Ok, I admit it, I’m addicted to studying. I love it, I enjoy it, I thrive on it! Being in a class room soaking up as much knowledge as possible, for me, is an amazing experience. So, when I finished my degree in Complementary Health Sciences last summer and got a first class honours, I was over the moon – my hard work had paid off! But what was I to study next? I wanted something which would challenge me and complement the skills I already have so I decided on an adult teaching course. Learning how to pass on my skills and experience in holistic therapies to adult learners is, in fact, proving to be more challenging than I thought; it brings with it a whole new experience requiring competence, flair and aptitude – hard work, but I’m determined to stick with it.
Archive for January, 2009
Preparing to Teach
Posted in Complementary Therapies, General on January 6, 2009| Leave a Comment »
The Benfits of Using Maca
Posted in Healing, Health, tagged Adrenal fatigue, Adrenal stress, Adrenals, amino acids, endocrine system, energy, fatigue, food, libido, maca, minerals, organic, pancreas, pituitary gland, plant sterols, stamina, Stress, thyroid, vitamins on January 5, 2009| 2 Comments »
Maca is a root-like vegetable shaped much like a radish in appearance. It grows in the mountains of the Andes. Natives use it both as food and medicine.
The Maca plant is packed with natural plant sterols, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Maca does not contain any hormones as such, but its action on the body supports the body’s endocrine system, stimulating the pituitary gland (the body’s master hormone gland) into producing precursor hormones thus helping to balance the adrenals, thyroid and pancreas and so naturally increasing energy and vitality. Having suffered terribly from adrenal exhaustion this interested me and it was for this reason that I first started to look into Maca.
The benefits of Maca are varied:
• Enhances fertility in both men and women
• Improves libido
• Provides an energy boost
• Helps with stress
• Changes hormone levels during menopause
• Help control irregular menstrual bleeding
• Helps with bone regeneration (osteoporosis)
• Increases stamina (so, used by athletes)
I’ll let you do your own research on this amazing plant, but having sourced a raw organic Maca powder, I’ve only just started to use it hoping that it will help with adrenal fatigue. Watch this space and I’ll update readers on any improvements which come my way!
The debilatating effects of Adrenal Stress
Posted in Complementary Therapies, Healing, Health, tagged Natural Health on January 1, 2009| 1 Comment »
Don’t underestimate the effects of stress on the body. I’ve been battling (unknowingly) the effects of adrenal stress for a long time and am finally emerging through it!
The adrenal glands are two tiny pyramid-shaped pieces of tissue above each kidney. They produce certain regulatory hormones and chemical messengers:
Adrenaline is manufactured in the interior of the adrenal gland (adrenal medulla), and cortisol is made in the exterior portion of the gland(adrenal cortex). The cortex also secretes androgens, estrogens, and progestins. Cortisol, commonly called hydrocortisone, is the most abundant – and one of the most important. Cortisol helps handle longer-term stress situations.
In addition, the two primary adrenal hormones, adrenaline and cortisol, along with others, help control body fluid balance, blood pressure, blood sugar, and other central metabolic functions.
In the heightened nervous state of adrenal burnout, the body overproduces adrenaline, cortisol and other stress hormones. Constant stress and poor nutrition can weaken the adrenal glands. Eventually, this causes the adrenal glands, the front line in the stress reaction, to show wear and tear and become depleted. This can also lead to impairment in the thyroid gland, which can cause a further decline in energy level and mood and is one of the reasons why many people have thyroid glands that don’t work well.
When stress continues for a prolonged period of time, the adrenal glands can deplete the body’s hormonal and energy reserves, and the glands may either shrink in size or enlarge (hypertrophy). The overproduction of adrenal hormones caused by prolonged stress can weaken the immune system and inhibit the production of white blood cells that protect the body against foreign invaders (in particular lymphocytes and lymph node function).
Adrenal dysfunction can disrupt the body’s blood sugar metabolism, causing weakness, fatigue, and a feeling of being run down. It can also interfere with normal sleep rhythms and produce a wakeful, unrelaxing sleep state, making a person feel worn out even after a full night’s sleep.
Testing for Adrenal Health
In order to determine the health of your adrenal glands you need to have a simple test (saliva testing being more accurate than blood tests)
Adrenal stress is extremely debilitating – I know I’ve been through it!
Mind Body and Sole 