Adrenal nourishment is KEY to adrenal recovery.
It's long stopped being a 'trend'. The talk about need for adrenal nourishment as a way to better health, is here to stay. A wise friend once shared this thought (and it rang true then as it does now):
There are very few, if any, people, living in cities, (or for that matter, anywhere), today, who are not dealing with adrenal fatigue. I think we can safely say ~ from teens on up to elders, these days, regardless of location, adrenal fatigue or even adrenal exhaustion, is rampant. What do you think?
HOW do YOU nourish your adrenals?
I hear "I'm tired" or "I'm just too busy and always tired" from so many of my clients, friends and family members. It's all about finding some balance, I think. There are lots of ideas, many books and documentaries out there. Sometimes I think, much of that, just adds to the problem. In this overwhelming age of information, we can feel like we are in a revolving door! Yup. Often we are not even fully awake, and that ' to do ' list is beckoning.
So what is balance to you? I strive for it in my own life and am (truthfully) always aware and still rarely successful. What does help me, is the creation of rituals in my life, which may seem to some, as 'ho-hum' but to me, they help to bring that balance to my day.
Yoga is on my list of things to learn. Currently dealing with back issues, so for now, I start the day with a good stretch. Pilates is on the horizon. Take time to breathe and enjoy an Epsom salts bath. Drink a warm herbal tea.
Just last year, at the International Herb Symposium, I was reminded about pink vs. blue light.
We need to ensure that we get outdoors every day but especially in the morning to allow our pineal and our eyes to receive pink light ~ which is so needed and so healing for us as beings.^^
by the way: ^^ blue light ? Computer screens, Tv, Smart phones. To be avoided before bed as much as possible. We need to avoid blue light for 2 hours before bed and sleep in a dark room!
I live in Toronto (pop approx 3 Million souls) but I live close to Lake Ontario and a huge park, called High Park. As often as I can, I take a leisurely walk lakeside or a stroll through the woods, both refreshing and enlivening. When possible I travel outside the city and spend time away from the hustle and bustle, in the summer months. Nature heals. Just sitting in the company of a tree or trees ~ some of our largest plant allies.. is so grounding and strengthening.
The foods we choose to eat and the beverages we choose to imbibe ALL play a part of course, but today I want to share one of my favourite tea blends for adrenal support:
NOURISH your ADRENALS Tea Recipe:
1 part Ashwaghanda (root) ~ can also use good quality root powder*
1 part Licorice root*
1 part Green Oat tops
1 part Nettles (leaves)
1 part Lemon Balm (leaves)
½ part Schizandra (berries)
Ashwaghanda (Withania somnifera)
nourish your adrenals too! Sometimes it's easier to purchase a good quality root powder.
Ashwaganda root powder is easier to work with, in a tea, for many of us. It can be difficult to find
so here's another online affiliate source for you from Starwest Botanicals
(stay tuned for more info on this, one of my fave Ayurvedic helpers)
Milky Oat tops (Avena Sativa)
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
*It's normally a part of this formula, but can be left out if 1) taste is not pleasing to you 2) You are pregnant 3) You have hypertension (high blood pressure)
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
Nettles (Urtica dioica)
Missy Nettle (as so many herbalists call her) packs more energy per cup than any stimulant, and without the downside of caffeine or, stimulating actions as those with ginger or cayenne.
Susun Weed (who I cannot think about, without thinking about nettles!) says:
"Tired teenagers, sleep-deprived new moms, stressed executives, wakeful menopausal gals, and wise women of all ages depend on stinging nettle to restore mood, replenish energy, and guarantee sound sleep."
Nettle, probably one of the most nutritious plant allies we have, carries good solid energy to every cell in the body and is the backbone of many of my formulas.
Schizandra Berries (Schizandra chinensis)
Long time traditions in Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are numerous. I am using as an additional adaptogen in this formula, to nourish and heal the adrenals and as a nervous system support tonic. These flavourful berries help with general fatigue as well as insomnia ~ another marvelous herb that seems to know what is needed, and when.
Pat Robinson, Health Educator, Wise woman (and dear friend!) has created a very comprehensive eCourse which offers so much more than a book may as she explores the many angles re the healing your adrenals. More info here. Sometimes, Pat runs an online "10 pm Bedtime club" which encourages 'early to bed' routine.
Sometimes it's difficult to find Ashwaganda root --as I mentioned above, so I thought I'd include this link to Banyan Botanicals, powdered root ~ can be stirred into the tea recipe above or added to Golden Milk, if you make that (another super support for your body)
Banyan Botanicals Ashwagandha Powder - USDA Certified Organic, ½ Pound - Adaptogenic Ayurvedic Herbal Supplement That Promotes Vitality & Strength - Support for Stress-free Living!
Here's to you feeling better and better every day ... and me too..
yours, in health xo Carol
p.s. I'd love to hear how you nourish yourself ~ with respect to adrenal health. This post has a focus, as I wanted to share the tea recipe. I have entire books on the subject ~ as it's important. Enjoy the tea!
Karis
Thank you for sharing. I am among the many who need it and who have become exhausted by the wealth of information available. This is the simplest remedy I've seen.
Carol Little
I try to make our choices as simple as possible for my clients. Often one remedy at a time and nourishing remedies are so powerful!
Rachel
What times of day do people find work best for drinking this tea? I am now drinking it regularly! THANK YOU for the recipe! I mix the schizandra berries separately into a Celestial Seasonings Blend called Cherry Berry. I keep the licorice separate so I can add or not, and take breaks from licorice. My doctor said it's safe to take the Ashwaghanda daily, so I am relieved to hear that and adding that daily.
Carol Little
Hello Rachel! SO glad to hear you are making it work for you.I don't think there is a particular time to take this tea. Depending upon what is exactly in the Celestial seasonings blend, anytime.. Unless there are stimulants, of course; then you'd want to limit use to morn and mid afternoon. It's a very personal choice. Drink it at differing times and see what works for you!
Nancy
What is the best time of day to drink this tea? Are any of these herbs particularly good taken at nighttime and should any be avoided at nighttime?
Carol Little
Hello Nancy!
Thanks for your excellent questions. I tend to take this tea in the morning or late afternoon. There's no reason why you shouldn't try this as an evening tea..
Nourishing the adrenals shouldn't feel like a 'stimulant' but a gentle powerful helper over time. Each of us is different of course and some folks may find any herb stimulating...
Best to try it yourself and monitor your subsequent rest/sleep afterwards. Hope you enjoy it!!
Megan Stevens
Love the education on each of these herbs and on pink light. Thank you, Carol.
Carol Little
You are so kind. Glad you enjoyed the post.
linda spiker
Sounds fabulous Carol. I am on adrenal supplements but maybe adding a tea would help!
Carol Little
This is a very nourishing tea. It will not interfere with other supplements. Sometimes,a tea seems too simple.. but it's a powerful healer if taken 3-4 cups daily.
Emily @ Recipes to Nourish
I need to make some of this. Need to see if licorice root is safe for nursing first, or I'll just omit it. Love this recipe!
Carol Little
Hi Emily. If you have some licorice root, I'd add it in here and there.. It's safe for nursing moms. Normally the cautions area about hypertension. Even folks with some hypertension, use it, but with awareness, that in some folks, it can elevate blood pressure.