What to "Expect" with Natural Medicine

If you’re like most, and certainly me, you have past experiences and expectations from the philosophy of Medicine.  In a nutshell… give the condition a name, apply a symptom oriented medicine, and watch how it progresses for the rest of your life.  Seriously…many drugs are considered a success if they SLOW the progression of disease! 

 Clearly, the expectations for healing are ZILCH…ZERO…NADA.  To make it funny though, they legally prohibit us from treating their named diseases, so we cannot “cure” them.  Don’t worry, I treat people, not named diseases.  

So what do you expect in a health philosophy of digging for cause, and aiming for cure (healing…the normal physiological response), using natures medicines and nourishing foods?  

First of all, EXPECTATIONS are nothing but STRESS!  Ideally, we find growth and joy in the process.  I get that it is tough to enjoy the process when you are suffering, but what a perfect experience for growth.  Think about it… don’t we grow the most from painful experiences?

Let’s set our expectations to LEARN something very valuable that you will take forward in life, making you a more resourceful person.  

Maybe it will be how to include healthier foods in your diet.  I didn’t eat vegetables until I was in my 20s!

In fact, I learned a huge lesson about nourishment AFTER I thought I knew quite a bit about nutrition (eating my veggies).  It was the frequency of nourishment…I was eating very healthy foods, but going long hours without eating…and sure enough, I ended up with severe mold allergies and a chronic sinus infection that lasted almost a year.  

I learned in that process to ASK FOR HELP SOONER rather than later (I once asked a patient who had recovered from her sickness what she had learned in the process, and that was her response…ASK FOR HELP SOONER).  

I suffered many months that I didn’t need to if I would have called my doctor sooner.  (I learned when I was in my early 20s to call a natural doctor.)  I also learned a big lesson about plant medicine…the “Cure” for my problem was not something I had heard of…the lesson being that God / Nature has your solution if you keep looking (and asking for help in my case).  

Now I never stop researching plant medicines, and I always suggest you eat frequently.  (Protein every couple hours if your adrenals are toast!)

Maybe you will learn something about healthy boundaries, self care, or honest communication.  Or how to use plant medicines to maintain health when you are stressed and NOT ready or able to confront boundaries, take time for yourself, or “lay out your cards.”  

I learned honesty to save my marriage.  I remember vividly the night of “honesty”…I simply and awkwardly shared how angry I was (love withdrawal was my previous form of communication).  I soaked my shirt in sweat just trying to say what was in my body…but I forced it out.  

I think I said I feel like sometimes I hate her.  Something like that…and no…it didn’t melt her heart, but it did open the door to more honest communication that has grown since then…and occasionally regresses of course.  But the lesson I take with me…it is a resource that I still use, with a bit more compassion these days.  

Maybe you will learn something that I don’t even know to teach you, but if you have the expectation to learn, it will come to you…and maybe you will teach me what you then understand.  

If you hold this expectation…I virtually guarantee you that you will have amazing results and a wonderful experience.  You will look back fondly on your “suffering” as a guide to the wonderful resources that YOU NOW OWN.  Not Dr. Stone’s resources…YOURS!  

And that is a WIN for you and everyone you know and care for.  

Adrenal Stress Syndrome

Just like a whole person, your adrenal glands can feel exhausted or over stimulated.  And just like you (and me), we, and those adrenal glands, don’t function well when we are out of balance in either direction.  

Our primary product, as a whole person, is the harvesting of a special molecule called ATP.  (Energy) 

The product of the adrenal glands is blood glucose control…in particular, they are the guardians of HYPOGLYCEMIA (low blood sugar).  You know it when they fail…you feel jittery, shaky, irritable, maybe even nauseous. 

Just like you and me, the adrenal glands have to ensure survival and manage stress just to get to our real job (making energy / keeping blood sugar stable, respectively).  And while we might think our next paycheck is survival, and the boss is stress, your adrenal glands worry about invasion (immune challenges), attack (physical danger), and stress over keeping the blood sugar from dropping.  

And quite possibly, one complication of restoring adrenal health is NOT considering potential immune challenges.  If you are exhausted, and wish for more energy…and simply take adaptogens or glandulars for the adrenal glands…without considering immune health…you might be disappointed.  (Imagine taking an adaptogens while you have a cold…the cold trumps the adrenals and keeps you in bed.)

This can be diagnostic though.  If you take tried and true adrenal exhaustion remedies…and don’t feel “remedied”…time to look at your immune challenges. 

If you download my free thyroid book from AshevilleThryoidClinic.com, I give a thorough (and concise) breakdown of evaluating and treating your immune challenges (so many thyroid problems are immune). 

I also have a section on treating adrenals…but I’ll summarize that here.

Hypo-Adrenal:  A classic sign of tired adrenals is hypoglycemia, especially when coupled with waking up several times a night.  (or waking and not being able to go back to sleep even though you are exhausted!).

My first thoughts with clear adrenal exhaustion are whole adrenal glandulars and licorice root.  Adrenal glandulars work similarly to cortisone or prednisone, in that they stimulate the adrenal glands, but not to the extent of suppressing the immune system.  Licorice improves your “gas mileage”…it keeps the available cortisol circulating longer so we get more blood sugar stimulation from less production.  

Hyper-Adrenal:  A classic sign of over stimulated adrenals is falling asleep insomnia, especially when coupled with falling asleep after lunch (right when you NEED the energy for productivity). 

My first thoughts for adrenal overdrive are phosphatidyl serine, lemon balm, passion flower, and skullcap.  These are products that slow, soothe, and relax different parts of the nervous system.  

Adaptogens fit most adrenal dysfunction, as they “adapt” to whatever stress you are having.  With that said, the ginsengs are more stimulating and appropriate for tired adrenals.  Ashwagandha and Holy Basil I think of as regulators…help with shifting from night to day, rest to awake, etc.  Reishi and Astragalus for immune suppression with fatigue.  Schizandra and Rhodiola for mental and physical endurance.  

The glandular adaptogen is Drenamin…it is not whole gland (Dessicated Adrenal is the whole gland product), but an extract of proteins from the cells of adrenal glands, plus calming B vitamins.  Like the adaptogen plants, it can be used to treat hyper and hypo- adrenal function, plus has the glandular qualities of nourishing/healing the gland itself.    

There are more plants and nutrients that contribute to the health of the adrenals, but this list offers a starting point and the most common protocols I use for adrenal dysfunction.  And remember…if you pick a stimulating or soothing protocol, and don’t feel stimulated or soothed, go up the priority hierarchy to immune challenges.