What is Adrenal Fatigue?

Woman with Adrenal Fatigue

There's nothing worse than feeling lethargic and run down, especially when you just can't shake it. Of course, everyone feels fatigued at some time or another, but if the feeling seems to exist for no apparent reason and lasts for days, weeks or months, you could be suffering from Adrenal Fatigue.

Dr. James L. Wilson first used the term Adrenal Fatigue in 1998 to describe a specific type of chronic exhaustion characterized by severe and constant stress. This stress can be mental, emotional or physical. After years of working with "stressed and tired" patients, Wilson realized that his patients' adrenal glands (endocrine glands that sit on top of the kidneys and release hormones in response to stress) were functioning below the necessary level. As a result, his patients were feeling a general sense of lethargy, tiredness and poor health.

Adrenal Fatigue is also known as hypoadrenalism or neurasthenia. Addison's disease is a somewhat similar but different disease, as its symptoms are much more severe. The two should not be confused.

Although Adrenal Fatigue symptoms vary, if you feel most of the following without due cause you may be suffering from it:

• Feel tired for no reason
• Struggle to get out of bed in the morning, even after getting plenty of sleep
• Depend on coffee, soda, sweet and salty snacks for energy
• Feel run down and stressed
• Feel overwhelmed and exhausted
• Have difficulty recovering from stress or illness
• Only feel awake and alert after 6 p.m.

If you think you're struggling with Adrenal Fatigue, you are not alone. An estimated 80% of people experience Adrenal Fatigue and the physical symptoms of stress at some time in their lives. In addition to interfering with your quality of life, Adrenal Fatigue can also contribute to health issues that range from obesity to allergies to depression.

Stress is often unavoidable in today's modern life. Juggling work, family, and social events can leave little time for rest and relaxation. Our bodies do an incredible job of "keeping up" but there comes a point when we start to break down.  Therefore, it is no surprise that more and more people are feeling the effects of chronic stress.

In addition to long-term stress, Adrenal Fatigue can be brought on by illness, a life crisis, or repeated infections such as the flu or bronchitis. Even the healthiest person can develop Adrenal Fatigue. Athletes can suffer if they work out too hard and too often without taking days off to rest. Working professionals can fall victim to adrenal fatigue due to content stress in the work environment. College students who stay up all night studying for tests and eat poorly (junk food and coffee are big culprits) are also prone.

As you can see, virtually anyone can develop Adrenal Fatigue. However, there are certain factors that increase your risk. These include:

• Unhealthy diet
• Drug or alcohol abuse
• Inadequate sleep
• Overly stressed lifestyle
• Long-term illness or persistent infections
• Feeling overwhelmed by life circumstances

The good news is, by making diet and lifestyle improvements (which includes reducing stress and improving rest) most people can overcome Adrenal Fatigue and feel good again. Therapeutic massage is also an excellent treatment for Adrenal Fatigue, as it promotes healthy adrenal function while relaxing a tired body.

Many people who visit my practice tell me that they "just don't feel well." They are stressed, tired and sluggish and they have no idea why.  It is very likely that these clients' adrenal glands are fatigued in some way.  

In such cases, I usually suggest Visceral Manipulation Therapy, which is a gentle massage technique that focuses on the internal organs and their interrelationship with one another. This approach can help restore the adrenal glands to optimal functioning, revitalizing your body, mind and sense of well-being.

To learn more about Visceral Manipulation Therapy and how it can help with Adrenal Fatigue, please visit my website. It's truly a fascinating technique - one that often has life changing results.

Eugene Wood
Licensed Massage Therapist
NYC-Massage.com

The Benefits of Prenatal Massage

Woman Receiving a CranioSacral Massage

Pregnancy brings a considerable amount of changes to a woman's body. It lasts for approximately nine months and is divided into three trimesters; each bringing its own different set of changes and experiences. What types of changes occur to the body during pregnancy?

During the first trimester there are a series of hormonal imbalances, which can result in breast tenderness, morning sickness, fatigue, irritability, headaches, and indigestion. The second trimester, on the other hand, is the easiest phase of pregnancy. 

Though oestrogen and progesterone hormones are lowered, morning sickness and fatigue have generally subsided after the first 12 weeks. It is also a time when the uterus and the pelvis begin to expand, and the abdomen gets bigger.

The third trimester is usually the most difficult phase of pregnancy. Women take on significant weight as the baby gets bigger, which can lead to numerous discomforts, especially with the back and the belly.

Pregnancy may be the hardest physical change any woman goes through, especially for first-time mothers. It is, therefore, important that women get enough support to help them with each stage of pregnancy. There are various types of prenatal aid, and one of them is prenatal massages.

What is Prenatal Massage?

Prenatal massage is a holistic and therapeutic approach to help mothers-to-be with their special needs, especially when their body goes through different dramatic changes. It offers gentle massages that focus on providing better circulation, improved mental and physical health, and relieving pain from sore muscles and joints. It can also be an emotional and psychological support during times with hormonal imbalances are at high.

Prenatal massage is normally given to pregnant women during their first and second trimester. You can never be too pregnant to have a massage, though. Even if you are closer to your due date, with your physician's approval, the massage could still help you calm your mind and prepare your body for delivery.  However, it is important that you only ask for help from legitimate centers because miscarriage can occur if the massages are not handled properly, especially during the first and third trimester.

How is Prenatal Massage Done?

A prenatal massage is handled with extreme care because there are not only one, but two lives that need to be given full attention. After careful assessments, *Our therapists* will customize the therapy according to how many weeks a woman is pregnant, as there are some massage techniques that may not be suitable for every trimester.

The session is normally done on a special table where there are hallowed-out areas to accommodate swollen breasts and soft pillows and wedges to support the belly. Unlike other massages, prenatal massage normally avoids asking their patients to lie face down, keeping the mother in a position that is safe and comfortable for both her and the baby. Semi-reclined positions or lying on the side are the best positions to avoid stressing the back and the abdomen.

Prenatal massage uses more stroking techniques than applying pressure. The massage therapist focuses more on the back than the abdomen. Also, there are numerous pressure points that need to be avoided, such as the feet, the lower back, hands, and the wrists to ensure complete safety for the fetus.  

Once on the side-lying position, the therapists will work at their patient's comfort level, providing low-pressured single strokes on the back, legs, and arms. A patient may be asked to shift onto her side, with pillows supporting the abdomen and the back, keeping the bottom leg straight, while the top leg is slightly bent and supported by a pillow.

Although a therapist usually avoids the abdomen, patients may find it soothing and relaxing if this area is massaged. Gentle strokes can be applied, avoiding the heart and just below the stomach. However, if the patient is not comfortable -- at any time -- she has the right to decline a therapeutic massage in these areas.

Benefits of Prenatal Massage

Prenatal massage has been recognized for its many benefits. It does not only relieve aches, pains and tension, but additionally provides physical and emotional comfort. It has also been proven to improve blood circulation, which can eliminate risks of preeclampsia, blood clots, edema, and fatigue.

Massage can also improve digestion and skin elasticity. It can stimulate the soft tissues and muscles, providing more oxygen while eliminating stretch marks, dryness, and itchiness in the belly. Prenatal massages can also decrease swelling, especially around the pelvic area, lower back, neck, the hands, and lower legs.

It can also stabilize mood swings by producing two "happy hormones," serotonin and melatonin. Serotonin can help fight stress, while melatonin can provide a good night's sleep. Prenatal massages can also help with weight-bearing stress on the back, ribs, and the knees. Lastly, it can help induce a faster labor. Studies show that expectant mothers who went through prenatal massages delivered their babies in as few as 3 to 4 hours.

Taking the time to consult with your physician and therapist on holistic approaches to prenatal therapy is a rewarding decision. Prenatal massage can help in many ways, eradicating the physical and emotional stresses of pregnancy, so you can focus on the joy and excitement of being a new mother. 

Eugene Wood LMT
NYC-Massage.com