rosea has been shown to help with symptoms of burnout
, which pretty much matches the symptoms of adrenal fatigue6.
The problem is that it may reduce symptoms of burnout by stimulating your adrenals.
If you crash like I did, you will recover. But it may set you back for several weeks.
For more information on Rhodiola, please see the article Rhodiola for Adrenal Fatigue.
Ginseng and Adrenal Fatigue
Ginseng is another herb this is supposed to have both adaptogenic and stimulant properties.
The fact that ginseng is often an ingredient in energy drinks is a hint that is might be a stimulant.
Although it can act as a stimulant, it also has the ability to reduce the amount of stress hormones produced when you are exposed to a stressful event.
However, for those with adrenal fatigue, ginseng seems to act more as a stimulant than an anti-stress herb.
See the article Ginseng for Adrenal Fatigue for more information.
Maca and Adrenal Fatigue
Maca is another herb that people of try for adrenal fatigue. It also is has both adaptogenic and stimulant properties.
However, even it's ability to balance hormones seems to be the result of stimulating certain endocrine glands.
When I tried it, I got a nice boost in energy and libido, but then has a bit of a crash.
See the article Maca for Adrenal Fatigue for more information.
Homeopathy for Adrenal Fatigue
I tried homeopathy twice for treating adrenal fatigue. Both times .... the results were the same.
I initially felt completely cured. I had lots of energy, I was very calm. Pretty much all of my symptoms were gone.
However, after a short period of time, I crashed and all symptoms came back, only much worse.
After many years participating on adrenal fatigue forums, I have never seen anyone make lasting progress using homeopathy.
For more information, please see the article
Homeopathy for Adrenal Fatigue.
References
1. Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome
2. The Rhodiola Revolution: Transform Your Health with the Herbal Breakthrough of the 21st Century [Paperback] [2005] (Author) Richard P. Brown, Patricia L. Gerbarg, Barbara Graham
3. Stimulation of pituitary-adrenocortical system by ginseng saponin
4. Inhibition of stress-induced plasma corticosterone levels by ginsenosides in mice: involvement of nitric oxide
5. Effects of ginseng saponin administered intraperitoneally on the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis in mice
6. A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study of the standardised extract shr-5 of the roots of Rhodiola rosea in the treatment of subjects with stress-related fatigue
7. Adrenocorticotropic hormone
