The effect of stress on the adrenals
Stress: the ever-lurking culprit when it comes to our overall health and wellbeing. Driving in rush hour, fulfilling our day-to-day tasks, work, and interpersonal relationships can all cause stress. And where there’s an overload of stress, there are over-worked adrenal glands.
The adrenal glands are responsible for helping our bodies function through stress and other discomforts by releasing hormones such as cortisol. Cortisol is a substance that helps our body respond to stress and maintain homeostasis. Functions of cortisol include raising blood sugar, increasing memory recall and attention, and increasing blood pressure. Each of these functions support survival in worst case scenarios, like sabretooth tiger attacks. Cortisol also suppresses the immune system, decreases our sensitivity to pain, and reduces serotonin levels – all allowing us to do life-saving activities like running away or staying proactive in the moment.
While beneficial in the moment and in small doses, cortisol can wreak havoc in larger quantities leaving us susceptible to illness, exhaustion, and emotional overwhelm. Thankfully, there are essential oils that can help support us, our wellness, and our HPA axis all through the wonders of Olfaction.
How can essential oils support the adrenals?
Keeping our body and mind in optimal health can be as easy as smelling the right essential oil or essential oil combination. But first, let’s discuss olfaction and how it functions for body and mind. Olfaction is the process of breathing in aromatic molecules through the nose. These molecules are received as messages by the olfactory nerves in our nasal cavity and transferred across the cribriform plate to the olfactory bulb and tract, which carries these important molecule messages to the limbic system of the brain.
The limbic system of the brain is comprised of many parts, including the hypothalamus, the hippocampus and the amygdala. These are the parts of the brain that help to monitor and regulate emotions, hormones, memories, and parts of the nervous system. Knowing that simply breathing in an aroma can affect the mind is one of the most fascinating benefits of aromatherapy.
Not only does the limbic system’s hypothalamus respond to aromatic inhalation, it is also responsible for sending messages to the adrenal glands, via the pituitary gland (known as the HPA axis). These messages signal whether the adrenal glands should produce cortisol or if the coast is clear and cortisol production can slow or stop for the time being. The brain is the messaging hub and the body responds as those messages are sent out. We can influence the types of messages being relayed to the body based on what we smell.
Think about how our sense of smell dictates other elements of our life: we smell food and beverages to vet them as safe/delicious; we respond to environments and their aromas as safe or unsafe; we respond favorably to the scents of people, receiving the messaging as indicators - should we engage with that person or walk away? Our sense of smell, as is true for all our senses, is designed to help keep us healthy and safe. Introducing aromatherapy in situations that are stressful can help keep our body in homeostasis – think pleasant aromatics for your next road trip or drive during rush hour. Here are some essential oil suggestions to get you started.
Essential Oils for Adrenal Health
Black Spruce Essential Oil
This quintessential oil for supporting the adrenals is distilled from the twigs and needles of the tree, often sourced from Canada. Requiring anywhere from 100-200 kg of plant material to make 1 kg of essential oil, Black Spruce has an affinity for the endocrine system and is often indicated in times of physical weakness, emotional burnout, and a depleted immune system. This refreshing, invigorating scent is great in a diffuser for mid-afternoon slumps. Or use in a palm inhalation – place one drop in the palm and rub the hands together, cupping the palms and bringing them toward the nose as you take three to five deep breaths. One often feels immediate support from smelling Black Spruce essential oil.
Lavender Essential Oil
This panacea of aromatherapy, with its ability to support in almost any situation, is a tried-and-true defender of peace, calm, and equilibrium. Often touted as an anxiolytic, Lavender essential oil offers help during times of stress and anxiety, especially where emotional overwhelm is concerned. This essential oil is distilled from the flowering tops of the plant, requiring up to 2,000 lbs of plant material to make one gallon of essential oil. Like any essential oil, dilute before applying topically. Lavender can be beneficial any time of day via diffusion, palm inhalation, in bath salts, or in a base oil for use in massage
Scotch Pine Essential Oil
Strength and stoicism are emulated by the Scotch Pine and its essential oil. Much like Black Spruce, this essential oil supports and fortifies thanks to its affinity to the endocrine system. Steam distilled from the needles and branch tips, Scotch Pine infuses the senses and body with will power, emotional fortitude, and energy when depleted. This, like many oils, blends well with Lavender for synergistic effects. Diffuse, add to body lotion or body wash in a 1% dilution (9 drops of essential oil per ounce of lotion), or use in palm inhalation.
Vetiver Essential Oil
Centering and grounding, this essential oil comes from the roots of a grass native to India and surrounding countries. While the grass grows up to 3 feet, the roots often grow 9 feet into the earth, offering fortification from erosion and purification of ground water. Vetiver comes from steam distillation of these roots, requiring 50 kg to produce 1 kg of essential oil, a fairly good yield. The viscous nature of this essential oil requires the user to slow down and become more present, which often slows down the breathing and initiates some of the benefits of Vetiver. When the mind is racing, overly active and meddlesome, there is no better balm than a palm inhalation of Vetiver. This oil also supports weak physical conditions and depleted immune systems, making it a strong ally of the body and the adrenal glands.
Clary Sage Essential Oil
Emotionally and physically supportive in times of overstimulation, Clary Sage essential oil brings a sense of calm and restoration thanks to its many similar constituents to Lavender essential oil. With affinities to the endocrine and nervous systems, Clary Sage can soften the effects of stress and promote strength during times of emotional and physical weakness. Distilled from the flowering tops, 100-150 kg is required to create 1 kg of the essential oil. Use in bath and body oils at a 1% dilution, in a diffuser, or with palm inhalation.
While this is not an exhaustive list of essential oils that can support adrenal health, they are some of the most commonly used. Supporting you during stressful times, they can be used in combination or on their own. Let your creativity and senses guide you on your journey of health and wellbeing. Find these oils and more at Pranarom.us, with suggested uses and safety precautions.
