Adrenal glands are part of our bodies endocrine system; the endocrine system helps to maintain homeostasis (internal stability) by producing the hormones necessary for normal functioning, mental health and emotional balance.
Symptoms that may present if the adrenals are out of balance:
Overwhelming fatigue, depression, anxiety, weight gain, sleep disturbance and a weakened immune system.
Adrenal burnout, also known as adrenal exhaustion, can occur with chronic stress, nutritional deficiencies, over stimulation (such as too much coffee or sugars, or health issues).
Essential oils and application suggestions:
Essential Oils to support symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue:
Bergamot Citrus bergamia: Antidepressant, appetite balancer.
Black Spruce Picea mariana: Fatigue, immune support, adrenal support, stress, anxiety, feelings of burn out.
Cardamom Elettaria cardamomum: Anxiety, mental fatigue, mild depression, indigestion, nausea, heartburn, stomach ache, poor circulation,
Cedarwood Atlas Cedrus atlantica: Immune Support, stress, tension, anxiety, emotional exhaustion.
Clary SageSalvia sclarea: Relax and strengthen nervous system
Frankincense Boswellia carterii or frereana: Insomnia and difficulty concentrating, as well as a good terrain support.
GeraniumPelargonium graveolens: Poor circulation, immune support, general overall tonic, stress, anxiety, mild depression.
Ginger Zingiber officinale: Nervous exhaustion, mental fatigue, mental fog
Lavender Lavendula angustifolia: Adaptogenic, promotes relaxation
Peppermint Mentha piperita: Sluggishness, immune support, nervous stress, mild depression, shock.
Pine Pinus sylvestris: Poor circulation, fatigue, immune support, adrenal support. (Pine may have a stimulating effect on the adrenal cortex; it can be a good essential oil choice for fatigue and nervous debility. It is energizing without being overly stimulating. It is used extensively with clients who are in adrenal burnout, who have chronic fatigue syndrome or are generally overstressed.)
Rosemary ct. cineole Rosmarinus officinalis: Good strengthening tonic for the whole body often used for clients who are tired, run down and may be helpful for exhaustion.
VetiverVetiveria zizanioides: Poor circulation, immune support, nervous tension, mild depression, mental exhaustion.
e3 Synergy Blend
Adrenal Support: Black Spruce, Cedarwood Atlas, Geranium, Peppermint, Pine Needle, Vetiver
Suggested recipe to create your own Adrenal Support Blend
4 drops Pine
4 drops Black Spruce
2 drops Lavender
Inhalation: Put 1-3 drops of essential oil or blend on a tissue or cotton ball and inhale the aroma. Pause and inhale again. (Avoid touching your notes with the tissue.)
Bath: Mix 4-8 drops of essential oil or blend in 1 -2 cups Epsom Salt (Espom Salt helps to draw toxins from the body) and mix well. Fill the tub with warm water and immerse yourself. Add the Epsom Salt / essential oil mixture to the bath water and swirl around you. Relax in the tub for 15-20 minutes.
Massage: Mix 6-12 drops of essential oil or blend in 1 oz. of carrier i.e. all natural, unscented lotion or oil and use to massage lower back every morning and evening.
Where are our adrenal glands located?
The adrenals are two triangular glands, one located on top of each kidney. The glands are composed of two main parts that differ both anatomically and physiologically: the outer layer is the cortex, making up about 80 percent of the adrenal and it surrounds the inner layer, the medulla. The cortex is essential to life but the medulla is not.
The adrenal cortex produces three groups of hormones, these are collectively known as corticosteroids or steroids, chief among which are two glucocorticoids, cortisone and cortisol or hydrocortisone.
- Glucocorticoids (cortisol and hydrocortisone) have widespread effects on the body systems, promoting the formation and storage of glycogen, raising the blood glucose level and promoting sodium and water reabsorption from the kidneys. These hormones also help the body cope with stress and have an anti-inflammatory action.
- Mineralocorticoids (aldosterone) act on the kidney tubules, retaining salts in the body, excreting potassium and maintaining the water and electrolyte balance.
- Sex corticoids control the development of the secondary sex characteristics and the function of the reproductive organs, but after puberty is believed to have little significance compared to the gonads.
The medulla releases two hormones, epinephrine (also known as adrenaline) and noradrenaline (noradrenaline is a precursor to adrenaline), which are released in response to fear, stress, or anxiety. This is called the “fight or flight” response, in which increased blood supply is rerouted fro the skin and gastrointestinal track and is sent to the muscles, heart and respiration rates speed up, glycogen reserves are converted into glucose and the eye pupils dilate.
Adrenaline is released in response to a perceived stress; the perception of a stressor stimulates the hypothalmus to send chemical signals to the nerves connected to the adrenal glands, triggering the adrenal glands to secrete adrenaline. Continual stress (real or perceived) will eventually tax the adrenals and the sympathetic nervous system causing adrenal fatigue.
*The link between the brain and adrenaline stimulation illustrates the effect our emotions can have on the normal balance in our bodies.
*Consider holistically that an essential oil’s known affinity to act upon a given gland or any other organ must be understood on an oil by oil basis e.g. geranium pine, black spruce, rosemary and pine each may affect the adrenals, but in different ways and should not be thought of as exclusive. Essential oils help to safely balance and stabilize the entire endocrine system in a way that is consistent with the systems own efforts to create and maintain harmony.
*When given to the client for at home use, essential oils can help increase the benefits received from other modalities such as massage or acupuncture. Using aromatherapy at home can lead to a more balanced way of being in everyday life.
*Essential oils have a complex biochemical nature and homeostatic intelligence. All essential oils are stimulating in the sense that they act as stimuli; many essential oils are adaptogenic (normalizing).
- Practical Aromatherapy for Self Care, author Joni Keim
- Aromatherapy A complete Guide to the Healing Arts, author Kathi Keville & Mindy Green
- The Complete Aromatherapy Tutor, author Joanne Hoare
- Aromatherapy A holistic Guide, author Ann Berwick
- Aromatherapy Scent and Psyche, author: Peter & Kate Damian
- Aromatherapy for Massage Therapists, author: Ingrid Martin
1. Aromatherapy and massage for antenatal anxiety: Its effect on the fetushttp://www.ctcpjournal.com/article/S1744-3881(09)00071-1/abstract
2. Effects of long-term exposure of lemon essential oil odor on behavioral, hormonal and neuronal parameters in male and female rats. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006899303041180
3. Effect of lavender aroma on salivary endocrinological stress markers
Complimentary Modality Approach to Adrenal Support
(The information presented in this education post is not intended as a substitute for consulting
with you physician or other health care provider. Any attempt to diagnose or treat an illness
should be done under the direction of a health care professional.)