The 10 Best Herbs To Support Your Adrenals + Fight Chronic Fatigue Naturally

What naturally supports adrenal glands?

The best thing you can do to support your adrenal glands is to incorporate herbs and lifestyle changes that support a normal cortisol rhythm, healthy HPA-axis function, and healthy inflammation levels. Adaptogens are typically my go-to. These herbs to support your adrenals are a family of plant medicines that are known for their ability to help your body adapt to stress, support proper hormone balance, and are generally safe for most people as they have little to no side effects.

The best herbs to support adrenals

What is the best herbal treatment for adrenal fatigue? It’s a question I get asked often in my telehealth functional medicine clinic.

1. Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha has been used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic medicine. Studies have shown (1) a significant reduction in cortisol levels and associated stress and anxiety symptoms in those who took ashwagandha on a regular basis. That’s why I included it as one of the main ingredients in my supplement The Brain-Adrenal Balancer, designed to help you cope with stress and restore your energy levels.

2. Rhodiola

Rhodiola is a superstar adaptogen for calming and rebalancing your body’s stress response. Not only is rhodiola able to lower your cortisol levels - your body’s stress hormone - it has also been shown (2) to increase your energy levels, stamina, and boost mental clarity. In fact, rhodiola’s benefits are so powerful, it has been widely used in Europe as a tool to help people overcome fatigue to increase work performance and endurance.

3. Licorice root

Due to its high content of triterpenoid saponins that play a role in cortisol balance, licorice root is a popular herbal remedy to support adrenal fatigue.

4. Holy Basil

Another adaptogenic herb, Holy Basil - also sometimes referred to as Tulsi - helps to rebalance cortisol in addition to helping support healthy inflammation levels that can play a role in hormone imbalance and adrenal fatigue. I made sure to include Holy Basil in my supplement collaboration holi ( y o u t h ) with Agent Nateur designed to restore balance to your hormones and inflammation for a balanced mind and a healthy glow from the inside out.

5. Rooibos

Derived from African red bush, Rooibos is most often found in tea form and has been shown to have a balancing (3) effect on cortisol.

6. Gingko biloba

One lesser known benefit of Gingko biloba is its ability to lower cortisol levels with studies showing (4) it can help mitigate the rise of both blood pressure and cortisol during times of heightened stress.

7. Eleuthero

Known by its other name, Sibering ginseng, eleuthro is a root that can help increase (5) your resistance to stress, boost energy levels, and support healthy cortisol rhythm.

8. Maca

Also referred to as Peruvian ginseng, maca is considered an adaptogen for its ability to reduce stress and balance hormones - including cortisol. One study even found (6) that maca was able to relieve symptoms like stress in postmenopausal women by rebalancing estrogen and cortisol levels.

READ MORE: The Benefits Of Maca For Women + Men, Plus Who Shouldn’t Take It

9. Schisandra

Studies have confirmed (5) schisandra’s ability to fight adrenal fatigue by supporting HPA-axis function, especially when taken in conjunction with eleuthero.

10. Cordyceps

While this isn’t exactly an herb, this adaptogenic mushroom does wonders (7) for those struggling with adrenal fatigue by balancing cortisol levels and increasing energy. 

Tips for using herbs

While you can find most of these herbs in supplement form, it’s not always fun to have to take yet another supplement. Since you can get most of these herbs in powdered form, they can easily be added into smoothies, energy bites, or other recipes. This also allows you to incorporate more than one herb at a time. Just be sure to always listen to your body and pay attention to recommended dosages so you aren’t going overboard with any herb.

Lifestyle tips for adrenal fatigue

Herbs are just one of the many things you can do to support adrenal fatigue. I’ve often seen the most success in treating adrenal fatigue when a whole-body approach is taken to addressing this condition. These are just a few of the lifestyle changes you can do to rebalance your hormones and boost your energy.

1. Incorporate stress management techniques

Your cortisol levels don’t stand a chance if you are always stressed out. The first step is to pinpoint areas of your life that bring you the most stress - whether that is a demanding job or a toxic relationship - and find ways to set healthy boundaries. You can’t eliminate all stress in your life, so incorporating stress management techniques like meditation, journaling, or breathwork can be great for mitigating any stress that comes your way throughout your day.

2. Heal your gut-feelings connection

In my book Gut Feelings, I talk all about how your physical and emotional health are intertwined. Shameflammation - the process where shame influences inflammation and vice versa - plays a major role in your stress levels and likelihood of adrenal fatigue. By shifting your view of health and wellness from shame to a place of self-respect, you can begin to restore your gut feelings connection.

3. Eat more healthy fats

Fats are the building blocks for healthy hormones and brain function. Wild-caught seafood, avocados, nuts, and coconut oil are rich in omega-3 healthy fats and MCTs that act as fuel for your brain and hormones so they can communicate effectively to support HPA-axis function.

Things to consider

While most of these herbs are generally safe for most people, it is still important to talk with your doctor and take your particular health case into account, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking any medications. For example, people with certain thyroid problems don’t do well with ashwagandha and it can potentially exhausterbate your health problem.. Pay attention to how you feel, start off with a smaller amount, and gradually increase over time as you notice how your body reacts.

How to get your hormone levels tested

When looking to test for adrenal fatigue specifically, you’ll want to run a 24-hour Adrenal Stress Index test. This salivary test tracks your cortisol levels to determine if there is an imbalance in your cortisol rhythm contributing to adrenal fatigue and irregular sleep patterns. A functional medicine practitioner will be able to recommend this test for you.

As far as cost goes, this particular test might be covered by insurance but in most cases, hormone saliva labs like this are considered elective tests that aren’t covered by your insurance. However, they can be purchased through an HSA or FSA account. Talk with your insurance provider on how to get hormones tested based on what is covered and what you will need to pay out of pocket.

Seeking help from a functional medicine doctor

If you believe you are struggling with adrenal fatigue, there is hope! You are not meant to live a life of chronic exhaustion. Thankfully, there are many natural tools, including herbs, that can support proper hormone balance. But sometimes we need a little help getting there.

In my telehealth functional medicine clinic, we specialize in running labs like the 24-hour Adrenal Stress Index along with other tests, to identify the root cause behind your case of fatigue. Afterall, everyone is different and the underlying triggers of your fatigue might be different than someone else's. We take your whole health case into consideration to come up with a plan that works for you in all areas - diet, lifestyle, and supplements.

So if you are ready to restore your energy and reclaim your health, schedule a telehealth functional medicine consultation today.

As one of the first functional medicine telehealth clinics in the world, we provide webcam health consultations for people around the globe.

Read Next: 11 Surprising Ways Slippery Elm Can Level Up Your Health

Photo: unsplash.com